Page 26 of Omega Artist
Her soft giggle makes me happy. I love this girl, but it’s my turn to laugh my ass off when she adds, “Anyway, I disagree because I trust my dad.” She makes a sweeping gesture with her arms, as if to prove that I’m out of my mind.
And just like that, my mind is assaulted by the unwanted vision of a shirtless Graham; I choke on the remainder of my popcorn. I saw his chest back when I fixed his tattoo. From what I remember, he had some, but this conversation is just too much anyway.
“Okay, Chloe…” I cough into my elbow to contain the potential germs. A practice that Delia instilled in me. Old habits die hard. But now, Chloe does it too, and I find that incredibly endearing. “Who’s inappropriate now? That’s TMI right there!”
“Oh, puh-leeeease!” She taps on my back to help dislodge the popcorn from my throat. “I heard Soraya make fun of your friend from the gym because he shaved his torso to show off his muscles.”
“Who? Lucas?” She nods again, and I’m torn whether to continue this awkwardly fascinating conversation about body hair with a ten-year-old. After all, I, too, am mostly hairless to showcase and enhance my tattoos.
“That’s not the point, Chloe.” I sigh as I make a subtle change of topic. “You know I don’t like werewolves, right?”
“True. You did say that once.” She stands up and leaves the room before I’m able to reply, coming back with two cans of Dr. Pepper. This guilty pleasure is part of the ritual on the occasional weekends that I babysit her, as is playing Super Smash Bros on Sunday morning. She’s always excited to let Shulk—who is said to favor brains over brawn—beat the crap out of Palutena—the light goddess that I choose to fight in the video game.
“Uncle Tig?”
“What?” I turn my attention back to Chloe after she plops onto the couch and lands a second punch to the arm that startles me. Again.
“You’ve been daydreaming a lot… You never used to be like this.” She squirms in place, finally abandoning pale Edward—who’s having a pissing contest with Jacob—in favor of yours truly.
Her comment troubles me somehow, and I freeze instinctively, thankful that she chose to focus on something other than my suddenly flushed face.
So much for being a suitable babysitter… At least I’m reliable, right?
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t know how to explain it... You’re much more relaxed than you used to be.” She shrugs, visibly struggling to find the right words. “You don’t frown as often as you used to.”
“Get out of here!” It’s my turn to gently slap her arm. She chortles at that. “Are you serious right now? I don’t frown!” I counter.
“Of course, you do! See, here.” Her delicate index finger, coated in grease and salt from the popcorn, traces a line between my brows to prove her point. “A frown.” She pauses.
A shy smile takes residence on her pretty face as she pauses one more time, but I have to interrupt her. She’s on point, but the way she expresses things is adorable. I focus on suppressing my impending laughter, though; I wouldn’t want Chloe to believe that I’m making fun of her. I think that she’s too cute and too smart for my emotionally impaired self. She has a unique way of drawing out some of my most deeply-buried emotions, and whenever she’s around, I’m teetering between laughing and crying.
I love Soraya, but young Chloe gets me on a whole different level; she doesn’t accept any of my bullshit excuses and calls me out on my legendary grumpiness.
“So…” One gulp of her soda is enough to start grilling me again… because I’m well aware that’s where this is heading.
At least, it’s a nice change from the ridiculous comments shot at me by some former friends earlier this month. Of course, I had to run into them when I was parting ways with my Swedish hookup whose handle I don’t remember. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’m not an asshole, mind you. I don’t fuck around and choose my women carefully. We’re consenting adults craving a quick and fun release. That’s why the second that I slide out of them, I forget. Simple as that.
“Sooo…” she repeats patiently.
No potential for commitment. They’ve been warned, but sometimes I have to play dirty when I misjudge them and have a stage five clinger on my hands. But my former friends couldn’t grasp my point; they were too busy comparing the size of their dicks and being spiteful that women clearly showed a preference for mine. Assholes! These are the same idiots who had the nerve to ask how many women I’d nailed within the last six months, as if it was a contest. The same morons who had ignored my silent disapproval and kept flapping their big mouths, as if they were jealous. The same jerks who had cheered on my exploits with raunchy sneers on their fucking faces and called me a manwhore in the next breath.
What didn’t these fuckers get? I’m no whore; I’m just a lonely guy with a sickening need to forget the only woman that he’s ever loved and who left him for good. I’m no player, unless women give me the green light for a good time. I’m no playboy; I don’t collect fancy items to inflate my ego and impress my friends… Still, as soon as I sense a clingy vibe in a woman, I’m out of the door so fast that she might not realize I showed up. That’s why I tend to prefer anonymous hookups nowadays.
Fuck my life! I hate coming home to a place which feels as hollow as my dead heart… unless I’m around Chloe, who doesn’t judge me.
“So what?”
“Oh, puh-lease. I’m being serious here… You’re… different. In a good way, I mean. Is it okay if I ask what happened?”
I grin at her. “Why, thank you!” I swallow nervously. “And of course it’s okay for you to ask. We’re not keeping secrets from one another, are we?” She shakes her head. I spring up and start pacing the room, mustering the courage to admit what’s been going on in my life. The funny thing is that I hadn’t realized the effect it had on me.Shehad on me. Alie. “If you must know, I’ve met someone.” Chloe’s wide smile encourages me, and I stand straighter. “She’s interesting. She’s different. She’s intriguing.”
“You sound like you’re smitten.” Her voice is soft and matter-of-fact.
Smitten… What a funny word! What an accurate word! What a scary word!
I gawk. “How come you even know such a word?”
