In your shadows || Sierra six

CHAPTER 7

I woke up to the sound of my alarm, its insistent beeping pulling me from the comfort of sleep. It was 8:30 a.m. I had planned to get an early start today, hoping to take Claire grocery shopping so we could buy the freshest fruit. With the bodyguard arriving tomorrow, I wanted to make sure we had enough food to cook for the three of us for the coming month.

This past week had been a whirlwind of bonding and getting to know each other. Claire and I had been spending a lot of time together—going out to lunch, watching movies, and making frequent trips to the vinyl store. I'd been giving her glimpses of my past, little bits here and there, but nothing too detailed. I didn't want to scare her off with the darker parts of my history. One thing I learned was that Claire had a surprising love for horror movies. She found them hilarious, which I found a bit quirky. Maybe a little crazy, but in the best way possible.

Yesterday, Donald came by one last time to say his goodbyes and grab the rest of his things. Claire was pretty bummed out after he left, so we played board games until she eventually fell asleep. I couldn't help but feel a growing protectiveness toward her, wanting to make sure she was happy and safe.

As I was lost in thought, a knock on my door brought me back to the present. It was Claire. She stood there, looking radiant in a light blue dress that complemented her bright eyes. She wore black low-heel chunky platform shoes, and her hair was still damp, indicating she'd just taken a shower.

"Good morning, Kat," she greeted me with a cheerful smile.

"Good morning, Claire. You're up early," I replied, smiling back at her.

"What can I say? I'm an early bird," she responded with a grin.

"Anyway, I just came to tell you I made breakfast."

I blinked in surprise. "You made me breakfast?"

"Well, I just made you some toast and coffee," she said, her smile widening.

"Aww, how sweet! Thanks, Claire. Let me get dressed, and I'll be there in a second."

"Okay!" she said, turning around and closing the door behind her.

I took a quick shower, skipping the hair wash since I'd already done it yesterday. I pulled on some low-waisted flared jeans and a red tank top, then brushed my hair quickly. After applying a bit of makeup, I headed to the kitchen. Claire was there, pouring me a cup of coffee, her expression focused.

I sat down on the stool at the counter, where a plate with two toasted slices of bread, spread with raspberry jam, awaited me.

"You know, I'm the one who's supposed to be making you breakfast," I said with a grin.

She looked up from her plate, meeting my eyes with a smile. "I know, but I just wanted to do something nice for you since you're always the one cooking."

"Well, it's a very nice gesture. Thank you," I said, touched by her thoughtfulness.

"You're very welcome," she replied, her smile widening.

We ate quietly, as had become our routine, the comfortable silence wrapping around us like a warm blanket. After finishing breakfast, I helped her clean up. We were drying the dishes together when I decided to ask her about the new arrival.

"So, have you met this mysterious bodyguard?" I asked, curious about what she thought of him.

Claire paused, thinking before she answered. "Yes, I met him once when he came over to visit my uncle."

"Is he nice?" I asked, wanting to get a sense of what we were in for.

"Six can be when he wants to be, but he's usually pretty quiet around me. He makes me feel like a blabbermouth when I talk to him," she said with a small laugh.