Right where you left me {a Joel Miller fanfiction}

Chapter 9 - Nobody's Son, Nobody's Daughter

"You're in the wind, I'm in the water. Nobody's son, nobody's daughter." - Chemtrails Over The Country Club, Lana Del Rey

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November 2023, Kansas City

Mine. The only word that had pounded around in my head since the minute Henry had laid eyes on her. It was almost overwhelming now. It was sickening how much anger came over me in such a short period of time, my jealousy was primal, I couldn't handle it. It was like meeting her for the first time all over again, I had always been drawn to her, felt a need for her. She was like a drug. But it wasn't just a sexual need or desire, it was deeper than that. She was buried in every part of me.

But I knew she wasn't mine, not anymore somewhere deep in me I knew that. But that voice had been drowned out by the even louder one. I wanted to believe the louder voice, I had clung to it since that first night in the cabin, she was mine, she always would be. The path had been paved by us long ago and it was so comfortable to walk back down it, it felt right, it was right.

"Hey Joel?" Her voice rang out from deep in the kitchen's pantry, "Will you give me a hand in here?"

I laughed slightly as I approached the door, "What's wrong? What did you break?"

"You're hilarious, you know that Miller?" I could almost sense her eye roll, "I just need to pass these tins down to you."

I reached the doorway to the pantry, to find her climbing up the shelves, "Jesus Christ Bridget! Are you trying to give me a damn heart attack!" I rushed over, reaching my hands up to hold her waist.

"I mean you haven't had one yet so clearly whatever I'm doing isn't working. Now, can I pass you these down? I think some of them might be semi-edible."

I moved one hand down to her back to try to keep her steady, while the other reached up to grab things from her, "Semi-edible, huh? Sounds good to me."

"Well don't get your hopes up just yet. But I really think you should taste test them first."

"So what? If I get poisoned it's okay?"

Bridget shrugged, looking down at me, "Well better you than me I'd say."

I shook my head, trying to fight the smile that was rising on my lips, "Is that all of 'em?"

"Yeah I think so. You can let go now, I'll climb down."

"No, I've got you." I moved both of my hands to her waist now, gripping onto her tight as she lowered herself back into my arms. Once her feet had reached the floor I gave her hips one last gentle squeeze before turning to inspect the various tins of food.

"So what one is looking the most appetising to you?" Bridget asked with her head on my shoulder, leaning over it to take a look herself.

"Well the options are pretty slim, I think I might just open up any old one and try to keep it down. I'm too hungry to care."

I felt her nod against my shoulder before the weight of her head was gone as she walked around to the other side of the counter, raiding through the drawers before pulling out two spoons.

"Well, pick a tin Miller."

I reached out grabbing a tin of ravioli, it seemed like the best option out of all of what we had, even if it was probably twenty plus years out of date.

"God ravioli, you're spoiling me. Stick a candle on this dirty countertop and this might just feel like a first date," Bridget joked, sliding a spoon over to me.