“All of this is mine?!”
A few minutes later, packages lay scattered on the floor of his bedroom as I try to dot him with pink lotion while he smashes his new cars into my thigh. Bellies full, I think of the woman who helped me and wished I had thanked her better than I had. Once I’ve fought Dominic enough to get him covered in the lotion, I haul him back in bed and pull the small TV from my room to his. He’s halfway back to sleep when his window opens, and a rat’s nest of blond hair appears. Sean lifts his head and grins when he sees us camped out on Dom’s bed. He climbs through the window dressed in his favorite Batman T-shirt and jeans, already covered in dirt from his trek through the trees in the neighborhood.
“You not going to school?” He asks the two of us.
“No. Dominic’s sick.”
“He doesn’t look sick.” Sean stares at us both, running his nails down his arms, and that’s when I spot the blistering dots on his arms, face, and neck. I open my mouth to speak when Dom shoots up from his bed and points at him.
“Sean! You’re the culpit!”
“Sir?” The unfamiliar voice pulls me back to where I stand. “You have seven bags.” The sound of ringing merchandise eases me slowly back into the present as I take my change and receipt from the woman’s extended hand. Chest aching from the memory, I gather the bags by the handle and make my way out of the store and toward Dom’s Camaro. “We both know I wasn’t going to make it to thirty, brother. Take care of her.”
Staring blankly out of one of the large windows into the parking lot, I refute the idea that I’m searching for any sign of the Camaro—for him. Yet another glance at the clock has me aggravated with the lies I’m telling myself. He dropped me off three hours ago. I know he hasn’t changed his mind. I know he’s coming back.
He came back, for me.
He left his life, for me.
He killed, again, for me.
“Where is your head today, woman?” Marissa asks, sidling up next to me at the counter.
“Just…distracted.” I know I should probably give her a heads-up on what, or rather, who’s coming, but I have no idea if he has any plans of invading my workspace as he has my home and my new life. I have no idea if he intends to remain incognito here as he has in the past. It’s anyone’s guess for now, especially mine.
Marissa is the closest thing I have to a girlfriend here, and I’ve told her enough about Tobias for her to know why I’m not entertaining men for the time being. I hold back in revealing any more for the moment because believing anything at this point is far too premature. He could very well disappear as quickly as he came.
But I don’t believe that, despite my need to hold on to my skepticism.
I hate that I mostly believe him and the sincerity he’s shown thus far with his words and actions.
But if I do believe him, take his words to heart, will I be forever a fool?
For now, I could be. I can’t let him do it. He has to earn my trust again, no matter his place in my heart.
“Distracted? I’ll say, you’ve been shining that napkin dispenser for ten minutes.”
“What? Oh,” I glance around the café, which is dead after the last of the morning rush. “Did you need me for something?”
“No, just worried. You’ve been acting out of sorts since the Presidential Address yesterday. Want to talk about it?”
“No, I’m fine, swear.” I turn to her and force a smile, and she raises a brow.
“We’ve been joined at the hip since you hired me. You think I can’t tell when you’re faking it?”
“Sorry, you’re right. Something is going on, and to be honest, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. I’ll explain later.”