His Fire Inside

7

Olivia

It’s been four days since I saw Rourke. I hate the way my whole body comes alive at just Cheryl saying his name. Anticipation builds until I feel almost sick with it at the idea of seeing him again. So why, when Cheryl asks me what I would like Rourke to bring from Central Market heat and eat area for dinner, is my first instinct to run? I’m even up off the couch only I don’t really want to, the need to see him is stronger. So I tell her lasagna as I go into the bathroom, hoping to play off my getting up as the need to pee instead of the need to flee.

When he opens the door only twenty minutes later, it’s just as bad as I feared. Every cell in my body comes alive as if shocked back into life from lying dormant since the last time I saw him. Damn it. This is bad, so damn bad. I drag my feet as I follow Cheryl into the kitchen to heat my lasagna.

We’re all seated around the dining table when a scream comes from the television in the living room.

“Oh, no. Dear, did Dean just die?”

I nod as I pat her hand. “Don’t worry. Remember there are still twelve more seasons, he doesn’t stay dead.”

Rourke sighs. “You’re watching Supernatural?”

“Okay, I get it’s not peak level acting and cinemaphotography, but you don’t have to say it as if we were watching a cartoon or something. Supernatural is a well-written, okay, it’s had some problems over the last few seasons, but it’s very well acted. If the show were on any other network they’d be sweeping the award shows.” I glare at him.

Cheryl pipes up. “I think it’s a wonderful show, dear. Simply heartbreaking at times, then quite funny in others. I’m having a ball binging it, as they would say.”

I nod at Cheryl. “Just wait until Crowley shows up. Castiel used to be my second favorite after Dean, but Crowley beat him out.”

“Who is Crowley? Have we seen him yet?” Cheryl’s brow wrinkles in concentration.

“He’s the king of Hell, and you only like him because of the accent.”

“It’s not just his accent, but okay, it might have nudged the like meter a little.” I shrug. “You sound like Gabe. I like him more because he knows exactly who he is and doesn’t fight it, he embraces it. Even though there’s a tiny piece of him that wants to be better. And gradually he does become better. It takes like six seasons, but he does.”

Rourke’s eyes narrow. “Who is Gabe?”

“My brother, Gabriel. He prefers Gabe.”

“Oh my, the king of Hell?” Cheryl sounds concerned.

He rolls his eyes. “I think this should be considered a mark against you on your employee evaluation to get her hooked on this show.”

“Excuse you? I think that should be her decision,” I shoot back at him. Turning to Cheryl, I try to soothe her. “He not that bad really. I promise you’ll like him.”

Shaking his head, he sighs. “You know better than her the kind of show this is. My only hope is she gives up and stops watching it.”

I gasp. “You used to watch it too.”

He shrugs, and a ghost of a smile appears. “I did, okay. I slogged my way through season six to get to seven and finally have it get better, only to have Dean die or end up in Purgatory and I was done. There are only so many times they can kill them and bring them back to life. They really should have just called it quits at season five the way the original creator planned.”

The laughter wells up out of me, I can’t stop it. “I stopped watching after season seven too for the exact same reason. Then one of my patients was watching season nine. It sucked me back in, so I went back and watched the seasons I missed. I’ll admit the last few seasons there have been more bad episodes than good, but even their bad episodes are better than half the crap on television these days.”

“I don’t know about that. I gave up on television a while ago. Didn’t have the time for it.”

“Not even Netflix?”

“No, there aren’t enough hours in the day for me. If I do manage to get a few, I’m not going to fill them with binging a television show. I’d rather use a free hour or two to read.”

“Let me guess, Philip Roth, Tom Wolfe?”

Cheryl laughs at the disgust on Rourke’s face. “When it comes to books, Rourke takes his reading not nearly as seriously as everything else.”

“Well then, what do you like to read?” I’m so curious I’m finding it hard to sit still.

“I’m a King fan, I think he’s gotten better as he’s gotten older. I also like fantasy, Jim Butcher, Sanderson.”