Silent No More(64)

“Well, I did…hurt you that is.” He bends down and kisses me in the center of my forehead.

“Fine, you’re sorry and I forgive you. If you let it go and forget about it, then I’ll forget about your fight today. I won’t even ask about it.” That’s a fair deal. Now, he just needs to take it and move on.

He’s looking down at me with his eyebrows scrunched together. His expression tells me he is considering it, and then he takes a sharp breath and exhales.

“That’s a lot easier said than done.” He releases me and takes a step back looking at me. His eyes glide down my body, and rest on my side. He can’t see my ribs, but I know that’s what he’s thinking about.

“My father used to physically and mentally abuse my mother,” he tells me. I tense up at the mention of his dad, remembering the text message from him earlier today. The one I ignored and deleted.

“What?” I question. My eyes are wide. He obviously needs to tell me this, but I’d rather not hear anything concerning that man.

“I’ve hated my father for as long as I can remember. Nikki and I had to watch too many times, him hitting her, kicking her, saying things no one who loves their wife would say.” His eyes are red and he looks up like he’s trying to hold back unshed tears.

“Nick, you aren’t like him,” I attempt to reassure him.

“I know that…at least, I think I do, but…,” he trails off.

“No 'buts'. You. Are. Not. Like. Him.” My voice is a little ragged at the end. He isn’t anything like him. I don’t want him to ever compare himself to that fucked-up man.

He looks back down at me and blows out a breath of air. “I hope you like Chinese. I stopped and got dinner before I came.” I remember hearing a bag when he came in a few minutes ago.

“Then let’s go eat. I’m starving.” I walk past him and head out of the bedroom.

“You ate lunch, right? My sister brought you food today, didn’t she?”

“Yes. I just didn’t finish all of it.” Hopefully, he will leave it at that.

Or maybe not.

“Why?” he asks. His eyebrows are pulled back in.

“Does it really matter?” I answer vaguely as I sit down on the couch. The plastic bag with food is sitting on the coffee table in front of the couch. Nick takes a seat on the couch next to me.

“Because Nikki told you about this?” he says motioning to the cut above his eye. I nod and he clenches his jaw.

“Don’t be mad at her,” I say to him as I lean forward to grab the bag of food and pull cartons out.

“Too late, but that’s okay because she is way overdue for a little brother/sister bonding,” he says sarcastically. I look over at him. He catches my confused look. “You don’t have siblings, do you?” he states while grabbing a carton of Kung Pao Chicken. I grab the Sweet and Sour, digging in with a plastic fork. Nick gives me a questionable look.

“What?” I ask him through a mouthful of food.

“You’re supposed to eat that with chop sticks.” He’s giving me a “you can’t be serious” look.

“Not me. I can’t use those things,” I tell him, pointing to his chopsticks. They are too complicated.

“I can teach you,” he offers.

“No thanks. This fork works just fine,” I say and take a large bite. The food is so good. This is comfort food to me.

“Whatever!” He rolls his eyes. We continue eating in a comfortable silence.

Once our meal has been devoured, Nick gathers the trash and takes it to the trashcan in the kitchen. I’m comfy on the couch so I remain seated, but grab my cellphone when I hear the “pinging” sound, telling me I have a text message. Leaning forward, I retrieve it from the table.





I WON’T BE IGNORED





I gasp when I read the display. Quickly, I swipe the screen to open the message. I know it’s from Nick’s father. It’s the same number I deleted earlier. I quickly do the same, deleting the message from my phone like it was never there. Go the fuck away, damn it.

“Is something wrong? Are you hurting?” I hear Nick say. I look up to him walking back into the living room carrying two beer bottles. As he reaches me, he hands one to me and I stick my hand out to take it from him.

“No,” I respond, then bring the cold bottle to my lips. I don’t think one beer is going to be enough. I guzzle the liquid until I need air. Releasing the bottle, I swallow and then take a deep breath.

“Easy there, killer. There’s only a six pack in the fridge.” I don’t think it’s going to be enough either. I sit the half bottle of beer on the table and then crawl onto Nick’s lap. He proceeds to take a sip of his beer, and then places it next to mine.