The Firefly

43°

-Do you eat here, Liam?-

-No, he has to go back to his wife.- Jake replied instead of the man.

-I didn't ask you, Jake.- I hissed through my teeth, glowering at him for his rudeness. The driver, not at all upset by the boy's intervention, stood up.

-Mamma mia...- He complained when his knee made a little creak.

-I thank you, Miss Hooper, but as Mr. Hale says I must get back to Margaret.-He informed me as he started for the door. He looked at the boy gently as he slipped on his coat.

-He seems to have it in for the whole world today.- He stroked his mustache as he watched him close the book with annoyance. -Or maybe he's just mad at me, who knows.- He joked, nodding at me in greeting.

-Well, good evening I suppose.- And he disappeared, closing the door behind him.

We remained alone.

The boy did not dare to open his mouth, he reopened his book not even giving me the slightest attention.

I softly heard someone calling behind me, in a low voice as if afraid to be heard by Jake.

I turned and saw Sandie uncomfortably greeting me with a quick wave of her hand. -Mr. Hale does not like to be stared at.- She reminded me in a whisper, looking terrified at the boy.

-She can do that.- Jake's firm tone made the girl tremble; I sensed my cheeks getting hot again.

Damn.

Sandie cast me a curious glance, but added nothing by vanishing.

Taking courage, I made myself comfortable on the other huge sofa as well, took a long sigh before opening my mouth.

-Em... Jake, I wanted to ask you something.- He remained impassive.

-The contract prohibits me from going out on a day other than Sunday except with you, so I was wondering...if well, that is...since it's New Year's Eve very soon...-

-The answer is no.-

-But I haven't asked you anything yet!-

-You wanted to invite him here. I don't want to.- He finally decreed in an icy voice.

-See each other whenever the fuck you want but don't let him into my house, least of all for New Year's Eve.- He added, returning to his state of total indifference, outraged I decided to imitate his behavior by beginning to idle on my cell phone without deigning him a glance.

My presence seemed to upset him somewhat, especially after that conversation. Perhaps I saw wrongly, but I seemed to see him losing the thread of his reading.

Several times he ran his finger over the same sentence, as if he could not concentrate.

-We ... we kissed today.- I felt compelled to tell him.

His face darkened, his fingers tightened, turning white.

-Let's not talk about it anymore.- He finally decided almost voicelessly.

With bitterness in my mouth I decided it was better not to add anything else.

We both had to make an effort to forget each other, but it would not be easy living in the same house.

 I could not leave, however; despite everything, I had promised.

After what he had been through, I could not afford to leave him alone; besides being cruel it would have been an insult to the figure of Mrs. Holland, who had worked so hard to make him feel loved.