Wayward Wolf

Spices

Raymond

The next morning Travis and Eli practically dragged Trevor through my front door after each of them had a cup of coffee. I couldn't tell exactly how hungover the twins were because I can't see them, but no one threw up so it couldn't have been that bad. Trevor grumbled and groaned, but eventually they were all out of my house and I was left with some peace and quiet.

I sit down, turning on the TV to listen to the news while sipping my coffee like every morning. The peace lasts until my coffee is gone when the door bursts open and a voice too peppy for how drunk she was last night calls out, "Hi, Ray!"

Grunting, I lift my head up off the back of the couch and open my eyes, even though it's useless. Generally, people assume if you have your eyes closed that you aren't listening. Eve likely knows better, but it's a habit at this point. Her scent grows closer, enveloping me in more peace than any silence ever could, and the couch dips as she sits beside me. I lift one arm onto the back of the couch, expecting her to scoot closer, but instead I hear the rustling of a plastic bag. Why isn't she getting over here like I clearly want her to?

"I know it isn't much, but I wanted to get you something to pay back everything you've given me," Eve says, emphasizing the word 'everything' though I'm not entirely sure why. It's not like I've given her much of anything. "We can always get more, and you won't be able to use them right away since I'll have to teach you. You said I'd be stuck taking care of a blind man, so this is me proving you wrong."

Eve grabs my hand and places a few little plastic rings into my hand. At first, I'm confused, until I pick one up from my palm and feel familiar bumps on the surface. It's braille. Running the pad of my finger over it, I read P-E-P-P-E-R. The other's read salt, onion, and garlic. They're braille spice labels. The reason I gave up cooking was because smelling every container to figure out what was in it got tiring and overwhelming after a while. So many scents one after the other makes my brain feel like pudding.

"I can get more, but I figured it was best to start with basics. You just stick them on spice containers. We can make dinner together now and soon you won't need my help anymore."

My tongue is frozen, words not able to pass from my brain to my lips. I small piece of me wants to deny her help, needing to feel like a whole, capable person, but the larger part of me can't believe a woman as thoughtful and kind as her is shackling herself to a grumpy bastard like me. What an idiot I am, to almost let her get away. I can't believe it's taken me this long to get through my fat head that she could leave me any time she wanted to if I don't do something.

"Oh, God, this was a bad idea, wasn't it? I've had them for a few days but kept chickening out before I could give them to you. The girls finally convinced me it was a good idea last night, but it wasn't, was it? I never meant to offend you or say you can't do things on your own, but you've given me so much and this was the only-"

Normally, her rambling is kind of cute, but now she's just spiraling so I interrupt her by slowly moving my hand in the direction her voice is coming from. My hand ends up on the side of her head and I slide my fingers down until I'm cupping her chin, my thumb brushing against her bottom lip. Once I know exactly where it is, I lean forward and move my thumb once my lips are on hers. It's the only way I can manage to aim for her lips properly and not end up kissing the side of her nose. She immediately melts into me in the most adorable way, moaning softly in the back of her throat. It happens every time I kiss her, and I relish the little sounds she makes.

Dragging my lips from hers, I press them to her temple and drag one of my hands down her side, angry at the fucking puffy winter coat blocking my hungry fingers. She was too excited to give me her gift to take the time to remove her coat. But now it's just in my way. I've been holding myself back for two goddamn weeks, but no more. This woman is all mine and I'll be damned if I don't make sure every fucker that comes across her knows it. Once my hand reaches her thigh, the one farthest away from me, I pull it up and over me so she's straddling my lap.