The Abusive Man(EDITING AT THE MOMENT)

CHAPTER 6: HAVE A DRINK WITH ME.

I heard a noise from my front door and it had me feeling a little anxious. Max ran in that direction and stood waiting the few seconds until it opened. Zachary's face came into view and I felt an ease that it wasn't someone else.

"Zachary,Hi."I gave him a polite smile."I didn't think that you would be back for a few days. How was your trip?"

I was trying to make polite conversation since I want to stay on his good side. I am living in his house after all.

"It was fine."He walked towards the kitchen area and set his things down on the counter,before giving Max some much needed attention."I hope he's behaved himself while I've been gone."

I chuckled."Yes,He's been well behaved. I think he's a bit tired out now after his long walk."I was watching him from the couch as he made his way around the kitchen.

He looked stressed..Likes he's had a hard couple of days.

I stood from the couch and walked in Zachary's direction. He had opened the fridge and was drinking from a cold bottle of beer."Is everything okay?"

"Fine,Just work stuff!"He finished his beer before grabbing not one but two more out of the fridge. He placed one down on the counter in front of me."Have a drink with me?"

I was hesitant,because I was surprised that he was asking me. Also I'm not much of a drinker-Well not beer at least."Um..."

He moved the bottle closer to me."I don't like to drink alone,Kate."

From that I got the impressed that he wasn't just asking for company-but that he needed it. So I'll drink the beer and take it as an opportunity to get to know the man I'm living with. I brought the bottle to my lips and set it back down."Is something wrong?"

"Today-It's my Father's Birthday. It's been a little rough with it being his first one gone."He leaned against the counter with a sigh."Usually we would be sipping beers together by now."

I gave Zachary a sympathetic smile. "Michelle mentioned that your Father had passed,I'm sorry. You two must have been close?"

"Close enough. He was strong my Dad, I thought he was resilient,like nothing could ever take him down."He swigged his beer and set it back down."How very wrong I was!"

"I know the pain you're feeling,I had always thought that my Mother was resilient too. She got cancer and died when I was fifteen. I know it doesn't feel like it right now,but it gets easier with time."

He looked at me,with sadness clouding his features."I'm sorry,that must have been tough for you being so young.How did you handle that?"

"Alone, I didn't have any other family so it was just me. A friend of my Mom's took care of me until I was old enough to do it myself."I walked towards the oven and took the casserole out,trying to avoid his pity.

I hated pity!!

"You had everything taken away from you,if I was that young I'm not sure I would have been strong enough to cope."He walked towards me and handed me the spatula that I had been looking for.

"Thanks!"I took it from him and smiled. "This looks like way too much food for one person,Will you join me? I make a pretty good casserole."

"I probably shouldn't."He said,yet his eyes were still on the tray of piping hot food in front of us. He wants to say Yes,But what's stopping him? I am drinking with him after all.

"Come on,Zachary. You're not going to make me eat alone are you? I'm having a drink with you-You can have a meal with me?"I looked at him with a smirk on my face.