Page 27 of Death, Interrupted
She gave me a look. I needed to stop this. I was being weird.
“Fine. That’s my April out there.”
“You named your bike?”
“Of course, I named my bike.” I hated how snappy and defensive I sounded while talking to her. It’s all I’ve been wanting to do ever since I first met her, and all I could do was be annoyed with her coming up tome and starting a conversation. I needed to get my shit together. “She’s uh…she’s the most important thing I own.”
And I’d put her in second place if I could make you mine.
Jesus Christ…
Shut up.
Sumner’s smile tugged a little wider. She glanced at the table. “Were you leaving?”
I nodded, keeping my mouth shut before I said something that would scare her off.
“Wanna sit with me for a while?”
Yes.Obviously yes. I want to sit with you forever and not just for a while.
I did a shrug and hoped it looked casual. “Sure.”
She laughed under her breath and pulled out the chair. “You’re strange.”
We’d established that a while ago, and many had called me strange before. But when she said it, it didn’t feel like an insult. It didn’t hurt me to hear it from her. I felt seen with her, like she truly knew me. Which I knew was silly to think, but there was no ill intent in her words.
“Heard that before,” I said jokingly. I needed my mood to change. Needed it to be lighter and less annoyed. I owed her that. She’d come to me. She’d asked me to stay. That wasn’t the grocery-store version of us. Back then, she’d asked for space, and Igave it to her. Maybe this was my reward. Even if I did still stalk her and made this encounter kind of my fault. I was glad she was sitting here with me now, and I didn’t want to ruin this moment.
“So,” I said, studying her, “how have you been?”
“Shouldn’t you know?” she said, teasing. “Since you’re still stalking me.”
There was a mocking undertone in her voice, but she wasn’t upset. She was maybe a little irritated, but she wasn’t angry about it.
Maybe she liked it. Maybe this was some sexual kink of hers, being stalked.
I chuckled and shrugged. “I don’t know. You were upright and moving, but that doesn’t mean you’re okay.”
Her smile went soft. “I’m okay. I’m glad I’m not with Joey anymore and that I won’t have to go back to that place. I’m getting better.”
“Good. I’m glad to hear that.” I rubbed my hands on my thighs and leaned back. I had a dozen questions and no idea which ones to ask. So I let her talk and lead this conversation.
“I’ve been thinking a lot,” she said, her expression tightening. “About what happened and what comes next.
“What did you land on?”
“That I’m better off being alone for a while, and that it’s okay to want that. I was with Joey for years. I neverreally felt safe or happy. I hate that I let him twist things, brainwash me, because I’m not a stupid woman.”
Her voice was full of emotions she tried hard to keep hidden. It wasn’t really working, though. I reached across the table and offered my hand. She let me take it. I ran my thumb over her fingers, giving her the support she deserved.
“You got out,” I said. “That’s the important thing. None of what he did was your fault.”
“It felt stupid not to see it sooner.”
“It wasn’t,” I said. “Seeing slow is still seeing. Leaving slow is still leaving.”
She exhaled, then glanced at me with a steadier look. “Can I ask you something?”