Page 43 of Hello Kitten

He sighs, but doesn’t say anything as he leads me inside, not touching me since he’s sure I can walk well enough. Apparently, we’re not worth any kind of attention to the hostess of whatever diner this is because she seats us, goes to get the coffee and water that Adrian asked for and then leaves us alone for a while.

“You cancelled class today,” I mumble.

“Yes,” he says simply.

It’s uncomfortable to be close to him. I’m not supposed to be. Looking at him, talking to him, being here at all feels more dangerous than walking home alone. But once we get coffee and water, both of which are pushed towards me, I perk up. I don’t pay attention to what he orders, I just pour a ridiculous amount of sugar and creamer into my coffee until I can tolerate drinking it.

“That’s hardly coffee,” Adrian grumbles.

I look up at him, then realize he’s in a very soft, worn t-shirt. Pushing back from the table, I look under it and find him in pajama pants. I blink at him a few times, then blush. “I woke you up.”

“Yes,” he sighs.

“You didn’t have to answer.”

“Yes I did,” he says, pouring coffee in a mug of his own. “Whenever you call, I’ll answer.”

“That’s stupid,” I mutter.

He shakes his head and takes a sip of his coffee. “Keep drinking.”

I drink two mugs of coffee until I feel like I’m shaking with the mix of alcohol and caffeine. Just when I’m about to burst and ask Adrian every question I can think of, waffles appear in front of me.

I glance up at Adrian and he smiles softly. “You told me you prefer waffles to pancakes.”

“Why would you remember that?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Felt important.”

I glimpse at the sun on his bicep, peeking out from under his sleeve. “Still believe every day is a new opportunity?”

“Yes,” he says calmly. “I’m thinking about getting another one.”

“One you like or one that has meaning?”

“Both,” he answers softly. “An origami rabbit.”

I almost spit out my bite of waffle. I cough a few times, but Adrian just watches me. I don’t like the insinuation. But I wasn’t making rabbits. I was making birds. It’s not the same. It’s fine.

“I like the Chinese plate style—the Blue willow—with the blue and white. I was thinking of doing that as the paper with the folds done in gold,” he mumbles. “Maybe I’ll simplify and do a teacup repaired with gold and have the origami with it on a plate or something.”

“Why both?”

“Fixing broken things makes them stronger and more beautiful. I don’t know how well my skin will take the blue. We’ll have to see,” he says gently.

“And the origami?” I ask.

He takes another drink of coffee. “How does your knee feel?”

“I’m clumsy when drunk. It’s fine”

“It could have been worse, Emily. I don’t like you drinking this much. It’s not my business—you’ll say that—but you have so much to offer and I don’t want you getting hurt,” he murmurs.

I gulp as he sighs and continues.

“Whether you’re with me or not, I prefer you in one piece. I don’t want you seeing how bad the world can be and you being drunk and wild can appeal to the wrong kind of people,” he says and nods once. “I said it. I won’t lecture you.”

“Being drunk and wild also brought me to you once,” I whisper.

---