Page 13 of Mr. McHunky

I wait for the wave of “I grew up in foster care so when I tell you, it’s amazing that you kept them out of it believe me. You saved them from a pretty crappy life.”

He stops walking and puts his hand on my arm.

His pale green-blue eyes peer at me and I have to look away after too many breaths. If I look at them for too long I get feelings in my stomach. Feelings that I don’t quite know what to do with. He is so hot, it’s just unfair. How is this man not taken? He’s got to have a line of women waiting for his attention. Of course, for all I know he has an entire harem he keeps somewhere else.

“Oh Peaches, I’m sorry I didn’t know.” His expression is earnest as he searches my face.

I smile at him. “How could you?”

We start walking again.

“We’re basically strangers.” That feels like a lie burning my tongue. But we just met last night, we are strangers. So it doesn’t matter how things feel. Feelings are fleeting and fickle.

Also, that’s the second time he’s called me that. Peaches. Did he forget my name?

“Well, I do know some things about you,” he says. “I went on a bit of a binge last night watching your videos.”

“Why?” I blurt out.

“Because I met you and because I know my sisters look up to you. And because I was interested, wanted to know more about you.”

That makes my tummy flip and tighten again. This man is dangerous. “What did you discover?” I ask.

“That you’re pretty fucking amazing regardless of where or how you grew up.”

I will not cry.

I will not cry.

I swallow thickly and look ahead to where Rosie is chasing a squirrel.

“Thanks,” I manage.

We walk further in silence and I can see the back of his house up ahead.

“So, what were your reading earlier? Outside of your van?”

Kill.

Me.

Now.