“A budget delight. Chicken cutlets, macaroni and cheese, and peas. All mixed together.”
“Together?” She makes a yuck face.
“Don’t knock it till you try it.” I extend my hand. “Truce.”
She takes a deep breath, considering. Then nods. Climbing off the bed, she takes my hand, and I lead her into the kitchen.
“Sit,” I order, and miraculously, she does.
I throw the plate into the microwave and wait for the food to heat up. Then I place it in front of her. “I could use a drink, how about you?”
“Water is fine.” She pushes around her food, not sure what to make of it.
“I’m thinking something a little harder.” I step outside and grab the bottle of whiskey.
“Where did you get that? I thought we decided no booze.”
“No, you decided.” I pull out two short glasses from the cabinet. “And I told you, I made some new friends.”
Sitting down, I crack open the bottle and pour two hefty shots. Fallon doesn’t give me shit.
“Cheers?” I lift my glass to hers.
She picks up the cloudy juice glass and clinks it with mine. “Cheers.”
Then we both shoot.
“So, what do you want to talk about?” She pokes at her chicken still unsure about dinner.
“Us.”
Her eyes fly up to mine.
“There is no us.”
“No, not in the biblical sense. But we are still here, under the same roof, with the same goal, yet living completely apart. I know things kind of flew out of control at top speed. And I appreciate everything you have done for us. But if this is going to work, you gotta let your guard down a little and trust me.”
“I tried to trust you once. Look where it got me.” She finally takes a bite, the fork clanking against her teeth.
“Brokenhearted?”
“Please. We spent like forty-eight hours fucking. I would hardly say that constitutes love.”
“There were feelings involved. We both know it, and I can admit it, even if you can’t. Or won’t.”
“I don't understand what that has to do with anything. It’s water under the bridge.”
“It’s stopping you from trusting me. And causing you to always wonder when I’m going to pull the rug out from underneath you.”
“I’m suspicious of everyone. You’re not special.”
“But I need to be. I need to be the person you trust most right now. Because we are in this together. And we have to rely on each other. ‘Cause we are all Aisling has.”
“I know that.”
“Then don't flip your shit when I need to take care of things. I didn’t go out looking for a fight. It came to me. And I needed to protect everyone in this household.”
“I understand that. I do. I just don't want you putting yourself out there unnecessarily. Or doing something stupid that’s going to get us caught, or possibly even killed.” she pleads her case, and she has a point.
