My aunt has been calling me like crazy for over an hour. I’ve been calling Donovan like crazy for over six. I arrived here early, and now it’s one in the morning.
One in the fucking morning! I have classes tomorrow!
I’m pacing back and forth, trying to calm down and figure out how I’m going to murder Donovan. He better not be out partying or something because he’ll seriously see me angry. He can’t leave his mother like this, with a stranger. I consider myself a fairly sane person, but if I were some kind of sociopath, I might kidnap her or something.
I can’t even think straight anymore! I’m going to kill him!
“I like it,” Donovan’s mother says, eating the vegetable soup I made. I had to use everything in her refrigerator… which didn’t leave me with many options; it was practically empty. “Deni always buys ready-made food. He says it’s made in a very special place and much more delicious, but I like yours better. Yours is super special!”
I smiled back at her and sat next to her, gently stroking her long wavy hair. “Thank you, Ali. I’m glad you enjoy it. And after this, we’re going to sleep, okay?”
The woman who takes care of Alice left shortly after Donovan did, thinking she had everything under control, which couldn’t be further from the truth. But before that, she took the liberty of giving her opinion on my nonexistent relationship with Donovan.
“I’m so happy that Den has a companion. He’s always been so lonely, and I only saw him with a girl leaving the house very rarely, but I always see him at night when I know Alice is asleep. You know, those kinds of relationships boys have nowadays. But with you, it seems different. Let me introduce you to his mother.” That’s what she said.
The first thing I thought was that Donovan isn’t as antisocial as he made himself out to be with other people. In other words, he’s not very unfriendly when it comes to being with girls.
After realizing that instead of denying the relationship we don’t have with Donovan, I’m thinking about how many girls he brought here, I was completely perplexed and had the urge to smash my face against the table to snap out of it. Before I could say anything, the woman was retreating as if running away from the damn truth that wouldn’t come out of my mouth.
She’s an elderly woman in her sixties, with a charming smile and seems very sweet. For that reason, I preferred not to pursue her and let her think whatever she wanted. It’s clear that she loves Donovan and Alice, so I’d rather leave her with the peace of mind that they’re accompanied.
“Are you going to sleep with me?” she asked, finishing the last sip of the soup.
Alice’s bedroom was beautiful, entirely pink, with a large wardrobe and a double bed. She also has a trunk full of toys in her room and plenty of extra space to move around.
“I’m going to stay with you until you fall asleep. I won’t leave you alone,” I said, stroking her arm and taking her plate to clean it.
“You’re very lovely, Alicia,” she murmured, more to herself than to me.
Her compliment touched me, but at the same time, Alicia reminded me of Donovan. I was in some kind of love/hate moment. Where the hell is he?
“Call me Cel when we’re alone. That’s what my best friend calls me,” I whispered in her ear.
“Oh! Then I’ll call you Cel!” she exclaimed excitedly, getting up from her chair and heading to her room.
“Let’s go to sleep, Cel! I’m sleepy!”
Alice’s outbursts surprise me. Ten minutes ago, she didn’t want me to even mention the word “bed,” and now she’s more than excited to go to sleep.
I waited for her to put on her pajamas, tucked her in, turned off the light, and lay down next to her, gently stroking her head. I was surprised that she didn’t mention Donovan throughout the afternoon. Is she used to his absence?
When I felt her shoulders relax and her breathing stabilize, I knew she was asleep. I was very tired too. Today we danced, put on makeup, ran… In total, I lost thirty pounds.
I slowly closed my eyes; I just wanted to rest them for a bit. I deserved it. I couldn’t feel half of my body.
When I opened them again, I realized I had fallen asleep. It was still nighttime, and I saw a shadow leaning against the doorway. I got scared and jumped out of bed.
“What did you do today to put yourself in such a vulnerable position where I can tease you because you snore and drool?”
Donovan.
“The question is, what the hell did you do?” I whispered, approaching him. The moonlight coming through Alice’s window allowed me to see the blood on Donovan’s face. He noticed that I saw his face, so he turned around and walked to the kitchen.
The room was lit, and I could see that he had indeed taken a few punches. He had a split lip, a small cut above his eyebrow, and bruises on his cheek.
Judging by his expression, his body was injured too. Ignoring my anger, I rushed to the bathroom and tried to find a damn first aid kit. He must have something to treat his mother when she gets hurt.
I grabbed a bandage, rubbing alcohol, antiseptic, and cotton. Donovan was sitting on the couch, looking up at the ceiling to avoid looking at me. When I sat next to him and gently turned his face to look at me, he tensed up because of the things I had in my hand. Even beaten up, he was still equally handsome, and having him so close accelerated my heartbeat.
Okay, I admit it. I like the guy. I won’t deny it. But only physically.