Page 73 of What's the time, Mr. Wolfe
I sighed again.
“Do you feel bad you weren’t there?” he asked, gently.
“No, not really. As Monica said, she wouldn’t have known. I’d have liked to, for my sake, but there’s not much point in worrying about something I can’t control.”
“What about your father? Do you want me to find him?”
“Find him? I’ve been trying for years. No, he didn’t care about us.”
“I’m quite skilled at finding people,” he said, still smoothing my hair.
“I’m sure you are, but no. I can’t imagine Grandma would want him there. Before her memory went, shetold me she hated him. It surprised me, she’d never disliked anyone before.”
“Then we won’t bother.”
I sipped my coffee again and we fell into silence for a couple of minutes.
“I have no one left now,” I whispered.
“You have me, and Monica.”
“You’ll both leave at some point,” I said, not looking up at him.
“I can’t, we’re pretend married, and I don’t fuck about with pretend marriage.” He gave me a small smile. “As for Monica, I highly doubt she’ll never speak to you again. She’s like a mother to you.”
“Pretend married,” I said, and chuckled. “It’s okay if you want to get pretend divorced, though. I’d hate for you to think you were stuck with me.”
“If you’re trying to get rid of me, I’ll be forever wounded,” he said, placing his hand over his heart.
“Nah, I’ll keep you around for a little while. You’re the only one who can make me smile.”
“And scream. And call out my name. And come like never before. Don’t forget all those things.”
“You are quite conceited, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. I like to big myself up from time to time. Now, come and eat something.”
I climbed from the bed and followed him downstairs.He’d called for a takeout, which was sitting on the side. I hoped it hadn’t been there for a while, no matter the situation, I was always hungry and ready to eat. I put it down to the days when I never knew when I might eat next, so grabbed whatever I could, whenever it was available.
Sebastian plated up his favourite Japanese meal, and I tucked in. “I’m beginning to love this food,” I said.
“Good. I’ll take you to a Japanese restaurant I like tomorrow if you feel up to it.”
I shrugged, not sure I wanted to be all ‘dolled up’ and out. “Or we can just curl up here and not see the world until we have to?” I suggested.
“We can do whatever you want,” he said.
“Whatever?”
“Whatever.”
I laid my fork down. “I know I’ve asked this before but, why me? You could have any woman you want.”
“I don’t want any other woman. I want you. It’s quite simple, Ruby. I saw you soaking wet, standing on the pavement, furious with me. You are beautiful when you’re angry, and you stirred something inside me. I wanted to know more about you.”
“Did you see aproject? Someone needy?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“No. I saw someone feisty. Someone who would challenge me, not roll over and give in at the click of a finger. I need that.”
