Page 21 of Whatever He Wants
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After work, I head home.I have the place to myself.Isaac’s car isn’t in his driveway, and Matt’s out on his first shift at his new job.I shower, then tidy up the apartment, pretending everything is normal and there’s no looming threat of homelessness.
I’m lounging in the couch, watching TV, when there’s a knock on the door.I freeze, then glance at the time on my phone.Matt said his shift ends at nine.It’s almost nine thirty.More than once, he’s forgotten his keys, used the spare key under the plant pot outside, and forgotten to put that one back too.
Still, I hesitate because I strongly suspect it’s Isaac.I consider hiding from him but then stand and head up the short flight of stairs to the door.
“I’ve been waiting for an update all day,” Isaac says as soon as we’re face to face.“But I guess your silence tells me everything.You didn’t get the watch.”
The lights from the deck or the one behind me doesn’t quite reach where he’s standing.He’s a tall, intimidating, shadowy shape.Like a demon.Maybe I should go for some salt and sprinkle it by the threshold so he can’t come in and possess me.
“Someone had already bought it by the time I got there,” I say, resigned.
“Were you going to come and tell me this, or were you going to hide from me tonight?”
“I hadn’t made up my mind yet.”
“At least you’re honest.”
I was snuggled up under a thick blanket on the couch while watching TV, but a frigid, passing breeze reminds me I’m only wearing a tank top and shorts.I shudder and rub my arms.
“Matt isn’t home.Do you want to come inside so we can talk?”
Silently, he steps forward, and I move aside to let him enter.Another chilly breeze tries to sneak in.I quickly block it with the door and head back down the stairs.
Isaac sets a paper gift bag on the kitchen peninsula and pushes it toward me.I hadn’t noticed it in his hand, but I recognize the cupcake logo and bakery name on the bag.
“I was in the neighbourhood for work,” he says.“Figured I’d pop in and get it for you.”
I open the bag and pull out a plastic container.Inside are four golden-brown slices of banana coconut bread.They’re from a bakery I used to love to visit near his old house.I haven’t been back there in a long time.Even through the closed lid, their delicious scent makes me crave a slice.Instead, I stare at them for a moment before meeting Isaac’s gaze.
“Thank you, Isaac,” I murmur.
Yesterday, Isaac was mean to me right where we’re standing.Today, he’s the sweet guy I’ve always known, bringing me my favourite cake.Guilt swamps me he did it even though I’m partly the reason he lost something precious too.
His expression is unreadable, his stare so focused, I feel self-conscious and look away before I speak.
“I was thinking, I know it’s not the same, but I can pay you what the watch is worth.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I want to.I want to make this right somehow.”
“You’ve already done a lot for me, Denise,” he says, his tone solemn.“I was pretty hollow after Camille died.I went through the motions, but I wasn’t fully there.I was kind of…floatingthrough life, I guess.Until you anchored me.”
Surprised by his admission, I don’t know what to say.He doesn’t give me a chance either.
“At first, your constant visits annoyed me.I wanted to be left alone, but there you were, showing up every day to check up on me, forcing me to eat properly, harassing me to get rest when I needed it instead of overworking.”He gestures at the cake container.“And I hated that you always brought that cake.Banana and coconut don’t belong together.”
“You’re wrong.”I smile.“They’re soulmates.”
“Anyway, after a while, I liked having you around,” he continues.“I liked the way you’d always show up at my door with a coffee, a smile, and that godawful banana coconut bread.You’d come in and hug me, then completely miss the shoe rack when you kicked off your shoes.You’d tell me about some weird dream you had while you wandered about my house putting away things like you lived there.”
He slowly comes around the peninsula, closing the distance between us.When he speaks, his voice is lower.
“I liked having you around so much, I started to look forward to it.I’d lie awake at night, thinking about how I couldn’t wait until the next day to see you again, hear your voice again, hold you again for those few seconds before you moved on into the house.”
My smile fades, as my eyes widen.Isaac didn’t say the exact words, but there’s no mistaking what he means.He has feelings for me.As I process this shocking realization, he slips his arms around me, pulling me close.A thrill courses through me, flutters in my stomach, my heart beating faster.
