He stopped when he saw me holding his phone.
For a moment, none of us spoke.
Then she sighed.
Don't be ashamed
Annoying.
“His name is Derek.”
I nodded.
“I heard it.
“He’s not just a guy.”
“I thought.
“He owns Apex Predator.”
“The gym?”
“Yes.
Place your phone gently on the counter.
Claire crossed her arms.
“You’ve been different for years, Cole.”
“I know.
“You are quiet. You're not going anywhere. You come home from work, dinner, watch TV and go to bed.
“I know.
“I feel married to a corpse.”
That landed differently.
Not because it was cruel.
Because part of me knew exactly why I had kept quiet.
I had spent my twenty years in places where being noisy caused people to kill.
I had learned to sleep slightly.
To see the doors.
To listen to the steps.
Recognize the difference between fireworks and incoming fire.
