Page 58 of Left In The Dark

“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” he barks out, shifting his feet. “You know what. Never fucking mind. I’ll just stop over at the local thrift shop and get what I need there.”

I huff out an annoyed breath. “Just wait here and I’ll go get it. It’s all going to end up over there if you don’t take it anyway. Better not to have to pay for it again.”

He nods his head, lowering himself into one of the white metal chairs by the door. I stomp inside, setting the food on the table while looking around for his boots. I grab them from under the table and take them to my mom’s bedroom, shoving them in the first bag I find in the closet, adding as many jeans, slacks, and shirts as will fit. After throwing in some underwear, socks, and his only three belts, I rush back outside to toss him his stuff.

“Here. This should hold you over for a while. I’ll have whatever else is yours waiting for you to come pick up by Sunday.”

“You said by the end of the week,” he bites out, grabbing the black strap from me to lift it over his shoulder.

“Yeah, and Sunday is the end of the week for me. Now go before Mom sees you here.” I don’t tell him she’s staying somewhere else tonight because it’s none of his damn business.

He turns around, before stopping and looking back at me, swaying as he looks like he’s about to say something. His mouth is open but no words come out, and then he shakes his head before walking a jagged line to his truck. I rub at my face, my shoulders sagging as I lean against the screen door. I look toward the shed and at my dad speeding out of the gate that leads to the road.

Once I’m sure he’s gone, I go inside, and change into something more comfortable. I don’t know why I’m worried about how my hair or face looks when it’s all about to be covered with a mask, but I stop to check my appearance in the bathroom mirror anyway. As I’m walking over to grab the food, that’s when I remember I forgot to buy him an MP3 player. I’ll order one online and select next day shipping. That’ll be better than having to leave the house again.

Exhaustion is weighing me down by the time I walk into the barn with the food, two glasses, plates, and two bottles of water. Blake is sleeping under the new blanket I got him as I head up the ladder with everything tucked under my arms. He lifts his head when a board creaks under my boots, looking up at me and rubbing his eyes.

“No radio today,” I say into the voice changer. “Had too much to do, but you should have all the music you could ask for within the next couple of days. Got any requests?” I move a small wooden table from the corner beside his mattress and set everything I’m holding on top.

He rubs his eyes again, tilting his head. He’s waiting for permission to speak, isn’t he? I told him he can answer when asked a question. I guess I wasn’t very clear on that. “You can answer me. I asked the question and initiated the conversation.”

He scoots closer, inhaling the air as I’m removing the containers from the bag.

“I don’t know.” He lifts one of his shoulders. “I like just about anything. You can just surprise me.”

I stop moving for a minute, my hands pausing above the food. “How about you name me two bands or singers, then.”

He tugs at his bottom lip with his teeth. “Spice Girls and Evanescence.”

I snort. “That’s an interesting mixture.”

“I told you I like everything.”

“So you did.” I pour his food onto a plate and set a fork beside it.

He licks his lips, rocking on his hands but not moving more than he already has. Of course he’s hungry. He only had breakfast today. I should leave some extra food for him tomorrow. At least a snack or two. Maybe a bottle of water too. It might help with his little bathroom problem. But if it ends up doing the trick, then I won’t get to intervene the way I prefer to. Hands-on help is always better. He needs it more too.

I place my food across from his and sit cross-legged on the ground as close to the table as I can get. “You can come join me over here if you’d like. I hope you like orange chicken and rice.”

He crawls out of the blanket and positions himself on his knees, shivering a little. Oh yeah, he’s naked. I forgot I left him that way after his bath. He looks behind him and tugs the blanket closer, draping it around his shoulders. Wiggling in place, he looks between the fork and water, draining the bottle before taking his first bite of food.

“Someone’s thirsty.”

He nods, swiping at the piece of rice hanging at the corner of his lips with the tip of his tongue.

I push my water toward him and he hesitates before picking it up. He nurses this one, switching between eating and drinking, taking his time with both. He sends me a look of discomfort when I offer him an eggroll, retracting his hand as soon as the tip of his fingers come in contact with it. His hand goes to his stomach and he shifts from side to side with a disgruntled expression.

“Stomach bothering you?”

He nods, biting his bottom lip again.

I frown, setting my spoon down and scooting back. “I might have to do something about that sooner rather than later. Especially if it’s making it hard for you to eat.”

“Didn’t think you cared if I ate or not,” he grits out.

I huff out a breath. “Of course I do. I don’t need you getting sick and dying on my property.”

“A stomach ache isn’t going to kill me, and at least then you can spend your free time doing better things.”