SILHOUETTE

Chapter 20 [TW]

TW: mention of self harm

Confusion washed over Jordan's face when he walked into his bedroom seeing Simone collect her things. He sat the coffee's on the nightstand unsure of how to approach the situation. Calmly for one but his mind raced to the worst possibility. He tried to get a feel of the energy in the room and felt like he failed. Was space needed? He thought they did well with giving each other that.

"Everything okay love?" He quizzed, watching her fold her shirts neatly placing them in her duffle bag.

"Not sure I can do this." She puffed out her cheeks running her fingers through her hair.

Don't get tense. Don't overthink the situation. Jordan didn't want to take control over the situation or ask a million and one questions - even though he had plenty. He ran his hand across his jaw and cracked his knuckles. Surprisingly, he took Asher's death well. He wasn't losing any sleep over it. However, he couldn't take Simone's disappearing without a trace again. It already fucked up his mind last time.

"Want to figure out a solution?" He offered.

"Yeah, a vacation." Simone answered and confusion was still written all over the man's face.

"Huh?"

"I just need to get out of the state completely. It's summer, finally and everything has been so exhausting. I just want to do nothing you know?"

"Would you prefer to be alone during this vacation  or would you like company? You won't even notice I am there." Jordan added. Alone time was also important because he didn't want to smother her.

"It's impossible to ignore that sexy face of yours and yes. You deserve a vacation too." She agreed watching her boyfriend stretch out on his bed.

Simone had thought about going alone. She was very much used to doing things alone. She was very comfortable with doing things alone - maybe a little too comfortable. People found it weird that she went to movies and restaurants by herself. Maybe it was because she needed to sit with her inner monologue when in reality , she was used to having no one that she just accepted it.

"I can tell when you are thinking, come lay with me and share."

Did she really get lost in her thoughts that often?

"Pardon?" She said after a moment of no answer .

"I said come lay with me." He repeated patting his duvet.

"Oh, sorry."

She removed her duffle bag placing it back on the floor and crawled up to him becoming the little spoon. She could feel his arm around her and suddenly she felt safe. He had been taking it easy in the gym but the work was paying off so she could easily feel the difference.

"What's on your mind?" He whispered , kissing her temple.

He was willing to listen and just lay here saying absolutely nothing. He was even fine with laying in silence but communication was their strong suit. Plenty lacked that in their relationship.

"I don't think you'd want to know." She warned her significant other.

"Simone, you can tell me the weirdest shit and while I might not agree , I'll still listen because I want to know." He didn't mind. He liked hearing her voice and their random conversations were normal at this point.

"Yeah....not this. I am trying not to take either of us to a place we don't want to be." She grazed his arm feeling his gold bracelet on his wrist.

"Babe, communication." He advised.