Page 455 of Once Upon a Fable

“Ready?”

I looked up from the carpet picnic that Gem had produced. “Youbought all of this?”

“Yep.” She leaned forward and started to open the lids of numerous containers. Scents of herbs, spices, and delicious food wafted up. “I went to just get Mexican, but then I figured, you probably haven’t had an array of different food and definitely not in a very long time, so I went a bit nuts.” She laughed.

I rubbed my temples. There was a sea of containers. How much did each one of those cost, and what did I owe her?

She’d mentioned she was popping out to grab something quick and easy, seeing as she hadn’t replaced anything in her fridge from her disappearance, and I’d let her go on her own because...well, I had a splitting headache from spending the day in people’s company. And I didn’t trust myself around a crowd yet, especially with the whiteness teasing me more and more as I grew tired.

I’d held my own with her brother and mother. I hadn’t had too many white moments and didn’t attack anyone, which was an improvement. I’d been on my best behavior even when Josh did his best to get a rise out of me. Her mother never asked about the broken TV or displaced frames from the walls, and not once did I catch her staring at me as if any moment she’d call the police and have me taken away from her daughter. Despite my scars, despite Gemma’s bruises...her mother accepted what we told her.

That we’d met. Fallen in love. And were building a life together.

And as much as it hurt to socialize—with my concussion still upsetting my balance and mental processes—they stayed for most of the day.

I’d done my best to staynormal.

Most of the time, I didn’t have to participate in conversations as Gem’s family chatted about her video channel, what they went through trying to find her, and what Gem’s plans were now that she was back home.

Occasionally, Maggie would direct the conversation toward me, but after my confessions to Josh, along with the strain of being around lots of energies after eleven years of nothing, I was content to just sit and listen.

By the time they left, I was ready to sag against the wall and fall asleep.

But it was sleep that still scared me, so I popped another pill, let Gem go and grab dinner, all while I’d indulged in a hot (thank you, God) shower and stared at myself in the foggy bathroom mirror, trying to figure out a way to sleep safely beside Gem tonight, instead of assigning myself the couch.

“Dig in.” Gemma handed me a plate. “There’s Indian—not too spicy. Italian—very creamy. Mexican—very zesty. Thai—very fragrant. And a cheeseburger and fries—very yummy.” She grinned. “You’ve already had one of those, so I figured if nothing else interested you, at least you knew what to expect with a burger.”

“I-I don’t know what to say.”

She shrugged and spooned a helping of something orange and pungent onto her plate. “Don’t mention it. It’s an honor to experience things with you. It’s like I’m enjoying it for the first time too.” She took a bite of whatever she’d chosen. “Wow, that’s good.” Her eyes glazed over. “Butter chicken and jasmine rice. You know...if you ever end up in the wilderness again, you need to pack a rack of spices to liven up the bland vegetables.”

I shuddered at the thought of years’ worth of rationing and hunger pangs. “I think I’m done living off the land for now.”

“We can go buy some seeds in the next few days if you’d like? Start a veggie patch in the backyard if it will help keep your mind calm.”

I chose a hard shell thing which I thought was called a taco. Placing it on my plate, I caught her stunning stare. “That would be helpful, thanks.”

“An outdoor kind of therapy.”

I nodded and took a bite. Crunchy lettuce, tasty meat, and a heaping of creamy avocado. I closed my eyes in bliss. “God, I’d forgotten how food can make everything better.”

She nodded, a sad look coming into her eyes. “Were you fed well...before you were on your own?”

I wolfed down the rest of the taco and helped myself to a flaky pastry thing from the Indian container. “Not really. We had more than enough to keep us alive, of course, but it was just bland necessity, not a reward.” I swallowed hard against a swift memory of the times weweregiven food as a reward. Normally, I would bury those recollections and shovel more earth onto the grave of who I’d been, but tonight, I forced myself to be fully open with Gem.

After everything she’d done for me...I wanted to be betternowinstead of months from now. I wanted her to be safe with me. I wanted her to be able to fall asleep in my arms and not wake up bruised. “We would earn a big roast meal if we had a...long day serving. If you were bleeding or a guest was particularly proud of what they did to you, they could request a meal as a treat for us.”

Gemma stopped eating and shivered. “God, I’m so sorry.”

I shrugged and took a bite of the pastry. Potato and carrot all seasoned in a curry paste. “It’s in the past.”

“And you’re here now.”

I nodded and held her hazel stare. “With you.”

“With me.”

A shy smile broke her gorgeous face. “And you asked me to marry you.”