He came toward me, juice glasses balanced in one hand, a clump of cutlery in the other. “Really?” He moved past me and put everything on the table.
He smelled like he’d just come from the shower, like the woods after a rainstorm.
“I could order groceries and do breakfast,” I offered.
Malin gave me a look like I was ridiculous. “You don’t have to pay me back.”
“No, I mean I would like it. I used to do omelets really well. Everything else is pretty easy.”
He waved a hand. “Order the groceries you need. Make whatever you want.”
I glanced from him to the kitchen. It was huge. I’d never cooked in such a large space. The counters were marble and endless. The sink had two faucets. There was both a fridge and a freezer. It would be something to focus on. It might be fun.
I walked in and looked around while Malin made noise at the table like he was removing lids, dishing stuff up. Randomly, I opened a cupboard. It held a few mugs and four glasses but was otherwise bare. I opened another. Wine glasses on the lower shelf. I slid open some drawers. One had silverware. The secondwas empty. Where did he keep the plates? We’d used them last night so I knew he had them. But mostly this kitchen was unused. I found one brand new set of pots and pans under a stove that looked like it had never been turned on.
Moving back to the dining room, I saw an empty plate waiting for me, a fork and knife by its side. Paper napkins sat in a holder. I helped myself to eggs, fruit, hashbrowns and bacon. There was even country friend steak beside thick, white gravy.
Having eaten so much last night, I wasn’t completely hungry, but the food was hot and tasty and I cleaned my plate.
I wondered what Malin’s plans were for the day but was too shy to ask. As it turned out, I didn’t have to.
As if reading my mind, Malin said, “I have plans this afternoon with friends.”
I was just about to pop a strawberry into my mouth and froze. I had no idea what to say. I heard myself murmur, “Okay.”
“I might be out the whole night. I’ll text you when I know.”
“Um, you don’t have to check in with me.”
Both his eyebrows rose. He looked thoroughly put out. “You wouldn’t worry?”
I coached myself. Don’t answer wrong.
I stared at my plate. “I might wonder a little.”
He laughed without smiling, something he did often. “Right. And I know very well I don’t have to check in with you. But you’ll be alone. Will that be all right?”
I nodded, pretending the idea was fine. But I didn’t feel all that fine. I knew he had people in and out but not when. Obviously, people delivered the breakfast buffet. He had cleaners and yard workers. I couldn’t picture him doing anything like that on his own except maybe dusting and polishing his hoard..
“And if someone comes by?” I asked.
“No one will bother you. The cleaning crew comes early on Fridays. My friends never show up unannounced. If they do, I’ll get pinged on my phone and the ring cam will show me who it is. But you know not to go out front. The back gates are locked. You can use the pool.”
“Good to know.” My heart was racing. I hadn’t noticed until my body relaxed. I would be fine. It wasn’t like this was solitary back at the ranch. “It’s a bit cold for the pool, though.”
“It’s nicely heated. There’s a hot tub attached.” He shrugged. “Your choice.”
Had we gotten swim trunks with all my new clothes? I didn’t remember any. That part had been forgotten, which was funny after everything I’d gone through that first afternoon at the party.
After breakfast, my mind wouldn’t stop throwing different scenarios at me. Malin would probably have parties here. Friends would visit. What was I supposed to do during those times?
Before he left, he told me not to order out. “I don’t want you opening that door for anyone.”
I could have any of the leftovers from last night and this morning. He showed me chips and popcorn in one of the tall cupboards, along with an array of canned foods. In the freezer were some microwave meals and ice cream. Maybe he didn’t cook, but he could heat things up and dish up readymade desserts.
He left and the whole house went quiet. I played video games. I watched TV. But the greatest thing was going online with my new tablet. At Brimstone, that was strictly forbidden. I hadn’t been online since living with my pack.
I had access to everything. I was tempted to go find updates on my pack, my parents and my old friends but stopped before my fingers could type in any searches. I didn’t want to know.That was a vanished landscape. Why would I ever want updates or news on a world that had heartlessly rejected me? I didn’t want to see or hear anything about them.
