I grabbed the First-Aid kit and was back in the kitchen in record time. I dropped down to inspect her feet and legs, and upon a clearer inspection, it looked like some salve was enough to do the trick. Her skin wasn’t blistering, so the burns hadn’t been scalding. “I think some salve-”
“Xander.”
That’s it.
Just my name.
Just my name said in a tone that I knew she wasn’t fucking around anymore. Fallon was no longer in the mood to indulge me. Her fear was giving way to anger and I’m fairly sure the anger was at me.
I began to apply the salve to the reddened splotches on her feet and legs. I’d prefer to wash her legs off with a cool, wet towel, but I didn’t have the time. Fallon wanted answers and she wanted them now.
“It was moved, but…hear me out.” I looked up at her from where I was on my haunches tending to her legs. “It’s possible we could have done it, Fallon.”
Her eyes blazed, clearly offended, and on the defensive. “I wouldnevermove either of those rabbits,” she spat. “What are you talking about? Didyoufucking move it?”
I stood up and looked into her furious face. “No,” I bit out. “I didn’t move it.”
“Well, I sure as hell didn’t,” she insisted again.
“Sonofabitch, Fallon,” I swore. “When we got home last night, you begged me to fuck you up against the wall with everything I had. And I did. Itisquite possible that we shook the walls enough to move around some of the things that are hanging there.”
Her hand shot out as she pointed towards the wall where I had taken her. “You fucked me over there, Xander,” she pointed out, but not after making me question everything I had been proud of last night. “Do you honestly think your skills were so explosive that they shook that wall way over there?!”
Well, fuck me.
“It’s possible!” I snarled at her. I mean, I knew there were dicks in the world bigger than mine, but…fuck.
“Was there anything else on the shelf that…shifted?”she asked, and her voice told me everything I needed to know. She was still scared, but now she was pissed, thinking I didn’t believe her. And it wasn’t that I didn’t believe her, I just wanted to explore all other possibilities before zooming in on the worst one.
I walked over to the shelf and, making sure not to touch anything, I looked over the miniature potted plant and picture frame of my parents on the shelf and saw that they hadn’t been moved. In that moment, I knew Fallon’s concerns were valid.
Her fear was justified.
I turned to face her, and it amazed me how difficult it was to say the words that would bring her entire world crashing down again. We knew this was a possibility. We knew it’d be easy for him to find her as soon as she had started putting down roots in Brant. We had known this.
We. Knew. This.
“Fallon, I need you to list-”
“It’s just the rabbit, isn’t it?” she asked, though she knew the answer already. I’m sure it was written all over my face.
I walked back towards her on the counter until I was standing in between her legs. I cradled her face in my hands. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Fallon.”
“How did he get into your house, Xander?” she asked, and even though I knew she didn’t mean to, it made me feel like shit. I promised to protect her and, yet, it’s possible that someone’s been in my house. I never had the needs for cameras because…well, this was fucking Brant; crime was minimal. But looking back, I should have had them installed the second Fallon had agreed to move in with me.
Arrogance is a motherfucker.
“Baby, I don’t know,” I told her honestly. “But I’m going to go throw some clothes on, and we can go to the store and buy some cameras. I’ll install them immediately.” I had thrown on some sweats I after pissed and brushed my teeth because the crashing of the coffee mugs had caused me to run out of the room half dressed. “Let’s get dressed, Fallon.
“No,” she whispered, and I was sure I heard her wrong.
“What?”
“I said no,” she repeated.
“Why the fuck not?” I was getting whiplash here. She was scared, but she didn’t want me to buy any cameras. What the hell?
Fallon shook her head, dislodging my hands, and jumped off the counter. I didn’t miss her wince as her feet made contact, but she didn’t complain about the sensitivity. Tomorrow her feet were going to be more tender and that was going to suck.
