Just Pretend

Chapter 96 - Are You Ready To Go Home?

I forget where I am, the walls of the room not the same colour as my own. The sheets too.

I look up to the ceiling the memories of yesterday washing over me and I wince at the thought none of it can be undone.

I force myself out of bed checking the time.

4.03am stares back at me but I'm not even surprised.

I make my way to the kitchen spotting Folio attempting to sneak a girl out the house, looking at me sheepishly knowing he's been caught.

I bite my lip trying to suppress my smirk seeing Folio flush bright scarlet and the girl gives me a small smile.

"Hey Mar."

"Hey." I croak, my voice barely audible.

"Uh... this is Violet." He looks at me awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.

"Hey." She smiles kindly.

"Hi. It's nice to meet you." I shuffle awkwardly not really in the mood for introductions.

Normally I'd be ask questions. Who she is. How did they met. How long this has been going on. I'd be relentlessly winding Folio up about sneaking girls into the house but I don't instead offering a small nod and moving past them towards the kitchen.

I grumble opening cupboards, searching for the decaf that was once kept in the overhead cupboards.

"We moved it." Folio says entering the room knowing exactly what I'm looking for.

"Oh..." I nod pausing my search and Folio opens another cupboard pulling out a jar placing it on the counter. "Thanks."

"Damn Mar."

"What?" I say pulling the lid off the jar spooning the coffee into a mug.

"Violet just walked out the house at four in the morning and you don't ask a single question?"

"So?"

"So? Mar, you didn't ask anything. Her name, where we met, if she knows I'm emotionally unavailable or of she's aware I live of Cheetos and pure adrenaline." He blurts out and I let out a laugh.

"Well I'm sure she's got an inkling." I say stirring creamer into the mug.

"There she is." He nudges me with his elbow.

"Don't, Folio." I warn but there's no real bite behind it.

"I'm serious Mar, you didn't even make fun of me." He says his voice soft.

"Maybe I'm maturing."

"Bullshit. You and I both know that's not it." He smirks and I have to fight my own. "Yeah, that's what I thought."

"Coffee?" I ask changing the subject and he nods.

"Please, it's been a while since our early kitchen meetings." He replies and I let out a small chuckle.

"That's because normal people sleep."

"Normal people are boring."

"Normal people don't sneak women out of houses at four in the morning."

"Touché." He laughs and I shake my head, reaching for a second mug.

The familiar routine settles over us easily. No awkwardness. No pressure. Just me making coffee while Folio leans against the counter looking far too pleased with himself.

"Wanna go fishing."

"Fucking hell Folio, it's four in the morning." I repeat.

"Yeah, c'mon. Let's go." He pushes picking up the mug.