Page 74 of Make Me Bleed
Oh, fuck off.
I catch myself playing with my necklace, a stupid smile on my face as I stare at his words. Why is it as easy as breathing with him, all over again? It shouldn’t be. Not after almost two years apart.
But here we are.
As if nothing has changed.
Because even this last week, just flirting through text, it’s been like this. Not having to think twice.
He’s been talking to me like nothing ever happened. Like we didn’t fight or argue, and I don’t know what to make of that, but I’m also too scared to ask, to ruin it.
Me:
I’m going to the laundromat. You can meet me there if you want.
But I am doing my laundry.
And then, I send him the address to the one down the street from where I live. Because clearly, I’m fucking stupid.
Peris never replies, but he does open my text, and I don’t know if that means if he’s coming or not, but either way, I try not to think about it as I finish my joint and drop the roach in the ashtray on the table, extinguishing the cherry as I do.
My body feels like liquid as I move through the apartment and gather my two loads of laundry into bags and haul them over my shoulder. Ensuring I’ve got everything I need, I lock up behind me and start the walk to the laundromat, relishing in the cool air as it rushes against my face.
My hoodie and sweatpants keep me warm, but the cool air begins to seep in by the time I make it inside, and my toes and fingers are numb. It’s thankfully vacant inside and smelling of laundry detergent and dryer sheets as I drop my bags to the ground in front of the washers and open the lids. I don’t bother separating my clothes as I dump the bags into two separate washers, throw detergent in after, and start the loads on cold water only. As the water fills the basins, the scent wafts into the air, filling my nostrils with lavender. I inhale deeply, eyes closing briefly for a moment before I close the lids, gather my bags, and find a seat in the far right corner of the small building.
Some game show is playing on the small box T.V. in the corner, and I’m honestly surprised the T.V. hasn’t been stolen as I watch random people spin a wheel and pick numbers to win a prize.
Times drags on slowly, only the sound of water and dated voices filling the void as I doom scroll on my phone, eyelids growing heavier with every minute that passes until, eventually, the washer sounds, and the clothes are ready to be switched to the dryer.
“This is the most boring shit I’ve ever seen,” a voice says from behind me, and I whirl around with a gasp.
“Well, some of us have gotta do it.”
“You sayin’ I don’t do laundry?”
“I’m saying I’ve never seen you do anything without being told to by your mother.”
At the mention of Elise, Peris tenses from head to toe, and okay, maybe I shouldn’t have brought her up… probably pretty fucking stupid of me.
He meets my steely gaze with one of his own, dark brows furrowed. “I’m not the same kid I was.”
“Neither am I,” I retort easily, veins humming with warmth from the weed coursing through me.
We stare at each other for long seconds before Peris blurts, “You’re high.”
I snort and roll my eyes. “How observant.”
“Still smoking weed, then, huh?” He poses it like a question, but his jaw is locked tight, and his hands are fisted at his sides like he’s pissed off, back ramrod straight. I use the moment to take him in while he’s focused on himself.
The way his black jogging pants are slung low on his hips because even though he’s wearing a hoodie, I can still see the bulge of his crotch and the definition of his waist through his hoodie’s outline. His tattoos peeking out from the collar of his shirt. His nose ring glinting in the harsh, yellow fluorescents. His white sneakers squeaking on the linoleum as he shifts on his feet. His full lips pursed in exasperation, forehead wrinkled in annoyance.
“What do you have to be so pissed about? I’m a big boy, Peris.” I smirk at him, and he narrows his eyes.
“Are you trying to piss me off?”
“Always, baby.” I blow him a kiss as I push past him and head for the washers to switch my clothes to the industrial-sized dryer on the opposite side of the room. Peris walks up right behind me and places an arm on either side of me, blocking me in.
He dips down until his lips brush the hair just beside my right ear.
