“What do you say we have dinner together? It smells really good.” I abandon the shelter I made on his neck to look straight into his eyes. I pause there for a second and then I look at his lips.
God, why am I so confused!?
I nod and while holding hands, we both walk into the kitchen.
After his first bite, he claims that this is the best-roasted chicken he ever had in his entire life. I don’t know about that, but I sure feel good that he likes it.
I don’t want to talk about Leon right now. I’d rather let the subject cool off a little bit. We better chit-chat about something else.
“Have you traveled the world, Bruno?” He was about to take a big bite, but he stops. I shocked him with this personal question. It’s the first of maybe many to come. His body is covered in sweat, his shirt has big sweat stains. I guess it’s an obvious result of his workout. He was in there for more than four hours, after all.
He clears his throat. “Yes. I’ve been all over. There are only a few places I’ve yet to visit, some others I’d like to revisit since when I was there for work-related stuff, I couldn’t really enjoy them as much as I would’ve liked.”
“Why didn’t you go back yet?”
He thinks for a second.
“I’m always working.”
“Are you working now?”
“No.”
“No? Why not?” I feel like a four-year-old, asking and asking endlessly.
“Because I decided to take some time off after the last mission. And before you ask again like the little girl scout you are, let me tell you: that was the longest, hardest and most frustrating mission in my life, ever. Actually, I said time off, but I meant retirement. I’ve got the money I need to live a full life without worrying about anything else again.” I say nothing, and he seems okay with it.
After we finish dinner, I take the task to load the dishwasher. He helps me with it by lightly rinsing the dishes first in the sink.
“I’ve bought everything you need for tomorrow. You’ll find the bag in your room. Tomorrow we’ll wake up early enough for you to get ready. And when I say ‘early,’ I really mean early. With that being said, do you want me to wake you up?”
Bruno tasked with waking me up in the morning sounds… interesting and dangerous at the same time.
“Don’t you worry. I can wake myself up,” I reply while looking through the corner of my eye; he seems disappointed. “When did you find the time to buy me stuff?”
He proudly laughs and says, “Amazon Prime.”
He walks me to my room and explains what to expect tomorrow, the dos and don’ts— he doesn’t leave anything to chance. We will probably talk about this again in the morning.
I open the bed and slide under the sheets. This is my place in the world. He tucks me in the way he likes it.
“It’s a two-hour drive. It looks like some old friends of your mother’s claimed that the service should be held in the city where she was born. The forensics obtained the same obvious results we did, but they went through the entire textbook for this one, which is why it took them this long to release the body. It will be a closed casket service, a small ceremony, some may say a few words in her honor. Are you sure you’re up to it? Remember you can’t stand out and blow your cover, you’ve gotta blend in.”
“Yes, I’m sure. I need to go, I want to… I have to, for her, for me. I wanna say goodbye.” I want to be at peace with her so that I can focus my entire attention on Leon.
“Okay, if you say you’re ready, I believe you. ‘Nite, Sarah.” He kisses my forehead, reaches for the night light with his left hand, switches it off, and walks away. I doze off as soon as he closes the door.
The next morning, I wake up and he’s the first thing I see— he’s waking me up. Of course. I didn’t hear my alarm at all. A blonde wig with a black dress is the outstanding details of my ‘new outfit.’ Is this his way of blending in? This dress hugs me like a koala hugs a tree, it’s tight as fuck; surely not a suitable outfit for a funeral service. Everyone will notice me for sure. I wonder what went through his mind when he bought this?
“Have you seen the way your tits pop out in that dress? He probably rubbed one off thinking about them. I know I would have.”
Is it just me or you sound a little bit… jealous, Life?
“Whatever.”
I walk into the living room and there he is, sitting on the couch, waiting for me. He’s wearing a well-tailored suit. His appearance made me flashback to “him”— serious, reading a newspaper. His body language makes me freeze in place. He notices the sudden stop and switches his gaze from the newspaper to me. There I find his ever-welcoming eyes paired with his perfect smile, warming my entire body, making me feel at home.
“I know it’s not my place to say this, but that dress looks really good on you.”
