“Nah. I don't really eat breakfast. Besides, I gotta run next door to make some juice.”
“You don't really have to do that.”
He shrugs. “It's not a big deal. Go on and eat and I'll be back in a few.”
“As long as you're sure.” I grab the fork and knife he sets down.
“I'm sure.” Turning around, he picks up a bottle and lays it on the center of the table. It's syrup. I don't remember having that either. Did he bring all this stuff from his house?”
“Thank you for all this.”
“And thank you for last night's show.”
My eyes widen. “You…so…I…” I stumble on my words.
“You shouldn't keep your window open when you have special guests over. Or at least turn off your lamp.”
my breaths stick to my throat, shoulders falling. “You must have been very close to have seen us through my window.”
“Maybe I was. Who knows,” he quips and before I can respond, he exits the kitchen and walks out the door. When he returns he doesn't only have a pitcher of juice tucked in his arm but is also carrying a basket of apples.
“You…did you pick those from my tree?”
He shrugs. “Figured I'd save the trouble. I grabbed some more peaches before starting breakfast too.” He nudges his head at the large milk glass bowl. There were many dishes and bases in the house that matched it. Lamps too. My brother really liked collecting strange things. Things I'd never expect. I really wish I got to know him more before the accident.
Focusing my attention back at fruit in his arm, I smile. “Thanks. That was really nice of you.”
“I did it more for me. I really want my pie tomorrow.” He winks and I laugh.
“You sure you won't join me for breakfast? It'd be nice not to have to eat it alone. I've had too many mornings here where I've had to.”
He sighs, eyes going everywhere but me. “I guess I could sit for a bit. If I eat now, I'll want a nap and don't have time for that this morning.”
“What are your plans for the day?” I ask between bites of food.
“Errands, gardening, catching up on chores and packing for another work trip coming up. Just in case I need to leave earlier than planned.”
“I'm going to figure out what you do one of these days. It's given Liam Nissan movie vibes.”
He barks a laugh. “Eat your food. I don't want to have to add giving you the heimlich maneuver to my already long list.”
Stifling a laugh, I swallow down more waffles and chase it down with orange juice. The bottom of the chair he pulls from under the table scrapes against the floor and he takes a seat across from me. We mostly sit here in silence, his eyes cutting into mine every now and again making it hard for me to remember how to eat.
He may have to save me from a piece of waffle getting stuck in my throat after all. I don't think I'm going to survive the next hour but when I somehow manage to clean my plate without any mishaps, he loads the dishwasher and hands me a large trash bag. Again, how the hell does he know his way around my kitchen so well?
I need to be more worried than I am but it doesn't come. I like how he's so familiar with where everything is. It's like he's always belonged here with me. Like he was always supposed to sit across from me in the mornings after making me breakfast. The only thing that doesn't feel right about all this is him leaving after giving a quick goodbye. I try to walk him out the door but by the time I reach it, he's already gone.
It's like we move forward only to move backward. He grows warm before going back to cold. Is it me? Do I keep doing something to set us back? I shouldn't have asked him to sit with me. I ask for too much. That's the problem isn't it?
I pick up my phone, browsing my past messages with Sheep Finder. I don't even have to ask him anything to get what I want. He already knows before I can and keeps giving more and more. There's no taking it back with him. They can't be the same person. Too bad because as much as I want sheepfinder, my heart is getting more attached to Nicolas. He picked me peaches and apples. He squeezed my orange juice. He's not hiding behind a mask and might still be counting on that pie I'm supposed to be making.
Thirteen
Nicolas
I didn't get as much done yesterday as I'd planned. It's all his fucking fault too. Not to mention he stole my back up pair of sunglasses and was in my truck bed smearing his cum on the lenses before capturing a photo. I kept getting notifications from OnlyFans all day. So many new photos and two new videos posted.
It's a wonder how he got all the jam and pies on his table made with how much time he spent in front of that not so great resolution camera of his. His new phone will be here sometime next week but maybe I don't want him to have it. Then that means other people get to see the good quality I do. They get to see every scar and freckle on his body. They cansee him more clearly.