Page 54 of Piece By Piece

Since I don’t have a reply to that, I simply tell her, “Don’t forget about the bathtub, yeah? If my mother comes around soon and finds none of her gifts used, she’ll blame me.”

After a few days, I become aware of a pattern. Considering I’ve been woken up the same way every morning since Aliena first made me come eight days ago, I’d say it’s safe to say that she’s happy to touch me.

Since I haven’t been allowed to return the favor so far and couldn’t so much as steal a single kiss, I’ll say she’s not so interested in letting me touch her.

Sure, she insists she got her period soon after that first morning, which I believe since she’s been a lot grouchier recently. Grouchier and more affectionate at the same time. It’s kind of cute, to be honest.

Every evening when she comes home, I ask her about her day. Her first reaction is to snap something rude at me and I figured out quickly that it’s best to just let her be then. On the nights she eats dinner with me rather than spending that time with her parents, we eat in silence until she finally caves and apologizes.

She does the dishes, refusing to let me help as always, no matter how exhausted she clearly is. Then, something that surprised me that first time but quickly became something to look forward to, Aliena usually finds me on the couch and snuggles up to me.

So yeah, I get that she’s not in the mood to let me touch her while she’s on her period, even though I assured her Icouldn’t care less about a bit of blood. Plus, she’s busy with work and her parents again.

And yet I can’t shake the feeling that those are excuses. At least partially. It’s enough to drive me crazy with doubts.

I haven’t forgotten how hard it was for her to accept my offer to move in. How she insisted it was too much and how she’s been taking up all these chores around the house since. The cooking, doing the dishes, and the grocery shopping.

I know she still thinks it’s not enough, no matter how much I try to convince her otherwise. Now, as much as I hate it, I wonder what her motives are for waking me up by kissing my neck, my chest, or, well, my more southern region.

I don’t doubt that she’s attracted to me. I’ve known differently from the day I met her. And yet, every time she denies me to touch her like I want to or finally kiss those sinful lips again, I grow a little more worried.

So much so that I’ve settled on the plan to talk to her tonight. I have to do it. Maybe then, I’ll be able to focus on school again. Or, more importantly, stop messing up at practice.

Yesterday, I was distracted enough to hit my punching bag with my pinkie and my ring finger, like an idiot. The result of that was a whole lot of pain, some of which still lasts to this point.

The only silver lining is that I haven’t heard from my dad in a while. My mom called me once, asking to see me on my upcoming birthday. Other than that, my parents left me in peace.

The same doesn’t apply for my friends, who’ve collectively been grilling me about why I haven’t thrown a party in a while. After I ditched them on new year’s, they’vebeen suspicious as hell of me. I can’t blame them. It’s not my style to blow them off but I knew Aliena wasn’t in any condition to see everyone again so soon after Lily’s party, so I stayed home with her.

Not that our friends know that. I told them I went to another club with some girl I supposedly met while Aliena came up with some different excuse. No one pushed her about it. Lily made sure of that, still feeling guilty about what happened at her party even after they’ve made up.

Long story short, my friends know I’m keeping something from them. I doubt they’d ever guess what, though.

“Hey, I’m home,” Aliena yells from upstairs, dragging me from my thoughts. My eyes flick to the clock on the wall, and I curse to myself, seeing how late it is. I’m still downstairs, working out. I should have finished up and showered by now, so I’d be ready for dinner.

I grab my things and jog upstairs, greeting my roomie with my most dazzling smile. So much so that she rolls her eyes.

“It’s great to see you too, gorgeous,” I tease as I head for the stairs leading to my room. “I’ll just take a quick shower, try not to miss me too much,” I add, jogging away before she can retort anything snappy.

As soon as I enter my room and turn on the shower, my mask of ease drops away and nerves bubble up within me. For the whole duration of my quick shower, I give myself a pep talk to prepare myself for the conversation ahead. When I step out, I’m still nervous and unsure.

How do I ask my friend and roommate if she’s been sucking me off every morning because she feels obliged to repay me for letting her live here? This is bound to go wrong.

I don’t bother drying my hair before I rush back down the stairs, beckoned by the heavenly smell of something that must be Italian. Honestly, I don’t know where she learned to cook but she needs to teach me one day.

“So, I’m back. Did you manage all right without me, or do you need a hug?” I jaunt her, opening my arms welcomingly.

She throws me a withering glare. “I’m good, thanks.”

Ignoring the sting of her rejection, I make sure not to let my disappointment show. Instead, I take advantage of her lack of attention to take her in. At first glance, she seems the same as always. A little grumpy and certainly tired.

Then, I notice her hand is shaking as she stirs the bubbling sauce in the pot. I frown and look back at the side of her face, seeing her pale, bloodless lips. It takes everything I have not to reach out and ask her what’s wrong.

Sadly, she hasn’t eaten yet and I know better than to push her when she’s hangry and on her period. I opt to just ask, “You came home late. Did you swing by at your parent’s first?”

A tight-lipped nod is the only answer I get. I bite my tongue, desperate to ask more questions when I know I should just drop it. In the end, I sigh and leave her to set the table. We’ll talk later. About more than just what I prepared myself for all day, it seems.

Chapter 24

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