Page 76 of Things I Read About
He drops his chin back down. “Yes, you will.” He stops himself and leans in and down. He looks into my eyes, so close I can feel his breath on the tip of my nose. One eyebrow lifts as he looks me over, without restraint, down and then back up. “Believe me. You need to start looking out for yourself.” I open my mouth to ask what he means but he turns and stalks off, almost running away.
Like earlier in the night, he vanishes.
I listen as I go through my nighttime routine. I don’t hear him getting ready for bed, I don’t see him making his way through the house. I don’t know if he ate, but I never hear the microwave run or a cupboard open and close. Nothing.
The entire next day, it’s the same. I do my animal chores, I eat, read, and play piano, and then it’s dinner time. I eat popcorn and watch the first Marvel movie that eventually leads to the Avengers. I hope maybe he’ll join me. He doesn’t.
I know he’s here but as I try to sleep, I feel more alone than ever. I hate feeling lonely. I’m not used to it. My life is loud, bustling, busy.
His job is to watch over me, so how can he just ignore me like this? He’s really just going to watch on the cameras? Lurk in the hallways?
No. He’s not.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow I’m just going to have to demand his attention. I have a few key assets at my disposal, it’s time I use them.
19
I examine my assets in Sadie’s full-length mirror. I’m wearing her swimming suit. Mine are all too plain. This one is neon and, as Susan would say, skimpy. Especially since it’s Sadie’s and while her curves are bigger than the bug bites Skye has, they are nowhere near the size of mine. I chuckle, my trunk got all the family’s junk.1995, the Jerry Springer Show.
I grab a hat, and towel, and head out to the cool, sparkling, infinity edge pool that spans almost the entire back lawn of the house. I get situated in the sun with my book and a water.
It takes about two minutes to remember why I don’t do this. The sunscreen is gooey, the breeze isn’t even cool, and I’m already sweating. And it’s not even noon.
Ugh.
Still, I’m going to give it at least an hour. Mr. Invisible will surely come out and lecture me about sunscreen or water or something. Maybe I should do something unsafe in the pool. Could I convincingly pretend to drown?
I start reading but don’t get very far before a huge shadow falls over me.Yes!
I can’t help grinning up at him. But my smile falls apart, falls open, in awe.
He doesn’t have a shirt on. And he’s sweating. And scowling.
“You need to sit in that chair,” he says.
“Huh?”
He points, panting. “When you’re out here, use those three chairs.”
“But they’re in the shade.”
He sighs. “Sally, what part of listen to my orders don’t you understand? These chairs, this side of the pool”—he makes a square with his hands—“is off limits.”
“How is moving over—” I choke on my words that he cuts off.
“Sniper. There are two high points in the fields. I went out there and tested it with my rifle. There’s clear visibility here, but there”—he points to the other set of chairs—“there, you’re blocked by the hedges.”
I look out at the fields that look perfectly flat to me. “Oh.”
“The bench on the front porch is also off limits. And don’t feed the animals without me anymore, even in daylight.”
“Okay,” I say, feeling sick.
“I’m serious. Will you remember? Not to sit here?” I nod, but it’s not enough for him. “Sally, tell me you’re going to listen to me.”
I look up at him.
Sweat drips down his… everything. Sweat drips down all of him.
