Homebound

Chapter Eight

I wake to the sound of knocking at the front door. I feel Hex jump at the noise as he rests on top of me, the memories of being an inmate still having a hold of him. One look at the clock reveals the time is late in the morning, last nights sleep had been one of the deepest I'd had in a long while after Hex and I kept each other up all night.

I roll Hex off of me as he grunts and lands on his back. I drag my body from the bed and sit on the edge. The cold air creates goosebumps on my body.

"Hex" I giggle as he drags me back down "it's probably Harley" I pull myself away and find his shirt before throwing it over my head.

"Tell her to fuck off" Hex says as he watches me walk around the room with his arms folded under his head, his biceps bulging. I say nothing as I exit the room, swinging the door closed but not shutting it.

Teddy meows at me as I walk by and I make kissy faces at him. I'm surprised I can skip as happily as I am after last night.

"Hey-" the words freeze in my mouth as I open the door to an unknown man. He's older, probably in his mid thirties with glasses and dressed to the nine in a navy suit. He carries a bag by his side that looks awfully heavy.

"I'm looking for Mr. Rose" he says as he looks down his nose at me. I hide behind the door, remembering that I only have Hex's shirt on and nothing else.

"Ah- yeah, give me a sec" I say as I close the door but it doesn't close as he sticks his foot in the doorway.

"I need to see Mr. Rose, is he here or not?" he questions, his face turning into a frown.

"If you give me a seco-"

"Poppy, it's fine" Hex's voice comes from behind me as he walks out the bedroom fully dressed, he must of found the stash of clothes I had for him. Hex seems to recognise the man.

"Poppy this is Charlie my parole officer, Charlie this is Poppy, my Darling" Hex introduces us. I should have expected a parole officer to turn up but I just didn't think it would be this soon, Hex has only been out for one day.

Charlie sticks his hand out for me to shake "Charles" he glares at Hex; Hex ignores it as he takes a seat on the couch.

"Okay well, nice to meet you" I close the door behind him and lock it "I'll just..." I throw my thumb over my shoulder in the direction of the bedroom as I scuttle my way back to the bedroom while holding the bottom of Hex's shirt down to make sure my ass is covered.

I quickly dress in anything I can find and tie my hair up, not wanting to miss anything said between Hex and Charlie.

Both are sat in the lounge room when I return, Charlie's suitcase is open on the coffee table and papers are scattered everywhere. It makes me nervous.

"What's happening?" I ask as I take a seat across from them. Hex is sat back with his legs open and not a care in the world as he eyeballs me while Charlie tries and keeps his attention on what he's saying.

"Will Mr. Rose be staying here permanently, Ms. Hart?" Charlie asks as he writes on a piece of paper, ignoring my previous question.

"Uh yes" I answer as I look between him and Hex.

"Then you'll have to make sure he abides by these rules" Charlie says as he starts to read off the papers. "One, good behaviour. Two, no offences-"

"Hold on, why do I have to-"

"Three, adapt to normal life. Four, report to me" he cuts me off when I ask why it's my responsibility to make sure Hex complies with the rules. I ignore it but I note the anger in Hex's eyes as Charlie talks over me. He holds it back; its probably not a good idea to blow up on your parole officer.