Stalking His Claim

“Fine,” he says. I step back. He gives me a funny look. I turn, half running from the store. I tell myself that everything is okay. That it was only a coincidence that he bumped into me. That what happened before isn’t happening again as I pick up my pace. My phone rings in my hand. When I make it out to the sidewalk I answer.

“Hey,” I breathe.

“Tin. Are you okay?”

“Reed?” I pull the phone away to see if it is really him calling me. I thought it was Carly. She’s the only one that ever calls me except for my parents from time to time.

“Are you okay? You're out of breath.”

“I’m fine. Really. I scared myself.” I roll my eyes, knowing I’m being silly with my irrational fears.

“How did you scare yourself?” he asks. I move down the sidewalk, keeping up with everyone else. It’s the one nice thing about a big city. You never feel alone. There is always someone around and I’ve found that comforting after everything that happened before.

“I thought someone was following me.” I cross the road when the light changes, spotting a grocery store that gives me an idea.

“If you think someone is following you it is always better to be cautious. There is no harm in that.” He always makes me feel less crazy about some of my fears.

“Thanks.” The phone goes quiet as I enter into the grocery store. “Wait. Did you need something?” He never calls. It’s me that reaches out to him, and I normally do that in text.

“I wanted to thank you for breakfast.”

“You’re very welcome. Everyone should have French toast with bacon on their birthday.” I’d gotten up early to make sure Reed’s birthday started off good. No gross powder stuff he mixes in with water. “Now if I only could have talked you into not going to work.”

“What else would I do all day?”

“I don’t know. Be lazy like a normal person.” I laugh, grabbing a basket from the front of the store.

“It would have been boring.”

“I would have made it not boring.”

“You never said you would be staying home. You had class.”

“Right. I could have ditched. Played hooky. Is that what the kids call it these days?” I laugh.

“You’ve never ditched a class and I think you’re one of those kids.”

“I haven’t been a kid in a long time, Reed.” If only he would see that. Hopefully these little moments we have will eventually make him realize it.

“Right.” Again the phone goes quiet. I know he never wants me to feel like I’m a bother so he’s never the first to end a call.

“I’ll let you get back to your busy work life. I’ll see you tonight, birthday boy.”

“Tonight, Tinsley,” he says. He still doesn't hang up. I end the call for both of us so I can get back to grocery shopping. One of these days I'm going to challenge him to a phone-off and see how long he’ll go without hanging up after we say goodbye.

I grab everything I’ll need for cupcakes and more icing than one person should ever own, but there are so many different colors that I can’t only choose one. What do you buy for a man who can buy anything he wants? Nothing. Your only real option is to make him something. One thing I do know about Reed is he never indulges when it comes to food unless I’m pushing it on him. I’m the reason he needs it. At least that’s what I tell myself.

When I exit the store I once again run into someone. My heart drops for a second. “Sorry about that,” a tall blond woman says as she keeps on half running down the sidewalk. Probably late to wherever it is she’s trying to get to. I let out a breath. No one is going to jump you in the middle of the city, Tin. Get it together.

“Home,” I call when I enter the condo twenty minutes later, dropping my bag at the front door.

“You do know an alarm sounds anytime someone comes in.”

“I do. But this is more personal.” I kiss Rita on the cheek.

“It is. How were classes? I thought you’d be home an hour ago.” I follow her into the kitchen.

“I had to make a stop.” I place the bags on the kitchen counter.

“More sweets?” She laughs, looking through my bags. “You know you're the only one who has ever gotten Reed to eat this crap.”

“It’s good for him.” I start lining up all the different icings. “It’s his birthday.”

“I know.” She gives me a sad smile.

“Why is this sad?” Is there something I don’t know?

“Reed’s mom died on his birthday.” My stomach drops. No one ever talks about Reed’s mom. I don’t know why. I’d never known her. For as long as I can remember it was only Reed and his father. “He was five.”