Page 15 of All That Remains
“You didn’t call.”
“Couldn’t find a minute. She was relentless.”
“I know.” I twirled his silver crucifix between my fingers as he pressed kisses to my jaw.
“What’s wrong, baby? Huh? I know you didn't bring me here to be nice."
"M'always nice," I muttered, sitting atop the desk beside him. "I got you this…" I produced a silver lighter, pointing out the repoussé designs.
"Nice.Vintage?"
"Mm-hm."
"Collection’s growin’…thanks to you."
"You thought about it anymore?"
He paused. "Yeah..."
"And?"
"No different really. I told you…I don't want you waitin' around for me, Rafe. Nothin's gonna change."
"Butwhen...?"
"I dunno. I've no clue, man. Stop askin’ me, alright? When the time comes, it'll come…and then you’ll know. Deal?"
"So, I can't know ahead of time?”
“Babe, we’re discussing this right now because I already told y—”
“The date!” I shouted, then briefly shut my eyes. “I mean a date…”
“Why is that necessary?”
“To prepare for it? That's the least you could give me. I’m fucking dying over here—"
“How can I tell you somethin’ Iliterallydon’t know myself? Ever thought of that, mate?”
“Fuck’s sake…”
"You'll know when I know.” He reached and pushed my hair behind my ear. “How’s that? You'll be theonlyperson to know."
"I just want you to think about it. Think about what’ll happen to uz...toeverythingif you just go without warning. Think about the fans—"
"Stop, mate, juststop!" he snapped, looking at me like I'd lost it. "I already thought about all that shit, alright? More than you realize."
"Doubt it."
“Oh fuck off.”
I got up and toyed with the window. The paint was chipped so I peeled some in listless agitation. "Otherwise, you wouldn't be going about it the way you are…”
"And how's that? Huh? How am I goin' about it exactly?"
"Like adickhead. But I know you don't care what I think, mate. You treat me like m’just another bloke. Like some kind ofafterthought. You're becoming so fuckingobsessedwith your own shit you can't even see how it's affecting me—"
"Believe it or not, Rafe, not everythin's about you, yeah?"
