Page 42 of Tommy
“I told you to leave it,” I growl when I hear the wrappers of the ramen moving. When I look over at her, she’s stacking the packages up.
“If I can’t take them with me, then I’m going to give them to someone who needs them.”
She doesn’t wait for me before she leaves the damn room. I curse as I trail behind her as she walks up two flights of stairs and knocks on one of the doors.
“Coming,” a soft voice says before what sounds like a herd of elephants comes running to the door. It opens, and not one but two small heads poke out.
“Hello,” Payton greets them with a warm smile that has me staring at her far longer than I should with an unknown person on the other side of the door.
“Hi, Payton! You coming to play with us today?”
“Not today, I’m sorry.”
“What happened to your face?” one of the other girls asks, and I look at the door as it opens and a woman appears.
“Oh, sweet Jesus, Payton, are you okay?”
She goes to grab her, but Payton knows that wouldn’t be wise and moves out of her reach.
The other woman notices it and pulls her hand back, then pushes the girls back inside before closing the door as she eyes me. Smart. She doesn’t know me, and while I’m not into attacking a woman or a child, she doesn’t know that. I can appreciate a smart woman—even better, a smart mother.
“I’m fine. Small thing at work. Anyhow, I was wondering if you could use these.” Payton holds out the ramen, and the woman takes the stack with a nod. “I got too much.”
The woman looks at me, and I know she can see the lie in Payton’s words but doesn’t call her on it. Instead, she opens the door and hands the food over to her girls, who run off with it before looking back at us.
“Want to come in for a coffee, Payton?” she offers.
I hold back my smirk at her words. A clever way to point out that only my girl is welcome and not me.
My girl?The ease with which that slipped into my thoughts hits harder than it should.
But Payton has nothing to fear from me. Not in a way that would leave bruises on her face, anyway. I might leave a few, but they’ll be bite marks and finger impressions from my hold on her hips.
Thoughts and visions that have been a constant in my mind since I got Payton into my car last night. I’m not planning to force her, but if the opportunity comes up, I won’t back down from it.
“Maybe another time. I have to get going.”
“To where?” More suspicion from the woman. I’m starting to like her for it.
“A friend’s place. I won’t be able to babysit for a while, but call me in a week or two and we can get back to the regular routine if you still need me.”
The woman nods, showing a bit of relief that Payton is making future plans and not just saying goodbye. “No worries. Mrs. Carlton already said she could watch the girls again now that her mother went to live with her brother. She says it’s freed up her time enough that she doesn’t know what to do if she isn’t taking care of someone.”
Both women laugh softly before Payton waves goodbye and we go back to her place. I mentally kick myself for leaving the door open while we were gone—though what’s really left to steal?—and make sure to close it once we’re back inside.
“Who was that?”
“Willow Frazzer. She moved in about two months ago after her divorce.”
“The two girls all she has, or are there more?”
She laughs at my words, though it seems more surprised than anything. Still, it warms a part of my soul. “Two is enough. Especially those two.”
Her smile has me crossing my arms and leaning against the wall as I watch her gather her things.
I promise myself to put that smile on her face as often as possible. To be the one to do that for her, either in memory or at the moment. But it will be because of me and me alone. Not sure why I have this urge to do this, but I won’t back down from a promise I’ve made to myself. Never have before, and I won’t start now.
“Now what?” she asks after she grabs all her clothes in her hands.
