Page 46 of Retribution

Sighing, I put my phone on the counter and start pulling out ingredients from the fridge. I’m so happy that Mr. Ademíc stocked the fridge for me. I’m still fairly suspicious and sniff things as I pull them out.

The expiration dates haven’t passed, and everything appears fresh. A lone tear slips from my eye as I sniff and put my ingredients out on the counter.

God, I’m pathetic. I’m the one who forgot to call Lucas, so why am I surprised when he doesn’t even know it’s me?

The phone rings and I stoically ignore it while I grab a plate and make my sandwich. It’s a basic tomato, cheese, and lettuce sandwich, but the tomato is super ripe. It bursts in my mouth as I take a bite.

The phone continues to ring, and I finally answer as soon as I’m able to swallow.

“Hello? Shit, Isolde. This is you, isn’t it?”Lucas asks, concern in his voice.

“It’s me. I’m having a sandwich for dinner.”

I sound like I’m pouting. Disgusted with myself, I take a deep breath.

“I lost track of time, but I called since you were so insistent about it,” I add, willing to be fair. The issue is that I’m struggling with conflicting emotions, the way I have been since I left his home.

“I’m sorry. I sounded like a douchebag in my text, darlin’. The realization that it was you calling me punched me in the face.”

“No, that was me punching him in the face, but ‘realization’ could be my nickname if necessary,”Oliver calls out near the phone.

I must be on speakerphone.

A small uptick in my lips occurs as I listen to them banter.

“It’s fine,” I lie. “I’m having a sandwich and then going to curl up with a book on my phone.”

Another lie.I need to clean the bathrooms next, wash the walls, and then inspect every inch of the house before I’ll be comfortable stopping for the night.

“How’s your new place,topolina?”Alesso asks. “I have to admit that it’s nice to know that you’re not going to fall out of a tree in the middle of the night.”

“I’m like a cat. I tend to fall on my feet.”

“…or my arms. Tomato, to-mah-to,”Lucas grumbles goodnaturedly. “So, how is the new place?”

“It’s…nice,” I admit. “There’s just enough room for me. The rental owner wouldn’t let me pay them the amount of rent they originally stated.”

“Does that bother you?” Lucas asks. “It sounds like it does.”

“It feels like I’m taking advantage of them,” I say, not wanting to hint at a gender.

“People can change their minds on rent,”Oliver muses. “So this is a private property?”

“That’s adorable, Oli,” I say. “I’m not answering that question.”

“Yeah, Oli,”Lucas chuckles.

I continue to eat as they talk and tease each other, and soon I’m cleaning up after myself as I chat with them. It slowly becomes easier to let the conversation flow, though I refuse to give any information about where I’m at currently.

“Let’s do a raincheck,”Lucas suggests. “How do you feel about having breakfast with us tomorrow?”

“I’m partial to breakfast,” I murmur. “I usually just have coffee unless I stop at a restaurant to eat in the mornings.”

“Why is that?”Oliver asks.

“I can’t cook,” I wince.

“Bah,”Alesso scoffs. “Can’t or haven’t learned? There’s a difference.”