Sea Breeze 03 - While It Lasts

as the door behind me started to open.
    “I already ate,” I blurted out.
    “Then keep me company while I eat,” he replied , leaning back away from me now that he had the door behind me opened. “Go on in Eva, it’s nice and cool.”
    This was when I should ’ve politely refuse d and go ne back to the house. Except, I didn’t. I turned and walked into the small room that Cage occupied during the week.
    Like all the other times I’d been in here to leave his dinner, the bed was a mess. He never made it up. There was also a pile of dirty clothes in the corner. The only neat habit the boy had was that he hung up his bath towel every night on the back of the door. I remembered that I’d only left him one tow el and one wash cloth when I’d prepared the room for him. Was he having to use the same wash cloth? I felt guilty for being such a judgmental brat earlier this week. He’d worked hard all week. He deserved a clean washcloth and towel every night.
    Cage walked around me since I’d stopped in the middle of the room and went to take a seat on his unmade bed. He began unwrapping the plate of subs like he hadn’t been fed in days. Glancing at the clock on the wall over his bed I saw it was after eight. It had been over six hours since I’d brought him out fresh water and a slice of Mrs. Mabel’s lemon pound cake. Another stirring of guilt at how I’d been treating him churned in my stomach.
    “If that isn’t enough I can go make anoth er one or two,” I offered as he took a large bite out of the sub. He grinned as he chewed and then took a long swig of the lemonade.
    “This is great. Thanks. I was starving. And the lemon cake thing the invisible fairy brought me earlier was fu —amazing too.”
    What? “Invisible fairy?” I asked confused.
    Cage looked so sincere. “You know the fairy who magically brings me water and ice rags when my back is turned.”
    He wanted to be a smart guy, huh. Well fine, two c ould play that game.
    “Oh, that fairy. Yeah, she has an aversion to cocky guys who think they have the world at their fingertips.”
    Cage set the sub in his hand back down and narrowed his eyes, “Is that so? Hmmm… and here I was hoping she was going to finally appe ar one day and give me a nice div ersion from work.”
    “Highly doubtful,” I replied unable to keep from grinning.
    “Well, day-um. I’ll have to come up with something other than my sexy topless fairy fantasy the next time I need a break.”
    Oh dear God , did he mean… ? “You are sick,” I said through my appalled laughter.
    “Who me? You were the one listening at my door. What was it you were hoping to hear , Eva? If I’d known you were coming in hopes of a show I could have been more prepared.”

Chapter Seven

    Cage

    Damn if her smile wasn’t fucking gorgeous . Not to mention that laugh made me want to soak it in and keep it for later. Just knowing it was me making her smile made everything else seem less important.
    “I was just making sure you weren’t in the shower or on the phone,” she explained.
    Sure. That’s what she’d been doing when I’d stood there in the shadows of the barn and watched her try so hard to hear something through the door. It had taken all my will power not to burst into laughter.
    “Were you gonna come on in if I was in the shower? You’ve already seen my naked ass .”
    Eva blushed again. She must have gotten a pretty damn good view.
    “I need to get back to the house,” she said and started to move back to the door.
    “Please don’t go. I won’t tease you anymore , I promise.” I wanted her to stay. I wanted to get to know her and I wanted her to trust me enough to tell me the truth about that ring on her finger.
    I could see the indecision on her face. That was a good sign. Some part of her wanted to stay here. “Aren’t you exhausted?” she asked.
    I was e xtremely exhausted but I wasn’t ready to give her up just yet. “Not really, j ust lonely. All my friends are an hour away. I need a friend here.”
    Eva stepped ove r and sat down on the very end of the bed. She was staying.
    “Are you asking me to be your friend , Cage York?”
    Not exactly. But for now, f riends would do. “I guess I am.”
    “Why would you want me for a friend? I’ve been nothing but mean to you since you got here.”
    Because you fascinate me. She wasn’t ready to hear that yet. “I’m guessing you control whether or not my sheets get washed. I figured if we were buds then