Averting my eyes, I draw in a slow breath. “I appreciate all you’ve done, but I can feed myself.”
I don’t miss the irony of declaring my independence while eating a meal he provided. But the idea of Fletcher stocking the fridge for me, on top of providing me with a place to stay, is just too much. I need to do it on my own.
“Oh. Okay. Yeah. That’s fine. But if there is anything you need, just ask.”
Fletcher sounds a little deflated. But he doesn’t get it. He thinks he’s helping me by allowing me to stay here, and of course, he is. But he is also throwing it all in my face. I’ve been on my own for so long, feeding and clothing myself almost my entire life. And now, piece by piece, those freedoms are being stripped away by an illness I have no control over. So thinking I might not be able to shop for myself or cook for myself soon… it’s too much.
It’s tearing apart my dignity.
“I’ll give you a tour of my house then, so you know where the washing machine is at least? I can give you the code to use it whenever.”
I nod slowly. “Thank you.”
After finishing my breakfast, I follow him around to learn the house, then make up an excuse to head back to my room. I appreciate Fletcher allowing me to stay here, but now, in the bright light of a new day, it’s making everything dangerously clear how much my life is about to change. To lose my home, my freedom. It’s gutting, even if I have a soft place to land.
So, no. I won’t accept his charity any more than I have to. I’ll stay until I can figure things out, but then I’ll go.
6
FLETCHER
It’s been four weeks since Vince moved into the in-law suite. He’s joined us a few times for dinner, but otherwise, I’ve barely seen the guy. It’s like we’re two ships in the night, passing each other on our way to work. When I leave to start my day, he’s still asleep, and by the time I get home, he’s already gone.
He did help me pack away the Halloween decorations last weekend, which ended up being a great afternoon. He’d said more to me in those two hours than he ever has, and I laughed more than I had in a long time.
But then he went straight back to his room… and I haven’t seen him since.
It’s good for him, I guess. It keeps him from feeling pressured to be around us, since that’s not why he’s here. But I’d be lying if I said I liked it. I want to know if he’s okay. More than that, I want to knowhim.Vince has a softness to him under that hardexterior, and it intrigues me. Not to mention, he’s just plain sexy. I’ve been attracted to him since he started working at Graham’s Bar. I’ve just never had the opportunity to get to know him. He keeps everyone at arm’s length.
After my usual Friday romp at the bar with a few of my coworkers, I pause at the door on my way out. “Hey, you.”
Vince presses his lips together in a small, pained smile.Oh, sweet man.I hate how he suffers.
“Need something?” he asks.
“No. Just wanted to say hi. Feel like we keep missing each other at the house.”
His dark eyes search mine, like he’s trying to read between the lines.
“Georgie made cookies the other night. Peanut butter with Reese’s Pieces in them. They’re really good. I saved you some, which might have cost me my left kidney, but who knows.”
Vince chuckles. “You didn’t need to.”
“I know. But I wanted to.”
A small crowd enters, so I step out of the way so he can stamp each person’s hand. Through the window, I see more people coming. His day is just starting, while mine is finally over.
I touch his arm. “I’ll let you work, but come up for the cookies when you get home, okay? I’ll wait up.”
Something flashes in Vince’s eyes too quick for me to read. Surprise, maybe? “Yeah, I will.”
When I get home, Bones greets me with his usual gusto, then joins me on my bed when I curl up to read. He only sleeps with me when Georgie isn’t here, which is fine. I prefer it that way. The beast takes up too much room. But tonight his presence is welcome. I ache for company more than normal, even if it’s a one-hundred pound dog.
I keep thinking about that look on Vince’s face when I invited him up, the confusion in his eyes about being here. He’d beenpretty insistent about doing things on his own once he got here, so I didn’t want to get in the way or cause him any more embarrassment. He’s going through enough hell as it is.
But maybe Vince needs me to press. Or at the very least to show him it’s okay to come around. He can still be his own personandbe my friend.
I get restless as midnight draws closer. Graham’s Bar closes at midnight, and he’s usually home by 12:30. But it’s after one in the morning when my phone rings.
