What Goes Around Comes Around

The Morning After

I catch my reflection in the mirror on the wall. Red lipstick is smeared along my collar and throat. I know shit ain't happened so I ain't worried, but she might be. I sniff the milk. Pretty sure it ain't off, and pour it into the cup. The cup I'm pretty sure is clean.

She looks weirdly peaceful. "Sleep too fuckin' well you do." I sit down on the bed and she stirs, rubbing her eyes. Her hair is sticking out wildly and it takes her a moment to realise where she is as she squints at the room. And then me. "Gage?" "Eyup." "Hi." "Hey." Her voice is soft and slow with sleep. She rubs her head with a hand and glances at the cup in my hands. "Tea?" "Figured you need one." She cooes my name and takes it, sipping it and then smiling weakly. "You're an angel."

Her gaze drifts to the lipstick over the coffee mug. "We didn't, y'know. I dunno how it got there. Probably cause y'don't know personal space when y'sleep." Her shoulders drop but she smiles, putting the mug on the bedside table. "Really? Hmm... Am I not good enough for you, Porter?" I open my mouth to say something but she falls about in laughter, "your face. Seriously though, thank you for looking after me. I hope I wasn't too much trouble."

"Naw. You were alright. Wouldn't let me sleep on the couch but..." "Hah! No man should have to sleep on the couch in his own house." She reaches out and pokes my nose, picking her coffee mug back up. She seems completely fine with the fact she's in a house she's never been too and she's shared a bed with another man.

I'm more fine with it than I should be though, I guess.

"God, I'm hungover." It doesn't surprise me. My phone buzzes. And again. "Wow Mr Popular. Got more women to take to bed?" I roll my eyes at her and grab it off the dresser. It's from Nate.

-Mason needs a shipment of psycho, didn't ask why. Still busy in DC. He's sending the address along. Sorry in advance if it's unintelligible.

The second message was the address. I sigh and walk off to the living room. I didn't realise she'd followed until I heard her kick one of her heels over. "Are you ditching me for your other woman?" "Nessie if there was an other woman, it'd be you." She's frowning when I glance back at her, and gives me a guilty look. "There ain't no women in my life, Nessie. Don't have time for it." She seems more unhappy about that. "I'm sorry."

I jerk my head back in her direction, "what?" She swings on her feet, "for taking up so much of your time. I like... Don't even pay you. I can pay you if you want! Or I could, just get an actual security team." I take a step towards her. Hell, I ain't mean to upset her. It ain't what I meant either. I didn't have time for it before neither, in fact spending time with a woman who isn't Mags or Nisha is nice. She's nice. It's... nice. "Shut up. You're alright, alright? And I got enough money, never hurts to have more but I ain't gonna charge you for this."

Her gaze moves from the ground to my face, she squeezes my arm for a moment. "Are you ever going to take the eyepatch off?" I bat her hand off my arm and roll my eye, pulling a vest on. "Seriously though," she's now looking through the cupboards, "I would be content being the other woman if it meant I could spend time with you," she winks at me over her shoulder.

"I've gotta do a delivery to Mason," "he's the big one with the moustache?" I nod, "I'll be back later," "can you get some food on your way back? I'm super hungry, and you know, very hungover. And your cupboards are distressingly empty. Really Gage, does one need this much instant ramen?" "I like noodle cups." "You're a simple man, Gage. I respect that."

I don't know how to take that. I go to find some pants. When I come back she's sat on the kitchen counter, holding a bottle of Nuka Cola against her forehead. I don't know how long it's been in the fridge but she sure as shit ain't drinking it so I don't need to worry. She tosses me my car keys. It's a shit throw, I have to almost dive to catch it. "Stay here, ok? I'll be back soon, what food do you want?" She squints, "surprise me," and hops off the counter, moving to flop on the couch. Graceful. "See you soon, honey bunny."