Sinner

Chapter 14

I hold open my apartment door for Ryan, who stumbles inside carrying our bags of takeout food and Walmart items. He hurries to the coffee table in the living room and sets the bags down.

"I'll get the drinks" I say as Ryan sits down on the couch.

"Alright" he says and grabs the remote to turn the television on in front of him.

"Is water good for you?" I ask walking into the kitchen.

"Have any Redbull?" he asks.

"I don't recall picking any up at Walmart" I quip. He should know that whatever I got with him is all I got.

"Then water will do" he shouts from the living room.

I grab two glasses from the cabinet. I have to admit it's nice having a stocked kitchen. No need to buy utensils or dishes.

I fill the glasses with water under the tap and bring them back to Ryan. I see he set the Walmart bags on the ground and the burgers from Red Robin sit on the table in their styrofoam containers. I set each glass next to each makeshift "plate" of food and sit down next to Ryan, aware of how close I am to him. I remember last time he was on my couch I didn't dare to sit next to him.

Ryan flips through the T.V. channels until he settles on the movie "Elf."

"Have you seen this one?" Ryan asks.

"Of course! It's a classic" I grin.

"Sorry. I don't really know much about your life with the S.I.N.S. Can you tell me?" Ryan asks sincerely.

I nod and grab the remote to put the T.V. on mute. I turn to Ryan who has his full attention on me, the burger in the container starting to get cold.

"Honestly it wasn't that bad. The people there treated me like an annoying sister. Other than the constant threats about my family... I worked about 8 hours a day. I was fed. Given a bedroom... I was even given free time" I explain.

"What about the head of the S.I.N.S., Dominic Sandoval?" Ryan continued.

"He was the biggest asshole. Almost unbearable. He ALWAYS had to remind me how he would kill my family. Now that I think of it, it makes sense that he would act like they were still alive since they were dead from the start." It is weird how I can say this with almost no emotion. It's been so long since I've seen my family. I guess I've accepted their death.

"I don't mean to be rude, but is that all you can offer about him?" Ryan asks.

"Are you asking me this as a friend or as an interrogator?" I say.

"Both" Ryan admits.

"He was always watching me while I did my work. Making sure I didn't try to call for help. I wouldn't have, for the sake of my family. But while he was doing that he was sure to act like a dick" I say.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with that" Ryan apologizes once again. Surprising me, I find his arms wrapping around me in a warm embrace. I wrap mine around his lean waist and gently rest my head on his shoulder. It feels so good to hug again. To feel again. To love again.

Ryan pulls one of his hands away from me and rests it on my cheek.

"Hopefully this movie will make you feel better" Ryan says and smiles widely.

He turns to grab the remote as I say under my breath, "You already have."