Opening his eyes, Francis nodded then shook his head and then nodded again. “That’s what you’re supposed to be doing. You tell me things like that when we watch the movie. But no, I didn’t realize that.”
“Do you realize it sounds like nothing I can do makes you happy?” Reminding myself that I made Anson happy, I tried not to take it personally. “I know you don’t like talking about work, but is something wrong? Are you okay?”
Francis never wanted to talk about work because he said it was stressful and he just wanted to leave all that stress at the hospital, but I was starting to think that was a bad plan.
“Work’s been…” Shaking his head, Francis frowned. “No, that’s not okay, but I’m sorry I’ve been letting it punish you.”
There was no good response to that, so I just did my best. “I’m sorry work has been so stressful.”
“Thank you.” Francis sat straighter, opening his eyes again. “Let’s finish watching the movie. I’m sorry I snapped at you.”
“Sure.” I wasn’t sure I could honestly tell him it was okay or I was fine, but I could finish watching the movie.
Then I’d call Anson and he could fix me.
Yep, best plan ever.
****
“I’m sorry I whined so much you had to come over.” That was the best I could do since I was glad he’d overridden my polite responses and had come over anyway. It also didn’t make me more believable when I wiggled closer and tried to bury myself under him on the bed.
“You had a stressful night and needed cuddles.” Anson honestly seemed to think coming over to fix me was his job, so I’d decided not to argue about it.
I liked that rule, so I wasn’t going to try to change it.
“I do.” Inching under him finally made him realize he was supposed to wrap me up like I was the inside of a burrito. When I was bundled up tight, the itchy feeling under my skin finally faded. “Francis was…very not Francis.”
“He actually got angry at you for not talking during the movie?” Anson’s disbelief made me feel better.
“Yeah. I thought suggesting the movie we’d already watched together would be a great idea because then I’d be quiet. I found a few random things I’m going to show you later, but it worked. I was quiet. I wasn’t talking too much or asking questions Francis thought were stupid.” It’d worked. I wasn’t sure how it’d gone badly but that part had worked.
“And he got angry because you were quiet and it was making him uncomfortable?” Anson was still sounding like it was ridiculous, but there was less confusion in his voice. “Well,it seems like Francis doesn’t like change and maybe he thought you were upset with him?”
“Well, he asked me if I was mad at him and then about our date.” I shrugged since it didn’t make a lot of sense. “I told him we were fine and my date went great. I didn’t even overshare.”
I’d tried to follow all his rules so I wouldn’t drain his battery.
Fucking batteries were terrible.
I was really glad I didn’t seem to have one.
“I asked him about work and he said it was stressful but that was where our conversation ended. We finished the movie and then I called you and came home and then you were here.” I sighed as Anson rubbed my back and made my tortilla even tighter. “Thank you for coming even though I said you didn’t have to.”
“I like spending time with you, first of all.” Anson kissed my head and his hand came up to knead my neck. “Secondly, you were not terribly believable.”
Yep, I thought that had been an issue.
Oh well.
“Thirdly, I needed a recharge.” Anson’s long-suffering sigh made me giggle. “I didn’t talk to any humans today and I almost ordered delivery just to talk to the guy who delivers for the Chinese place.”
As I yawned, he chuckled and his fingers gently stroked the back of my head. “He’s straight but very chatty and I like hearing about his relationship with his girlfriend. They’re wonderfully dramatic and make the craziest decisions.”
He was so funny.
“What…” Ugh. Yawns were a pain in the ass. “What did they do?”
Anson scoffed. “Not tell his mother they were dating for one thing. He’s fallen in love with one of his mother’s friends from when she was in high school. Not quite enemies but they were rivals and she’s going to go apeshit when she figures it out.”
