Eunoia 2 [{V.H}]

31

Kitty

It took me a couple days to finally admit to Vinnie that my family was actually coming to us. For whatever reason I felt weird, like I wasn't supposed to... and I guess I kind of wasn't since were in hiding and it would be super easy to be traced with three people coming to meet us. But by the time I was ready to tell him it was too late. My mom already beat me to it.

We were shopping at Target for presents, about ten miles from home since that was the closest retail store near us, when I came across satin bed sheets on sale, and I instinctively put them into our cart for my brother.

I go to walk away, not thinking too much into it when Vinnie curiously asks, "Whyd you put those in there? We just got new sheets."

"My brother has eczema, satin doesnt bother it." I explain as I stop in front of a shelf full of candles.

Ooh, toasted caramel marshmallow?

I pick up the candle and while im taking the cap off, Vinnie leans against the cart next to me in a very casual way. Too casual, especially for us being out in public which means hes on high alert right now.

I look over my shoulder at him, and sure enough his eyes are trained on me while his face is expectant. "Kitty."

"Yea?"

"Why would you need satin sheets for your brother sweets?"

We have a stare off for a moment before I roll my lips into my mouth, and nod in defeat.

"My family is coming to ours for thanksgiving."

He doesn't seemed phased when i tell him though, he just starts playing with his rings around his fingers, so I quickly explain, "My mom is worried, she called me the other day and said that you mentioned my nightmares? She's convinced i'm like fading away or something." Vinnie doesn't say anything, he just continues to stare at me so I keep going, now turning my body fully to him, "Im sorry, I should've asked you first to make sure it was alright. Its your home too... plus its your life thats in danger, not just mine. I just panicked-"

He finally breaks, a small smile coming to his lips that makes me stop mid sentence. I pull my brows together and tilt my head at him, completely confused.

"Your mom told me a couple days ago that they were coming up. Im just giving you shit."

I purse my lips at that and give him a sideways look with my brows furrowed which makes him laugh. "You're serious? Why didnt you say anything?"

He shrugs and looks at me pointedly, "I was waiting for you to tell me."

"I was going to." I reply, now feeling bad, "I just didnt know the right time."

Vinnie tilts his head at me, "You felt like you couldnt tell me?"

I shake my head fast, and set the candle back down onto the shelf, "No thats not... more like I... I knew I shouldnt have invited them here without asking you first and I felt..."

He waits for me to finish, but the guilt washing over me makes it impossible to. There are so many reasons why its a bad idea for them to come up, and I shouldve talked it over with him. I dont know why I didnt bring it up sooner either, I guess what my mom said kind of got to me a bit.

Vinnie finally sighs and grabs my coat sleeve, the only affectionate gesture hes able to give me since were in public right now, but I understand it. "Im not mad." He gently tells me, "I just thought we were a team."

"We are," I touch his hand on me, "And im sorry."

He nods his head at me and lifts his hand up to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear while I watch him. His eyes look sad, but I know he wont admit it. I hurt him by hiding that from him. God why am I so stupid? This is Vinnie were talking about, I know where we stand and I know hes only got my best interest in mind. We are a team, and more than that. I can rely on him, because at the end of the day, no matter whats happened, none of it was truly his fault.