Page 99 of Time Stops With You

Perhaps I came on too strong. I do have a tendency of being blunt, especially now that time feels so finite and fleeting. Exchanging pleasantries, dancing around the point, pretending I feel something I don’t, it’s meaningless.

Life is about taking risks where it counts.

I did so with the company.

And now I’ll do so with Nardi.

I won’t have to twist her arm too hard either. I saw the way her eyes glazed with desire on the counter. I saw her bite her bottom lip when I promised to please her. I felt her exhale against my lips when I leaned in just short of kissing her.

Had she not been loopy on pain medication and bandaged from her elbow to her wrist, I would have taken her mouth the way everything inside me longed to do.

It was a test of restraint to hold back, so I’m glad she kicked me out. One of us needs to be clear-headed, and that person isn’t going to be me.

My stomach growls, mourning the loss of an opportunity to experience Nardi’s cooking. No matter. Soon, I’ll have a taste of Nardi herself. It’ll more than satisfy.

I walk down the hallway and face the stairway of doom. Pushing up my sleeves, I get ready to make the long, tiring trek when I hear Josiah’s voice.

“Cullen!” He runs toward me, holding something in his hands. “Cullen!”

“Josiah? What are you doing out here?” My eyes widen and I panic. “Did Nardi kick you out because of me?”

“No.” Josiah snorts. “She sent this.” He hands me a covered plate. I recognize the savory smells wafting from the container. This is the meal I’d warmed up before Nardi kicked me out. “She said to tell you her debt is paid and she doesn’t owe you anything.”

The plate is heavy, but this isn’t what I want from her. “Did she say anything else?”

“Um…” The little boy’s eyes track to the ceiling.

“Go ahead.”

“She said you can ‘go to hell’.” Josiah scratches behind his ear, his gaze still fastened on the ceiling.

I chuckle. “What time is school tomorrow?”

“Eight.”

“Does Nardi normally drop you off or do you take the bus?”

“Nardi takes me before she goes to work.”

I tap a note in my phone. “Nardi will try to drive you tomorrow. Go ahead and let her.”

“But the doctor said she shouldn’t drive,” Josiah reminds me.

“I know.”

“You’re going to take us, aren’t you?”

“I am.”

Josiah’s expression turns contemplative.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“‘Go to hell’ isn’t all that Nardi said.” He stammers. “She also used some other words that I’m not allowed to say.”

This time, I manage to contain my laughter, but it’s only by pulling my lips into my mouth and breathing deeply.

“Josiah.”

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