“You mean the standing up that includes pacing like a chicken that got its feathers all ruffled.”
“I’m not a chicken.”
“Didn’t call you one.”
“Why are you even here?”
“To keep you company.”
“Why? I have company already.” I pointed at Josie.
“Adult company.”
“I don’t need adult company. Got plenty of that at home and at work.”
“You aren’t at home or at work.”
“I realize that. Why don’t you just go and leave me in peace?”
“Nope.”
He took another sip of his water, watching me pick up speed. He sat his glass on the table and grabbed the remote, turning on the TV. He stopped at a football game and settled into his seat.
“How long are you planning on staying?”
“Not sure yet. Depends.”
“On what?”
“On things.”
“What things?”
“Don’t worry about it. Finish your pacing and come watch the game with me.”
“I like pacing. And I hate football.”
“You hate football?”
“Correct.”
“You hate it, as in dislike?”
Did I not just say that? Wasn’t that hard to believe, surely? Not everyone liked football. I was just one of those people that didn’t.
“Yes, hate it.”
“Huh.”
Great, now I’d lost even more points in the cool column. Not that I had many in there to begin with. Whatever. I was fine being a football hater. Nothing wrong with that.
The pacing wasn’t doing it for me anymore and I got the bowl off the table before throwing myself into the other chair. The footrest went up and I let out an involuntary sigh of relief. Gunner looked up and winked at me, but stayed blessedly silent.
I chewed my chocolate, biting down hard enough to shatter some fillings. The sticky candy would do whatever my angry chewing couldn’t. I stared at the screen, watching the game but not understanding what was going on. Just as well since my brain was flitting from conspiracy theories to murder.
Josie stopped snoring, a clear sign that she was waking up. Time to put my game face back on to keep her happy. I’d lost it there for a bit, but I had a responsibility to keep my shit together for her. Moping done, I was ready to be a grown up again.
She opened her eyes and blinked at Gunner, not expecting to see him sitting on a chair next to her couch.
