She lifts the arm in her sling and winces. “Probably not.”
“Let’s go out then,” he replies.
Weird. “I can cook, you know.”
He spins to face me as there’s a knock on the door. “Yeah, but there’s no need in having dishes if we can avoid it. Besides, Mom has her appointment tomorrow too. We might as well make it as easy as possible on Mom and Dad.”
What is he not saying? “Fine. That’s probably best. Dad tends to burn the bacon anyway.”
His eyes dance with mirth, and his lips twitch. “It’s settled then.”
Dad comes waltzing in at that moment and puts a package in my hands.
“What’s this?”
“Some door dasher delivery person just dropped it off and said it was for you. Were you expecting something?”
“No.” I shake my head. I most certainly was not expecting anything.
With more caution that I normally manage, I open the wrapping to?—
Fudge Balls. It’s a new phone. Like the newest model and the biggest storage. It’s way nicer and so much more expensive than my old one.
I look around, trying to hide my reaction, and excuse myself because there’s no way my face won’t say everything… and I mean everything, about the gift in my hands.
There’s no doubt that Liam did this. It was—I check the clock—less than four hours ago when he heard my phone met its demise and that I had no way to communicate with him. In that time, he’s bought and paid for a new phone, found my parents’ address, and had the device delivered to me.
Sariah’sroots and sheltercomment plays on repeat in my head. The man is incessant in his care.
“Be right back,” I offer the room, not listening for any response. Tears warm my nose and prickle the backs of my eyes as I close my bedroom door and open the box. Booting the device on, I see the prompt to set up from my old device and do so, waiting on pins and needles to… what? Thank him. That’s obvious. Text him. Sure. But the real answer, and the one that is more vulnerable, is to connect with him… not just send a message. Connect.
It takes a few minutes, enough time for my emotions to settle and the tears that threaten to subside, before the phone welcomes me and shows me very close to what I had before.
I dial Liam, the phone shaking as I press it to my face.
“Wifey?”
“It’s me.”
“I see you got my gift.”
“Liam.” My voice is earnest and filled with something… gratitude, maybe, or love. “This is… It’s too much.”
His voice drops to auditory sex. “I prefer thetoo muchI give you in bed.”
A shiver runs through me, and I whisper back, “You know what I mean.”
“It’s basic safety. You can’t not have a phone. And I know you, you’ll work your old one back to life. But you need one that’s dependable.”
“But—”
“No buts, Lorien. Need you safe.”
Need you safe.
Be still my heart. How will I recover after this arrangement is over? Maybe I’ll take up eating all the cookies and baked goods and get more streaming services than I can afford. I can sit in a dark house, watching TV, and eating myself into pain.
After I move, of course. I’ll have to move.
