I laughed. “He just pointed out that humans have something similar when they are in love, so it isn’t as bad as I’ve been thinking.”
“Make sense.” He kissed me again tenderly. “Okay, Princess, go spend some time with David. See if you can bring him out of his funk.”
I left the room, looking for David. I found him in his room, sitting in the dark.
“What ‘cha doing?” I asked in my cutest voice.
“Thinking.” His voice was glum.
“Dangerous pastime.” I was hoping quoting Disney at him would at least get a smile, but I got nothing. Not even a twitch of his lip. I sighed. “You were supposed to say ‘I know’.” I sat down next to him and shoulder-bumped him. “Wanna help make dinner?”
“No.”
“Come on, sitting here in the dark is not helping you. Come spend some time with me.” I whined at him, and even batted my eyes.
He sighed. “Fine.” He got up and followed me robotically into the kitchen.
The whole time we cooked, I attempted to engage him in our conversation. I threw things at him playfully, bumped into him, and flirted non-stop. At first, Travis went along with it, but after a while he started to get upset. He stopped me when I passed him by grabbing my arm. He whispered fiercely at me, “What are you doing? I know you love us all, but why are you practically ignoring me?”
“I’m sorry, Travis, but something is going on with David, and I’m trying to get him out of his own head. “
“Oh. That makes sense. The way you are doing it won’t work, though. I know how to do it.”
“Okay, have at it then.”
We walked back over to the stove, where the chili we were making was simmering. Travis smiled at me, before he turned to David. “So, David, Evalia was just telling me that the Steelers are a really good team.”
Thank God David didn’t turn to look at me, or the look on my face would have given it away, even if he wasn’t in my mind. I am sure my jaw hit the floor. That is the last thing I ever would have said. However, it didn’t have the reaction Travis was clearly hoping for. David just grunted what sounded like an approval. Travis turned to me and shook his head. The next time I went to get some ingredients, Travis followed me.
“This is worse than I thought. That should have riled him up. He hates the Steelers.”
“I want to spend time with you, Travis, but maybe you should give me some time alone with David.”
He nodded and leaned in to kiss me, then he left the kitchen. I gave it a few minutes more before going to David. I wrapped my arms around him from behind and rested my head on his back.
“What’s the matter, David?”
“Why does everyone keep asking me that! I’m fine! Stop bothering me about it.” He blew up at me. I let go of him and stepped back a few feet. When he turned to me, his face was red. “If I needed to talk to someone, I would. I wish everyone would leave me alone!”
An almost overwhelming urge to cry hit me. I didn’t know if it was my own emotions because David was yelling at me, or if I was reflecting his mood, or if it was a little of both. I put my hands up while I built my mental wall. When I was done, the urge to cry was still there, but not nearly as strong. A little of both then.
“We, I mean, I am worried about you, David. You haven’t been yourself, and it’s bothering me. Did I do something?”
“No, you didn’t do anything, and I’m fine. Come here.” He held out his arms. I looked at him skeptically for a second before I moved closer, and wrapped my arms around him, and laid my head on his shoulder. “I’ve had a hard time controlling my anger the last week or so, but I’m fine, I promise. If things get worse, I will talk to Kait.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.” Mollified, I kissed him lightly before I moved away to stir the chili again.
He leaned back against the counter and watched me with a small smile. After a minute or so, I finally had enough. “What? Why are you staring at me?”
“I was just thinking how lucky I am that you are my girl. You are beautiful, smart, and strong. You don’t need us at all now.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Of course, I need you.”
“No, you don’t. You rescued yourself.”
“So what? Just because I can take care of myself doesn’t mean I don’t need you. Will I be able to survive without you? Of course, but that doesn’t mean I don’t need you either. It’s about more than just survival. I wouldn’t be happy, or whole, without you guys. I don’t want to sound like a bad romcom, but you all fill gaps in my soul. I need you so I can be the best me I can be.”
David smiled. “I needed to hear that, Sugar.”
I went back to him, so I could hug him tight. His arms snaked around me. I looked up into his eyes as I said, “I would be devastated if you ever left or if something happened to you. Please keep that in mind.”
“You act like I’m planning on doing something dangerous.”
“You’re not? I’m surprised. After what happened yesterday and with you and Kait disappearing this morning, I thought you were being a secret agent or something.”
He glanced away. Ah-ha! I knew it! “No, it’s not what you are thinking. Yes, Kait and I went and did some recon this morning, which, I guess, you could say was like being a secret agent. But there was more to it than that, and it’s not like we took unnecessary risks.”
“So, you are saying you took necessary
