BEING HALSEY

CHAPTER 43

The clock on my nightstand reads nine thirty P.m. I'm curled in bed with Pip when the doorbell rings two times. My mind races to Tray but I push it away as improbable.

Polly? No, she'd text.

I wait for another ring.

Nothing.

Ok, I'm imagining things.

I close my eyes and hear it again.

Knock knock then the doorbell.

I climb out of bed quietly and tiptoe downstairs.

"Hello?" I whisper.

"It's me," the other side says. "Tray."

My heartbeat accelerates. I shake out my pillow-limp hair and take a steadying breath. It doesn't work. I turn the handle silently but my hand trembles.

"Hi," he says, his face close to mine.

"Hi," I reply.

Tray leans against the doorframe. His body is several inches lower to the ground, which makes our eyes nearly level. We study each other in silence.

I frown, " What?"

" I bought you a cake, a chocolate one." The corner of his mouth lifts into a small smile.

I look at my nails.

He looks down at his sneakers then back up and then back down.

" I'm sorry." He says and rubs the back of his neck.

My heart pounds so hard.

" Come in."

We sit at the dinner room and he places the cake on the table.

" Hal?"

He runs his fingers in his hair and mumbles something.

" Look, I'm sorry ok? It's just that something bad happened to someone I know and I acted that way. I promise it won't happen again, I swear."

" What happened?"

His adam apple moves up and down.

" My friend was shot." He stands takes the seat next to me.

" I'm sorry...For real..." He pouts.

" I missed you." I hug him.

" I almost thought I was going to be kicked out." He says, his hands rubbing my back. He smiles and threads his fingers through my hair. He leans in towards my lips but then pause and smells my neck. A shiver runs through me. He kisses my neck softly and slowly and my eyes close.

I want him to kiss me there forever. He pulls back, letting his fingers fall back out gently through my hair. He smiles at me again.

" Let's eat the cake." he says and unwraps the cake from the white box.

He removes the small and round glossy chocolate cake and place it on a plate. I grab our forks but he grabs them and uses them to pull me down beside him. We're laughing as we dig into the cake and it doesn't take long before I'm full. I fall backwards on my chair while Tray eats a few more minutes before shoving away the platter and groaning, a happy groan.

He laces his fingers through my right hand, " You're so beautiful..." He says.

I give him a look.

" What?"

" Nothing."

I massage his knuckles and he smiles.

" Tell me about your parents."

He raises his dark eyebrows. "Why did you ask that?"

" I don't know, tell me."

He's silent.

" It's okay if you don't want to talk about them." I add and stare at my black polish nails.

" My mother worked at a bakery."

" And? That's all?"

" She died."

The room stays silent.

" I'm sorry."

" It's fine," He says and tilts my chin. " And you? how did your parents meet?"

" It's a boring story." He laughs but my smile fades.

" My mum died while she was having me so I didn't get the chance to meet her. They were highschool lovers."

" That isn't boring."

I roll my eyes.

" You still wearing the necklace..."

" Umm, duh... It's special just like the person who gave it to me."

He smiles and kisses me softly.

****