Page 65 of Lorcan
Lorcan stared. “Cody, it’s just after noon.”
“It’s a cold and rainy day. We don’t have to be anywhere. You brought your pajamas too, right?” He’d said something about never needing them before his apartment but, even with a ton of blankets, he found himself getting cold.
I hadn’t asked why he didn’t just turn up the heat.
Heat cost money. Secondhand pajamas were not nearly as expensive, and they’d last for a long time.
“Plus, I saw them and I think they’re adorable.”
He rolled his eyes. “They’re reindeers.”
“Perfect for the season.” I gestured for him to go grab them out of his backpack. “We need to talk about decorating my place. I have a box of holiday décor in my storage locker. Aunt Genessa started a collection for me almost a decade ago.”
“Wow.” He paused with his pajamas half in and half out of his bag.
I moved to him. “What?”
“We—” He swallowed. “We had really nice Christmas stuff. Twenty-five years’ worth of memories in several boxes. All sold at an auction for mere dollars.”
“You really didn’t get to keep anything?”
He shook his head. “Just a few mementos. So many people lost money because of Stephen. I couldn’t justify trying to keep things that might, I don’t know—” He flapped his hand. “I know it didn’t make any difference, not really. But I felt like I didn’t deserve nice things. Not when families lost their deposits. When creditors were facing bankruptcy because of the bills we hadn’t paid. Plus, I didn’t know where I was going to end up. If I went to prison, I wouldn’t have money to store stuff anyway.”
My heart ached for him. For the man who’d nearly broken because of a selfish and greedy ex-husband.
I took the backpack from him. I removed the pajamas and handed them to him. “When you’re dressed, I have a treat for you.”
“Yeah?” Certainly very little enthusiasm.
“Well, yeah.” I stood straighter. “You’re going to like this treat.” Even as I said the words, though, I wasn’t convinced. Still, I conveyed the confidence I didn’t feel inside.
“Okay.” He pointed to the spare bedroom.
I nodded, trying not to feel hurt that he was putting a bit of distance between us. As he headed over, though, I asked, “Food?”
Breakfast had been several hours ago.
Slowly, he turned. “I’m not really hungry. That milkshake was filling.” Then he spun back and left the room.
The milkshake he’d barely had five sips of. He’d coaxed me into drinking most of it and, as I’d anticipated, the thing had been amazing.
Since I wasn’t hungry either, I padded into my bedroom. I pulled the box with all the dog paraphernalia off the shelf and moved it to my bed.
First, I pulled out his collar and placed it prominently. Then I laid out paws, ears, a tail, the squeaky squirrel, and a stuffie.
Then I waited.
And waited.
Part of me worried that he’d changed his mind. That he’d gotten dressed and was going to leave.Have more faith in him. Have more faith in yourself. Not everyone walks out.The irony was that I’d been the one to walk out of my family’s home. But, in every way that counted, they’d abandoned me.
Lorcan knocked on the open door, then slowly entered the room.
As I hoped, his eyes lit when he saw the various things I’d laid on the bed.
He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry.”
I shook my head. “I told you that I suspected you’d have triggers. I can be as careful as possible, but I couldn’t have predicted that a discussion about Christmas decorations would hurt you so much.”
