Page 40 of My Sweet Dollie, You Have to Love Me
That feeling of relaxation slips away, replaced by a random thought that she’s seen that part of him.
It’s been ten fucking years.
She’s probably seen all parts of him.
Done all sorts of things with him.
They could be married.
They could have kids.
I find myself looking around to see anything that would hint at their lives.
There are no toys around, but there is nothing unusual around.
The minimal shit here is mine.
Fear crawls inside me. That can’t be her life. The cruel voice in my head forgets the mess and taunts that it is.
“I definitely don’t think anyone would turn these down for free.” He finishes up the third cupcake.
“Shane.” There’s pain in her voice as she pulls me back to her. “I worked on these for two hours.”
“I know. I took you to get the stuff, and I’ve had to stay here the whole time because you’re afraid to be left alone in case the ghosts get you.” He looms over her, hands in the air as if that makes him look spooky.
Dollie cowers but still pushes at his chest for a little distance.
She hates crowding.
How the fuck could he not know that?
The space between them stays the same, as he doesn’t budge, and it straightens my spine.
What the fuck is he doing? Trying to intimidate her?
Why do that to a girl? Use your strength to bring protection, not fear.
“A little space, please.”
“God, what’s your problem?” He looms that little bit closer, then closer until she jumps. Finally, he backs off before my teeth grind to dust.
“I told you that in confidence,” she whispers.
“Why are you whispering? Are you afraid they’ll hear you?” He stuffs another chocolate-frosted cake into his mouth.
The look of deflation on her face could kill me if I stared at her long enough.
They can’t be married. They can’t share children.
She isn’t fucking his.
“Look,” he talks with a full mouth, and a sickly taste fills my mouth.
My nostrils flare as I see the spit and all it carries flying out.
“I know coming back here was rough. The stuff on the walls in here, in there, the nightmares last night after sleeping on that shitty sofa.”
What the fuck is wrong with my sofa?
