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I don’t hear what he asks Matthew, but the boy shakes his head. Then Thor picks up a water bottle on the coffee table and hands it to Matthew. He shakes his head again, but Thor insists and the boy relents. When Thor rises to his feet, he ruffles Matthew’s hair, and I wait for the reaction.
When there is none, I exhale. I wonder if that’s the first time Matthew has let Thor touch him. Thor steps back into the dining area. “Serve, eat, it’s getting cold.”
I bet that even cold, Manny’s tastes exceptional, but I don’t say that as I open the containers and plate up the feast.
“It’s new.”
I snap my head up at Thor’s voice as I scoop spinach onto my plate.
“The hair ruffling. He let me touch him this morning for the first time. It feels like such progress. I’m trying not to push his limits, but I really just want to grab him into a giant hug.” The pride is as clear as the cheek dimples on his face, and I can’t help the wave of satisfaction and excitement that crashes into me.
“I’m so happy for you, Thor. That’s fantastic.”
And it is. It’s a definite step forward for the two of them.
“This is quite an extravagant business dinner.” I shovel a forkful of the mac and cheese into my mouth and almost come on the spot. Jesus Christ on a cookie, this is delicious. I don’t think I’ve ever had such creamy, cheesy, exquisite mac and cheese in my life.
“I felt like I needed to sweeten the deal.”
I’d smile at him, but I’m too busy inhaling this meal. If I don’t slow down I’m going to get heartburn, or puke. Maybe both. It’s just so good.
“My Mom fell and broke her hip.”
As much as I should feel empathy, or sympathy, the first emotion to course through my veins at his words is dread.
A broken hip doesn’t heal quickly.
A broken hip means my position would be more than a week while we wait for her to arrive.
A broken hip is a big fucking problem.
The steak I just swallowed sticks halfway down my chest. No amount of gulping will shift the wad of meat wedged in my esophagus. “I can’t.”
“I didn’t even ask you anything... yet.”
Thumping at my chest, I try to clear my throat before chugging down half my glass of wine. “You’re going to ask me to watch your kid until your mom recovers.”
He points a finger at me. “Yes, I was most definitely going to do that.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?” He pops a mushroom in his mouth and chews slowly.
“I don’tdokids.”
“But youdoneed a job.”
I nod. “I can’t stay here though.” Shame consumes my entire body like a wildfire. “I-I-I...”
He takes my hand in his, giving it a squeeze. “What’s going on? Let me in, maybe I can help.” He pauses. “Maybe we can help each other.”
Finishing the rest of my wine, he pours me another. “You can Uber home. I feel like this discussion calls for more wine.” He tops up his glass.
I take another healthy slug of wine, shovel another mouthful of mac and cheese in my mouth, and when I’ve swallowed, I feel more ready to share my clusterfuck of a situation with this almost-stranger. Maybe by the time I’m finished telling him how much of a screw up I am, he won’t want me to watch Matthew after all. That’ll fix everything.
Okay, it won’t fix anything, but it’ll make my Wonder Woman undies a moot point.
Not meeting his gaze, I launch into my story. My savings being used for my fucked up car. My potential roommate bailing on me at the eleventh hour after I’d signed a lease for the two of us. And my handsy boss who has block-listed me in the industry I’ve wanted to work in since I was a little girl.
