“I don’t wear pyjamas. Is that going to be a problem?” I asked, and her eyes grew wide, probably at the thought of me naked. “I’ll keep my boxers on though, don’t panic.” I gave her a wink and shoved my jeans down my legs. Thank God I wasn’t sporting a huge erection like I was most of the time I was around her. Internally, I congratulated myself at still having some degree of restraint.
I slid into the space next to her under the covers, but she felt too far away.
“Fuck, I almost forgot.” I shot up out of the bed and made my way down the corridor, and into her room. I wasn’t about to leave Xena to sleep on her own, and I knew Paige always felt calmer with her around. So I grabbed the dog bed then picked up her music box, whilst Xena trotted along behind me like a good little soldier, back into the bedroom.
“I’ve gotta have both of my girls safe under my roof,” I joked, and the warmth that shone from Paige’s face almost made me tear up. I set the dog’s bed down by the door and then placed her music box on the bedside table. “Now you have both things to help you sleep.”
“I’ve got more than two,” she replied, her face aglow with affection. I loved that look on her, and the devil in me couldn’t help but push a little further.
“Oh yeah? What’s the third? Is it the memory foam mattress?” I said, taking my place in the bed next to her and bouncing the mattress as I did.
“No, it’s you, silly.” She went to laugh, then suddenly, realising what she’d said, she started to stutter and fidget, trying to hide how mortified she was.
“I know, I’m just teasing you. It’s way too easy,” I said, covering her awkwardness with my cockiness, and she relaxed somewhat.
“I’m out of practise. I wasn’t always so uptight and… boring.”
“You are not boring.” It made my blood boil for her to think so low of herself. She was my favourite person, after all, and I was always right.
“Vee said I was,” she whispered into the room.
“Vee is a nutcase. She wouldn’t know strength of character if it smashed her in the face. She didn’t fall from the stupid tree; she was dragged through the whole dumbass forest. Don’t listen to her. Her opinion means jack shit. You need to remember what a bad ass chick you are. Make those voices in your head remind you of that.” She turned her head on her pillow to face me.
“I never liked her. She was mean. Always there when she wasn’t wanted.”
“I know. I’ve met her type before. Granted, I usually had to pay an admission fee, but still…”
She howled in laughter and it spurred me on even more. Not that I needed encouragement.
“I should’ve sent her packing that first day when she showed up. I mean, who left her cage open? If anyone was feral it was her.”
I always went too far. Straight away I noticed her face drop. Why did I use that bloody word? I knew it had triggered her before. I was such a dumbass.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.” If I could have slapped my own face, I would’ve.
“No, it’s okay. I don’t want you to be always second guessing yourself around me. It’s fine. And you’re right. She is feral.”
I didn’t want to spend these precious moments, talking to a girl I’d dreamt about conversing with for months, on a waste of space like Vee. “Let’s change the subject.” I grinned. “Maybe I could sing you a song? I wrote one yesterday about tacos. Well… it’s more of a wrap, actually.”
And there it was, the laughter back in the room.
“Please, promise me you’ll never change,” she said, with happy tears rolling down her face. Tears I’d never dream of wiping away. I’d earned them.
“I always keep my father’s advice close to my heart,” I added. “Be yourself, he said. No one else wants to be you.”
I laughed then, but she didn’t. “He was a cruel man, wasn’t he? You don’t talk much about your family.”
“I learnt pretty early on that God gave us relations, but thank the Lord we can choose our own friends. My friends are my family now, and they’ve been there for me more than any living relative ever has.” She gave me a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. I didn’t want her to pity me. I was a rich man as far as family went. “My family is the one I chose for myself, the best kind of family. Jackson and Ryley are like a brother and sister to me. Sylvie, his housekeeper, doubles up as our surrogate mum. And the rest? They’re my crazy cousins. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Don’t you ever see your real family? Your blood family, I mean?” She bit her lip, like she was unsure about broaching the subject. Thing was, I’d talk about anything with her. I’d waited long enough. I felt like sharing my life history and then some, if it meant she’d keep talking to me. Her voice was a balm, soothing to my soul.
“No, and I’ve no desire to either. My mum and dad liked their booze more than their kids. Although, we did come in handy when Dad needed something for target practise.”
“Oh my God, he hit you? I’m so sorry.” Her sweet face showed so much concern and I hadn’t been through half the shit she had. My girl was a bona fide angel.
“Don’t be. It taught me what to expect from life, and what I shouldn’t put up with. I also learnt how to use humour to make me feel better about my shitty situation. My family might not have wanted me, but making people laugh made me feel good about myself. I like being the funny guy.”
“You’re a lot more than just the funny guy.”
