“Yes, please.”
“Crackers? Cheese? You need protein, Little one.”
“I like crackers and most cheeses. Not like pepper jack or anything.”
He dumps the can into a pan and turns on the burner before pulling out everything else and bringing it to the island. In seconds, there’s a plate of saltines and perfect squares of cheddar in front of me. The man cut them up to be the exact size of the crackers. He can’t possibly be real.
I stack one and take a big bite. I really am hungry. My stomach grumbles in pleasure.
A sippy cup filled with the same sparkling drink as earlier materializes next. This one is pink and has two handles. “Why on Earth do you have so many sippy cups, Blade?”
“Long story. Later.”
“You have a lot of stories to tell me later. Do you realize that?”
“Nope. I have one story to tell you later. It’s all the same story.”
Mmm. Interesting. I can’t piece it together, so I don’t strain myself trying.
I have a question about Pete anyway. “Do you think my ex will find me?”
“Nope.”
“He could probably get my number eventually and call me.”
“Mace is going to bring you a phone with a new number when he brings a computer up.”
“Oh.”
“I’ll keep your phone with me in case someone calls. I don’t want you to miss anything important, but I don’t want you to answer if Pete calls.”
“Thank you. That’s nice of you.”
“It’s not just me being kind, honey. Men like him have a way of talking their abuse victim into telling them where they are and coming for them.”
I stiffen. “I’m not that stupid, Blade.”
“I didn’t mean to imply you were, June. It wouldn’t take him much to get enough information out of you. You wouldn’t even realize what you’d inadvertently shared.”
“I wouldn’t take his call.”
He turns me to face him and wraps his arms around me. “Humor me on this, okay? I’ll feel much better if you don’t even have the opportunity for him to make contact with you.”
“Okay.” I run my hand up his chest and cup his face. “Thank you.”
He sets his forehead against mine. “June, you’re mine now. Not his. I will protect you with my life. He will never touch you again.”
I swallow. He’s so intense. And it’s so soon. But I’m feeling the same connection he is, so I don’t argue.
He releases me to pad over to the stove and dish up the soup. When he’s back, he sets it in front of him, fills a spoon, blows on it, touches it with his tongue, and offers it to me.
I lean in and accept the bite. After swallowing, I reach for the spoon. “I bet I can feed myself some soup. You can’t feed me every meal for six weeks.”
He smiles. “Watch me.” He offers me another bite.
I accept it but argue my case again. “Seriously, Blade. I’ve got to learn to use my other hand.” I wiggle my good fingers as if to prove they work. They don’t. Not really. But I’ll figure it out eventually.
“Maybe. But not today. Today, let me take care of you. Which reminds me, I’m pretty sure we did a job for an orthopedic surgeon about a year ago. I’m sure we have his number on file. I’ll have Rachell get you an appointment.”
