Page 52 of Collateral Damage

“I suck at this OK!”Me and her both. But we are both getting a giggle out of it and that mischievous little smile is starting to grow on me a little too much.

“It's black,like my soul.” She yanks herself up from the bed, clapping her hands in slow rhythmic fashion.

“Did I ever tell you you're an A* comedian?” My wrist rolls, bending slightly to poorly bow at her mockery.

“I'm kidding. It's orange. Yours?” I’ve never had a favourite colour really, not until now anyway, as I stare into her most rich shade of amber. Her face scrunches in concentration and it's honestly the cutest thing I've ever fucking seen.

“Yellows? Erm… Pastels mostly.”Eew.Really?

“Yellow ishideous.” This conversation is gonna need a beer. I pull myself off the door frame to walk to the kitchen. She bellows like I'm not 3ft away, pitter pattering after me.

“You clearly suck at this too, and what's the difference between yellow and orange!?” I never said I didn't but she was the one who kept pushing and those colours are worlds apart.

“Anyway…Next.” I avoid her question, earning me a stern glare of judgement.

“Er- your favourite food?” I barely eat as it is.

“Take out. Quick and easy.”Little miss‘I eat seven healthy home cooked meals a week’ looks mortified.

“Take out? You don't have a favourite meal?” Besides the odd meals Mom managed to make without a fight, most of it was oven shit and slop.

“Does pussy count?” Her face is priceless and I wish I could frame it.

“Ew!- Gross!” She's visibly gagging and it's exactly why I said it.

“Yours?” Her entire aura shifts and I feel I hit a nerve.

“Spaghetti Bolognese. It's been my favourite since I was a kid. Reminds me of home.”Yeah I definitely hit a nerve.

“I'll have you know I'm an outstanding chef.” My poor attempt to draw that smile out doesn't take long, shaking her head as a smirk appears.

“Oh yeah? They give you cooking lessons in prison?”Oh. Two can play at that game.

“You're underestimating me again. My turn.What's your body count?” Her body stills, side glancing at me with pure and utter disgust.

“You're charming, you know that? Why would I tell you that?” That's just it. I know she won't.

“What is it?” I take a beer from the fridge, guzzling it to drown myself in this painfully cringe small talk.

“A few. It was great.”She's lying.

“Oh yeah?” My ass finds the sofa beside her and she's finally comfortable enough not to flinch, trying to cover her bashful deception. Completely diverting so I don't ask further questions, digging into heramazingsex life.

“How old are you?” I was waiting for that one. It's been almost four months, and she's never commented on my age. Either that or she was scared too.

“I have scars older than you.” Her eyelids drop, kissing her teeth as she attempts to playfully shove me against the arm of the sofa alerting Shep to sit up, trying to get involved in the mischief.

“I'm serious Hayden!” She's totally worried I'm an old creep and I mean. Eleven years is a pretty big jump.

“Why? Nervous?” She thins her lips, having a mini tantrum trying to hide the fact that I think she lowkey finds it attractive I'm a decade older than her.

“Just tell me.” I'll make her work for it.

“Half of 58.” She zones out trying to figure out the sum, already terrified at the high number as she glares at me and the penny drops. Leaping off the sofa like this is going to changeanything, getting Shep all excited as he paws at her legs. She also got that a lot quicker than I was expecting.Smartass.

“You're 29!!!”

“Probably should have asked me that before you stripped in front of me, ayePuppet.” My legs spread wider in front of her as I melt into the sofa, hugging the back of it as I chug another swig, swimming in confidence as I grace her with a wink and her thighs clench tightly together. She’s looking everywhere but at me.

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