Painting

Chapter 47

I end up taking a nap in Tyler's arms.

When I wake up, he greets me with a beautiful smile.

-How long was I asleep?

-45 minutes. Victor is back, he should come upstairs soon. I know you like him a lot.

-I like you too.

-Yeah.

What a weird tone. Is he getting jealous? He looks at the window. He is so distant. He senses my eyes on him. He gazes down at me. A forced smile stretches his lips. Tyler actually looks sad.

I like them both. I just, I was feeling like it with Victor last night, it doesn't mean, I like him more.

Tyler is unwrapping us a little bit. Victor comes in and lays on us.

-I'm back!

-Nice. Now, I can take the car and go get something.

Tyler gets up and walks away. Victor raises his eyebrows in shock and looks at me.

-When he does that, we have to let him go. What happened?

-Nothing.

-Nothing?

-Yes, nothing and that's the problem. He said that, yesterday, he saw us.

-Yeah, and?

-And that he wanted to join us.

-Oh...

-So I felt bad, I kissed him and I felt even worst.

-That's why you were in a burrito.

-Yes.

-Well, it's not your fault.

-Kind of.

He lays down beside me.

-He's got problems. I have problems.

-I have problems.

-You have problems. We all have issues. There is an almost psychopath trying to discover where you live.

-You've got PTSD.

-I have PTSD and Tyler had addictions.

I look at the ceiling, trying not to scream that Tyler is still on pills. If I do that it's just going to end up in a fight.

-And I'm in love with you.

I turn my head toward Victor, surprised.

-What?

-I'm in love with you.

-You're not.

-Of course, I am.

He rolls over me.

-Do you want me to prove it?

-I don't need you to.

-Come on, say yes.

-Yes.

A smile brights up his face.

-Stay there. You can go on your phone, it'll take a little bit of time.

And he gets up. Walks away. What is he going to get me? He wants to prove his love, I hope he won't go to war for ten years and sail the seas for another ten years. Then come back and kill every boy that tried to hit on me, like Odysseus.   

I open up my phone. Six messages from Teddy. Well, I'll just delete them. I delete them without even reading them. I go on my social media, which I haven't been on, for a long time.

He comes back with a plate of pancakes and a little box wrapped in Christmas themed wrapping.

-A gift? But it's not Christmas, yet.

-It's in two weeks. First, let's eat the pancakes. Let's wrap you back in the blankets. You are sleeping with me tonight, anyway.

-I am?

-Yes, you are.

-Okay.

He hands me a piece of it. I take it in my mouth and eat it, right off. It's a blueberry pancake. He takes the other half. We eat them all.

-So here.

He hands me the little box.

-Open it.

I take it and unwrap it. A jewelry box. I smile at Victor. I open it. It's a necklace with a star. I gaze up at Victor.

-Do you like it?

I nod my head. 

-You don't have to say anything.

I jump in his arms.

-I love it.

-Here, let me put it on you.

We stand up in front of the mirror. I hold my hair up. He slides it around my neck. I let my hair down. He makes me spin and catches me.

-You're a star and I want to keep spinning around you for as much time as I can.

I put his hand on my cheek and I get closer.

-Do you want to go outside? It's snowing.

-Yes.

We go down the stairs and we put our coats on.

-First to the frozen lake!

Victor begins to run. I start one second later.

-That's not fair! You started to run before me.

-Do you want me slow down?

-No!

Running in the snow isn't the easiest thing to do. Especially, when you are trying to catch up with someone. He is already there, waiting in front of the lake, with his left eyebrow lift up.

-I win.

-I'll get my revenge.

-Sure, when?

-Now!

I tackle him into the snow.

-And you think that's going to keep me down?

-Well, I'm a goddess, I should be able to...

I say that with a smirk. He smirks back. I press my lips on his. He takes my kiss as an opportunity to flip us over. I'm the one who ends up in the snow.

-What did you say? You, finally, consider yourself a goddess. That's a nice thing to hear.

-I didn't say that.

He lifts up his right eyebrow.

-Okay, maybe I don't hate myself as much as I used to, but I'm not a goddess.

-Okay... I guess, I'll have to worship you more. I could sacrifice fruits in your honor.

-Fruits?

-I could never hurt an animal or another human being.

-That's fair, but I mean, we already do that.

-I guess, I'll have to find another way to worship you.

He slides his hands under my coat and my shirt. Makes circles on my stomach with his fingers. Then, letting his hands wander on my breasts. He squeezes the right one, then the left one. Surprised, a sound comes out of my mouth.

-Oh! It's working! She hears my prayers!

I can see the fire behind his eyes, dancing. I put my hands in his hair. I decide to play along.

-You have summoned me. What I can do for you?

A smile lights up his face. He gets up and we run to the cabin. We almost rip each other's coat. I want to be next to his skin. It's like, I've been struck by the cold, we need to take off as much clothes as possible.

I leave my jeans on the ground and he leaves his, on the stair railing. We climb the stairs and I trow my tee-shirt in my room. I walk fast toward his room and we dive into his bed.