As soon as I opened the door, I felt something was off. I paused at the threshold and saw some of my clothes strewn on the floor by the closet door. I didn’t have many and I’d hung them up. Lights I’d left on were now off. Also, my laptop was missing from the table closest to the door.
I sniffed the air. A lingering scent of alpha, not Tane, tingled my nose. It was faint, as if someone had been and gone.
Heart in my throat, I searched the entire room in case Malin was hiding. He wasn’t. I finally found my laptop thrown on the rug by my bed. It didn’t look damaged but that didn’t mean Malin hadn’t been lounging on my bed looking through it. I had a password but any good hacker could probably bypass it.
I cleaned up the mess, then tried to relax on the bed and watch some TV. I couldn’t concentrate. Rain began to patter against the windows. Intermittent wind howls gave an eeriness to the atmosphere.
I had already locked my door but before I was ready to sleep, I put a chair up against the doorknob. It helped calm me. Even though Malin must’ve been gone by now, even with the chair propped against the door, I still slept restlessly.
12
Tane
Danon shook my hand warmly, grip strong.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
We both folded our umbrellas and left them in the rack by the door. It was pouring outside and had been since last night.
“At least six months,” I said.
We had exchanged emails on holidays and Danon was good at sending check-up emails once every three months. But that was about it for our twice a year therapy relationship.
“I’m assuming something’s come up,” Danon said. “But let’s get drinks first.”
“Coffee for me,” I said. “Anything you want. I’m paying.”
Danon ordered coffee, as well as a sampler plate of the coffee house’s pastries.
When we were settled and had exchanged the proper amenities, Danon gently segued into therapeutic mode.
“Tell me what’s new with you.”
“Yeah. I will. That’s why I called.”
“Are you doing okay? Getting out and about?”
“Not really. You know me. Housebound except when business calls. Then I work long hours.”
“After all these years, you still prefer to be alone, then.”
“Somewhat. But something happened and….” I took a deep breath.
“I’m all ears.”
“I don’t know where to start. I supposed I’ll just begin with the crazy notion I had that led me to this point. It had to do with Malin and our relationship. Or lack of one. My frustration with him led me to thinking.” I stopped, not sure how to go on. This wasn’t about Malin. Not anymore. Besides, Danon already knew all about Malin and our rift.
“And what was the result of your thinking?”
“It sounds ridiculous to say it out loud now.”
“No judging here, I promise.”
I winced. “You might change your mind once I start talking.”
“I’ve heard it all. It can’t be that bad, can it?”
I let out a slow breath. “I just want Malin to settle. To mature.”
