Michael beamed back at me, but the smile didn’t last very long once he spotted Simeon behind me.
“Hey, Michael. I thought I would pay Cassie a visit and see how she’s getting on.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Simon looking back and forth between Michael and Simeon. I imagined he could sense the tension in the air, too.
With a sharp intake of breath, Simon stood up and slapped his hands on his legs. “Well, I must be off. I just wanted to make sure you were healing okay.”
Smiling brightly, I held the door open. “I’ll see you out.” I wanted Simon alone because we had some unfinished business I wanted to wrap up.
Once we were out the front door, Simon turned to say goodbye. “Simon, please let me do this.”
He shook his head. “This is too much. You’ve only just come out of the hospital.”
I held onto the door, gripping it with all my might. “If you won’t let me do this for you, please let me do this for me. I know it sounds selfish, but I need this. I need something to keep my mind off of everything that’s happened. Please.”
Simon fell silent and dipped his head. I was wondering if he was going to say “no” again. In fact, I was expecting it. Finally, he blew out a breath. “Okay. I’ll see what I can organise and be in touch.”
Sighing heavily, I felt rejuvenated somehow. It would beat sitting around the house all day. “Thank you, Simon. That means a lot.”
He laughed. “I don’t know how this can mean a lot to you. Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around? I’m the one seeking answers, but you’re the one offering yourself up on a plate for them. I owe you the world for what you’ve already done for me.”
Looking into his eyes, I could see the hurt written all over them. I could see how appreciative he was and it almost made the tears well up.
“Well, I better be off. Sharice will be wondering where the hell I am.”
I thought about her being pregnant and felt empathy for her. “Of course. She must be waiting for you. She needs you now, Simon. You have a child on the way.”
I saw the bright smile and it made one break out on my face. Just that one little gesture had me forgetting my own troubles for a split second.
Taking the steps down to the pavement, Simon nodded. “I’ll be in touch.” And with a wave, he was gone. Time to face the music inside my flat. I didn’t know whether I welcomed it or not.
Shutting the door behind me, I made my way into the room only to find Michael and Simeon eating my pizza with the biggest, cheesiest grins on their faces.
“Hold up a sec. Are you eating my pizza?”
Simeon just smiled and, with a mouthful of pizza, said, “Oh, come on, Cassie. There’s plenty to go around. Come, sit.”
Smiling, I walked over to the table and took a seat. Michael grabbed a slice and placed it on a plate for me.
“You taste,” he murmured between bites. “The best pizza, remember?”
Nodding, I picked up the pizza and thought about tasting what smelled so good. I took one bite and closed my eyes, savouring the flavours bursting in my mouth. I could taste cheese, herbs, tomatoes, sausage, ham—all just zooming its way to the back of my throat. My god, I wanted this. You didn’t appreciate how much you missed these moments until they were suddenly taken from you. I had nothing but hospital food for the past week.
“Wow, watching you is almost perverted.”
I turned toward Simeon and saw his cheeky smile. The one that didn’t belong to him. I couldn’t help it, though. I had to smile back.
“Sorry. I suppose I missed it. Michael, you’re right. This pizza is the best I’ve ever tasted.”
He raised his slice up in salute. “See. I told you.”
As we sat eating, I pondered the uneasy feeling I had in my stomach. Here I was, sitting with both Michael and Simeon, yet there was no animosity. When Michael and Stephen were together, they were constantly at each other’s throats. I understood why, but I couldn’t help feeling immensely sorry for Stephen. He was the outcast—the dark one. I just wished they could see what I saw. Stephen deserved to have this level of intimacy with his brother. It broke my heart to think he hadn’t had that for a very long time.
I shook my head, not wanting to think about it anymore. What was done, was done. Stephen was where he belonged and I hoped he was finally at peace, finally happy.
“So, what happens now?”
My question halted their chewing. “What do you mean?” Michael frowned.
“Does this mean the danger is finally over? I don’t understand how everything can go back to normal now, just like that.”