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“Let’s get some dinner,” he says, wiping his hands and leading me away from the scene. The groaning jocks on the sand make me smile for some reason.
Wishing I’d had Michael in college when jocks just like these would torment me about my weight.
“Wha- What did you tell them?” I finally ask, needing to know as we climb the steep path back up to the house after he double-checks the gate is closed and locked.
Michael shrugs with a smile.
“I only mentioned I’d be back down after dinner to make sure the beach was clear and to make sure they took all their trash with them,” he says matter of fact.
“You were great,” I gush, suddenly tearful, unable to control the memories anymore, he takes a hold of me.
“Hey,” he says gently, hugging me close and stroking my hair. “It’s all over now.” He soothes me, and I almost want to tell him why it’s upset me so much but it’s like he keeps saying.
That part of my life is over now. New beginnings.
With his arm still around me, we make it back inside just in time for the front gate intercom to go off.
“Dinner’s here,” Michael says, settling me down on a kitchen stool, asking if I’ll be alright while he goes to get it.
I nod and sniffle, feeling like an idiot.
Pull yourself together, Nat.
The tears keep coming, but soon enough I realize I really don’t have anything to be scared of anymore.
Not with Michael by my side.
I haven’t cried my last tears, but I have cried the last for my past.
That’s how it feels when Michael comes back into the kitchen with what looks like the biggest platter of sushi ever seen.
He sets it down and makes sure I really am okay again before he sets about arranging some chopsticks and sauces, wasabi, and everything else I know I’m not very good at handling.
Like the beach, I’ve never really tried sushi.
Not the proper kind like this anyway.
But with some gentle coaching and plenty of dropped food we both settle on just using our fingers, and I forget all about what happened on the beach.
Enjoying Michael’s company, with great food in such an amazing house kind of cancels out everything negative. Even if I am used to hanging on to the bad stuff in my mind.
I get full pretty quickly, but Michael seems content to pick away at the huge mountain of food, giving me a friendly warning that I should eat up while I have the chance.
“You’ll need your strength,” he cautions me with a grin, making me blush as I look at the clock on the wall.
Almost counting down until he can bed me properly, without train noises or cramped compartments.
“Are you gonna want to beat up on every person who calls me a name?” I eventually ask. He stops eating long enough to answer.
“If they say what they said down there and throw something that could potentially hurt you? Yes,” he says with a creased brow before relaxing and smiling.
“I didn’t beat up on them anyway,” he reasons aloud. “I just moved out of their way. Karma took care of the rest.” He beams, quietly recalling his victory.
I have to agree, but tell him I don’t want him to rescue me every time someone says something horrible.
“Who says they will?” he asks, but my ringing phone breaks the moment.
I should’ve turned it off, but I’ve been hoping I could call or text Suze before now.
And I half-expect it is her, but it’s not.
It’s my mom.
“You should get that,” Michael says, not even looking to see who it might be.
Like he just knows as well as I do who is calling.
He starts to clear away the counter, giving me some privacy as he walks over to the other side of the kitchen. I pick at my food as he puts the leftovers away.
I was hoping to reach or be reached by Suze beforehand, but something tells me mom hasn’t managed to get hold of either of us until I pick up.
Her voice is strained like she’s hiding her worry.
My first thought is what’s dad done now? But it’s clear soon enough that it’s me she’s worried about.
And Suze, of course.
“Nat? What’s going on? I thought I told you, girls, to call me as soon as you got off the train and then again once you got back to the house.”
She’s trying to sound calm, but the rise in tone gives her away.
It’s her freaking out voice.
Before I can say anything, she’s already told me she can’t reach Suze either.
“Just tell me you’re safe,” she says with a sigh. “Tell me I’m overreacting, sweetie.”
I look over to Michael, who’s still towering over a mountain of food with his back to me.
His huge body flexes with no effort as he makes the smallest movement.
