Outnumbered

“That sounds pretty nice.”

“It was. Everything changed after Iris started high school and then even more when she got her driver’s license. She didn’t have much time for me after that, but we still talked a lot. At least, we did until she went to college. Despite everything that happened later, we had a good childhood. I wish there was some way I could go back and keep all of the bad stuff from happening, but that just isn’t possible, is it?”

“No,” I say, “it isn’t.”

“I’m sorry,” Seri says as she takes a long, deep breath. “I shouldn’t be unloading all of this on you.”

“That’s all right.” I don’t know what else to say. It’s better than asking me about myself. That’s for sure.

Seri’s talking about her sister’s death has my body tense and my stomach churning. Too many images from my own past flash through my head, and my temple starts to throb. I take another long drink from the glass, and the liquid burns as it glides down my throat. It calms me slightly, but the thoughts are still there.

“Thanks for listening,” Seri says. She sits up long enough to take another drink before putting her head back on my shoulder. “It’s not something I normally talk about. It’s kinda nice to get it all out there.”

I can only nod in response. I’m not sure why talking would make her feel any better. Doesn’t that just bring it all back into the forefront of your mind? Hell if I know. I’ve never talked to anyone about my childhood, not even when they forced me to see a therapist while in prison.

“I would like to get to know you better,” she says softly.

“I don’t know if that’s a great idea,” I say. I try to make light of it. “I mean, you flipped when you saw all of me. How are you going to feel if you hear all about me?”

Seri picks her head back up and gives me a harsh look. I grin sheepishly at my bad joke.

“That isn’t the same,” she says. “Not at all.”

“I guess not.” I shrug. I have no idea how the two are different really. If I tell her anything about my past, I’ll feel far more naked than I had been this morning.

“I probably did overreact,” she says softly. “I am grateful for everything you’ve done for me, like I said, but I still barely know you. Seeing you like that freaked me out a little. I’d still like to hear more about you though.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Anything you want to tell me,” she replies. Again, she lays her head on my shoulder. This time, she also moves a little closer, and our thighs are pressed together. I swallow hard.

“Like what?” I ask. “Talking about myself isn’t really my thing. I need some suggestions.”

“Anything,” she replies. “Tell me about your childhood or how you came to live here. Tell me about your ex.”

“I don’t want to talk about her.”

“Well then, tell me about where you got Solo.”

“Found him out in my barn,” I say. “I don’t know where he came from. I assume his mother must have been killed, but I have no idea how he managed on his own long enough to reach shelter. He followed me up to

the cabin, and he would have frozen to death if I just left him outside, so I brought him in. He was so scrawny, I’m surprised he survived.”

“So, you rescued both of us.”

“I guess.”

“See? You are a knight.”

“I’m not.” I shake my head.

“Well, you are as far as I’m concerned.” She leans against my body and wraps her arms around my waist.

It seems strange to just sit here, so I put my arm around her shoulders. She leans against me a little harder, and I stare into my nearly empty glass. For a few minutes, we sit in silence.

The quiet is starting to get to me, so I tilt my head to look at her only to find that she is looking at me. Our faces are close, and her cheeks glow in the firelight. My gut tightens up, and the feeling moves lower. I want to shift my weight to get some of the pressure off my groin, but I’m afraid to move.

Seri tilts her head, changing the angle slightly and moving our faces closer together. Reflexively, I run my tongue over my lips just before she presses her mouth to mine.