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"Do you have to meet your boyfriend somewhere?"
"No. I promised a friend I'd come see them." Is Rory a friend? The word doesn't feel right when I think it. And I didn't promise to see anyone but more like come back home to him. To my demon. Wait… he's not mine. He is, however, sitting at the house all alone, probably wondering how to work the ice machine on the fridge or struggling to figure out the trash can.
"In that case, I'll try not to keep you." We walk to the register and he ends up buying both my books despite me objecting. When he hands me the bag, our gazes meet, and his blue eyes remind me of Rory again. I can't stop thinking about him being alone.
He doesn't have anyone else and hasn't been on earth in a long time. But I left him anyway. I left him. My heart aches from guilt and I hate my next words as we're about to enter the bakery. "I'm sorry. I can't, sorry. I just realized the time and I'm already really late. Maybe I'll see you around again sometime," I say, clutching my bag tighter.
"But—"
"I really am sorry. Thank you so much for the books and I hope you enjoy your cake."
Fuck, I'm an asshole. The disappointment and confusion in the stranger's eyes stays with me all the way back to the house. As I step out of the rental my brother, Charlie had dropped off for me, I notice a familiar cat walking down the porch steps.
"Hey there, stranger. Where have you been all this time?" I reach down to pet him and he meows, rubbing against my leg.
"I see. Only come back when you need something. Just like everyone else."
Everyone buthim. Except Rory didn't come here for me. He came for Albert. With nowhere else to go and looking the way he does, he has no choice but to stay. What if he's also holding out hope for Albert to come back? He says he lived here but my family has owned this property ever since the house was first built.
Either way, I have to not forget a very important detail, whether it sometimes feels like the opposite or not—Rory isn't here for me.
The cat follows me into the house and doesn't stop circling my legs until I set down a can of tuna for him. Leaving him to eat, I search each room, not finding Rory in any of them. Did he go outside? He did say he loved the water and to swim—two things Theon was never a fan of. I don't know why he agreed to have our honeymoon out here. He kept asking how secluded it was too and if there were neighbors. I figured it was because he wanted me all to himself but now I'm not so sure since it turns out he never wanted me to begin with.
"Rory," I call out, not spotting him anywhere. The sun is already fading, leaving red and yellow hues in the sky. Waves crash against the sand and I walk along the water, freezing when I see the boat is in a place it wasn't before. My heart nearly stops. Did he go somewhere? Did someone see him? Why would he leave when he told me it wasn't safe? Was he looking for me?
I'm clearly mistaken. The boat has been here this whole time and my brain is confusing itself.
"Coming out here for a swim?" The deep, soothing voice has my heart skipping.
"I was looking for you," I say, turning around.
"Well here I am." He's standing naked, his black skin and hair wet, leaving droplets on the sand. He smiles and touches my arm when I start shivering, the heat from his body traveling to the center of my chest. Why did I leave again?
Because the way he makes me feel confuses me and I don't have a logical brain when he's around. I move without thinking and soon I won't remember how to go in the right direction.
"Did you enjoy your time out in town?"
"Yeah. Drank a frozen hot chocolate. Met a new friend. Got some new books."
"Sounds like a good day." He strokes my arm, every part he touches buzzing and leaving me with a high feeling I've only experienced with him. Weird.
"Yeah. It was. I'm sorry I left."
He lifts his other hand and cups my face, making me feel like I'm everything in the fucking world.Don't fall for it. It wasn't real before and isn't now.
"Oh, sweetheart. That's okay. I'm glad you're enjoying your vacation. You're back now. That's all that matters."
"Yeah." My eyes stay on his, getting lost in his gray-blue irises. I'm drowning in them and I'm not ready to come up for air.
"Come swim with me?" His sharp claws scratch against the side of my head and my eyes fight the urge to roll in the back of my head. I'd probably agree to anything right now.
"Okay."
He takes his warmth with him when he moves closer to the water. Stripping down to my underwear, I get in behind him and we swim until we're both tired and starving.
"Breakfast for dinner?" he asks, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the house.
"Sure." Freezing and wet everywhere, I tremble. His tail lights up a little, wrapping around me, and I lean closer, too comfortable to be anywhere else.
