Page 65 of No Strings

When she opens the box with the tacos she groans. “Thisreally is my favourite. Hard shell wrapped in a soft tortilla. Yes please.”

“Eat.”

“Yes, sir.”

It’s dripping in sarcasm. I want to remind her about how the next time she says sir I want her on her knees, but I bite my tongue, not to ruin the moment. That self-control really shining through. I’m also just really happy she had a snappy response.

She bites into her taco and moans, followed by a little happy wiggle where she sits. The smile I have is involuntary and hidden behind my own taco.

I press play on the movie she asked for, and the opening credits of Scream start to appear on the screen. I haven’t watched this since…

“You and Shane were the ones who showed me this movie years ago.” She tells me around a mouthful of taco.

“Yeah, in an attempt to scare you, so you’d leave us alone.”

She laughs, which is music to my ears after this afternoon, “Well didn’t that backfire.”

I hum my response.

Not long after she finished her tacos, she grabbed a blanket and curled up at the end of the couch. She fell asleep to Ghostface brutally killing Principal Himbry. Her soft snores soon fill the quiet room. The movie stopped playing about fifteen minutes ago. I just haven’t moved. I watch her as she sleeps, the way her nose will crinkle from time to time.

She flinches and manages to wake herself up. “Shit, sorry. I must have fallen asleep.” When she looks at the tv then to me she asks, “Were you watching me again?”

“Nope.”

“Liar.”

I just shrug, pretending I have no idea what she is talking about.

She gets up and stretches. “Well, I’m going to go to bed.”

“Goodnight, Princess.”

“Goodnight, Cowboy.”

Did she just—? I look in the direction she’s leaving and fall back into the couch and smile.

She gave me a nickname.

The next morning, I’m sitting at the kitchen table waiting for Morgan. I’ve already given everyone their jobs for today, but I plan on taking her fishing. Cook has organised some food for us, and I have Esky.

On second thought… I pick up Esky and deposit her on Morgan’s bed and make my way out.

I hear her happy squeal before I get back to the kitchen.

Soon enough, Morgan is greeting me good morning while beelining for the kettle. I wait until she’s had her first sip of coffee before I address her.

“You and I are going fishing.”

She looks up at me, eyebrow raised. “I don’t fish.”

“You do today. Finish your coffee and go get dressed.” Then I have a thought. “And wear that thing you call a bikini.”

Looking at me puzzled. “I didn’t think you could swim in the ocean up here?”

“You can’t, but there’s a natural dam I want to show you.”

Looking at me sceptically, and in her Morgan stance, she asks in what I think is meant to be a teasing manner, “Oh yeah? Take all the girls there?”