I raked my fingers through my hair while I went to the bathroom and was pleasantly surprised when I stepped into the shower. The water was warm. I stood there with my hands out, feeling the heat for several minutes. A hot shower was something I had taken for granted. It was something I knew I could always have, just a normal part of life. Having that taken away and being forced to wash my abused body in icy cold water was just another way Nate proved he had control over us. Each droplet of warm water that splashed down my skin was almost like I was taking something back.#p#分页标题#e#
I showered quickly and toweled off even quicker. I dressed in Jackson’s clothes and slowly cracked the door open. He hadn’t returned yet, and the bedroom door was still closed. I flipped my head upside down and rubbed at my hair, trying to dry it as much as possible before getting back into bed.
A few minutes, after I tucked the blankets around myself, Jackson opened the door carrying a very full tray of wonderful smelling food. His face lit up when his eyes met mine, and I felt a rush of something I hadn’t felt in a long time flash through my body.
“Do you like biscuits and gravy?” he asked. “I just assumed and made it. I can make you something else if you don’t like it,” he added quickly.
“I love it,” I said truthfully and lunged forward to grab a bowl. Even if I hadn’t liked it, eating something warm and fresh wasn’t something I was about to pass up. I stuck a spoonful in my mouth. “It’s delicious,” I praised. “You’re a good cook.”
Jackson sat at the foot of the bed, keeping a careful distance. I wanted to tell him he didn’t have to stay away, that I liked him being next to me. I didn’t, though. What if he didn’t like being close to me?
He raised an eyebrow incredulously. “I’ve never cooked for you before today.”
I shook my head. “You brought me barbeque chicken and mashed potatoes.”
“Oh, right. I forgot about that. Still, that’s only two things.”
I ate a few more spoonfuls before speaking. “I can always smell what you make.” I tore apart the biscuit. “And it always smells good.”
Jackson shrugged off the compliment. “Thanks. I like to cook. Everyone leaves me alone when I do.”
“You know how messed up that is?” I said with my mouthful.
Jackson raised his eyebrows and sighed. “I know how messed up everything around here is.” He tipped his head down and focused on his food.
I slowly chewed my last spoonful and stared at Jackson, madly trying to think of something to say. I hated seeing him looking so dejected.
“You have a lot of books,” I commented. My eyes darted to the cardboard box of books that sat in the corner by his closet.
He nodded and waited until he was finished chewing to answer. “Nate lets me read. It keeps me quiet, I guess.” He shook his head. “Reading is a good way to escape the hell we’re in.”
“I had just gotten an email from one of my favorite authors the day I was taken.”
Suddenly, my happy thoughts shifted. I had never gotten to reply to that email. I wondered what that author thought…or what anyone who followed my blog thought. Two other people ran the blog with me. Surely by now Lori and Lindsay knew I had been taken and wasn’t blowing them off. Had they written a post about my disappearance? Maybe Lynn or my sister took it upon themselves to email them.
“You okay?” Jackson asked.
“Yeah.” I blinked back the tears. “Memories,” I said shortly and pulled my lips over my teeth.
“What do—well, did you do for fun?” he asked after a few seconds, changing the subject
“Read, but you know that,” I answered. “I liked to train my dogs. Scarlet is certified to do therapy. In the summer, we’d go to nursing homes and this school by our house for disabled children. The kids love her. We used to do agility, but she’s too old for that now. I was going to start working with Rhett over the summer.” I paused and heavily exhaled. “And I like anything that has to do with the paranormal. Lynn, my best friend, and I go ‘exploring’ anywhere remotely creepy to try and find ghosts. I like to paint too, but I’m not very good at it. I might have an unhealthy obsession with Dr. Who. And sometimes I play video games.” It felt weird to think about the activities I used to do just for fun. “Saying it all out loud makes me sound like a nerd,” I added with a small smile.#p#分页标题#e#
“I don’t think so. It all sounds fun,” Jackson told me. “I don’t believe in ghosts.”