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“What do you mean?” I asked. She looked at me. “I thought I would feel better, happier, that this weight would be lifted from my chest. But I still feel the same. I’m glad he’s gone; I’d do it again in a heartbeat. But I don’t feel any better. I still feel,” she looked at me then Arturo and shook her head, “never mind.” She stood up and took her plate to the sink and started to wash it.
Arturo looked at me, raising his eyebrows, and gesturing to her. I nodded. He stood up and walked his plate over to her. “I am going to go for a run.” He put his hand on her shoulder. “Are you sure you’re good?”
She looked up at him and nodded, leaning over onto his shoulder. “I'm a good Artie.”
He kissed her on the top of the head and turned around to look at me. He punched me in the shoulder and raised his eyebrows before walking out. I was glad they were close; I knew they both needed it. I think some part of her reminded him of Charlie. He felt protective over her, he couldn't save Charlie, but he could save the girl in front of him. I’d be lying if there wasn’t a part of me that was jealous. She still hadn’t smiled at me. Hadn’t leaned onto my shoulder for comfort, besides falling asleep on accident. Just when I thought she might let me have a peek over the walls she had built, I felt like she just built it higher. I picked up my plate and walked over. “You wash, I’ll dry?”
“Sure.”
We sat there in silence washing the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen. I bent down putting the eggs back in the fridge letting out a grunt.
“You shouldn't have dived onto Michael like you did.”
I looked at her and shook my head. “Right. I should have just let him have you.”
“That's not what I meant.”
“I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I’d have dove in front of a bullet if it came to that.”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t need you to do that for me.”
