Page 54 of Trust Me

“Sure, but do you need more all the time?”

His lips thinned for a second. “Need? Maybe not.”

“Is there some significance to them?”

He readjusted on the floor, then hung his arms over his knees. “I like adding things to my home. Things that are mine. I’ve never had my own space.”

“You didn’t have your own room?”

He looked at me, and there was a strange distance in his eyes. “Or a home.”

“Oh.”

Remembering what he’d said about people getting weird when he shared, I tried to measure my reaction. For some reason, I slid off the couch to sit closer to him on the floor. He met my eyes, raising one brow. Surprisingly, he didn’t look sad like I thought he would.

“I’m sorry,” I said lamely.

“No need to be. I’m one of many.”

“Still sucks ass. Also, I’m not sure what you mean. Was your family homeless? Or were you sent away from your home planet, only to land on Earth, lost and confused?”

He chuckled, making dimples appear on his cheeks. “Foster care, born and raised. Aged out with the same name I went in with.”

“Damn. Right from the start?”

“Yup. I don’t know the details. Never asked. I just know I was a baby, which makes it easier to find a family, but it doesn’t happen for everyone. Shame too. I bet I was a damn cute baby.”

I smiled a little despite the way the conversation had turned.

“What about your family?” he asked before I could say anything. He leaned closer. “Tell me everything.”

“There’s not much to tell.”

“Bullshit. Your story just feels more normal after my significantly darker lore drop. Start with your mom. What’s she do?”

“Twenty years as a nurse. Outside of family, that hospital’s her life.”

“Damn, I bet she’s got some good stories. Nurses always do.”

“Let’s just say she’s seen quite a few strange objects in people’s . . . cavities.”

Oli burst into laughter, and his hand landed on my thigh. “God, I’ll have to ask her about all of them.”

When I shifted away, he pulled his hand back and set it in his lap. Clearing his throat, he grabbed a random piece of mail and tore through the side of it.

“What about your dad?”

“He was in the army,” I replied. “Now, he’s disabled.”

“What happened?”

“Brain injury.” I nodded slowly when his face softened. “It’s hard, but they’re strong people. They manage.”

Looking at one of the letters, I tried to avoid his gaze. He seemed like the type to pry, and I didn’t really want to get deeper into it right now. More than that, I didn’t want him to get weird and start apologizing or something.

“I’m starving,” he said while his eyes scanned the paper. “I could order something.”

I leaned forward. “Nah, that’s one of the things you do too much of. Have you seen all those fees?”