“It’s an old habit,” he says softly. “I had a stuffie I used to suck, and then a pillow. I tried my fingers, but it seems I’m only soothed if it’s something else.”
“Okay. Well, I’m glad you found some comfort, then.”
He gives me a hard look. “I’m weird. I know I am.”
I stretch my neck from side to side. “Listen, Rue, if you’re gonna be around me, then you have to stop saying unkind things about yourself. I don’t like it. What does ‘weird’ even mean?”
“Not normal.”
“Then what does normal mean? Do you think I’m normal?”
He blinks several times. “No, but your not normal is good.”
“Maybe yours is too.”
He half shrugs, looking at the floor again.
“Are you hungry? Breakfast is ready.”
“Yes, I’m hungry. Do you guys have bananas?”
“Probably. Why? You like them?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go get you a banana.”
Rue pops into the bathroom for a few minutes while I message the chat that we’ll be down and to get a banana ready. By the time we hit the kitchen, the other guys are in the dining room, but there’s a whole bunch of bananas in the center of the island.
Rue smiles and pulls one from the stem.
“You need more than just that.”
He nods, then fills his plate with bacon, eggs, and toast. “Do you guys eat like this every day?”
“No, but we try. Depends on what jobs we have. Things have been slower since we revamped our process.”
“Revamped your process?” He sniffs his food then pops a piece of scrambled egg into his mouth. “What does that mean?”
“Long story. Want some coffee?”
He shakes his head. “Orange juice is good.”
“Let’s go sit.”
I lead Rue to the dining room where the others are. Even Shadow has joined us this morning. Boone is telling a story about some guys he used to hang with, and the mood feels lighter than it did at lunch yesterday, for sure.
Rue eats quietly, but I can tell he’s listening to everyone talking. He seems observant and curious, and more than once I notice his eyes on Colson, who looks super glam today with his hair flowing in pretty waves over his shoulders and his complexion bright. It’s no wonder Specter fell head over heels for the guy.
Rue leans close to me. “Is Colson approachable?”
“Very. Why?”
“I don’t know. I was thinking maybe I could talk to him about some things.”
“Like?”
“Like things I don’t want to talk to you about. Things Colson might understand better.”