Page 4 of The Impossible

“And others?”

“I dislike it, but it’s convenient, especially for someone like me who doesn’t drive and takes rideshares everywhere. I couldn’t imagine living out here knowing damn well I hate driving.”

He laughed. The door opened seconds later.

“So you don’t like the city, but you tolerate it because you’re closer to your normal shit, even though your job is this far out.” He summed up everything I said right before he got out of the car. He then extended his hand for me to take.

I took it and stepped out of the car.

“This isn’t a house. It’s a freaking palace,” I said, looking at the home.

“Fit for my wife and future children,” he said before dropping my hand and placing that exact hand on the small of my back.

When we entered the house, I immediately noticed it was empty besides a few light fixtures.

“I thought you said this was your home.”

“I own it, yeah, but it’s a gift to my wife.”

I nodded, taking it in, wondering why the hell I was here.

“What do you think?” His voice slit through my thoughts, making me turn and look in his direction. But for some reason, it hadn’t registered that he was talking to me. “What?”

“I asked what you think?”

I smiled. “About what, if my wedding gift was a palace?”

He nodded, waiting for my answer.

I shrugged. “It’s sweet and extremely thoughtful.”

“But not something you’d want?” he questioned, eyes locked on mine.

“No, not that at all. Definitely something I’d want, but I’d want the whole thing, not just the empty luxurious house. A marriage filled with as much love as luxury, if not more. If this symbolizes that, then hell yeah, I’d want the whole thing, but if it’s just a house, then nah.”

He grinned. “Noted.”

He then led me into the kitchen. It too was empty besides the breakfast nook built into the corner of the room. The table was set for dinner. I could tell by the candles and aroma of food in the room.

“Didn’t know what all you ate, so I had them grab everything.”

I laughed. “Yeah, like I’m greedy or something?”

He laughed as well.

For the rest of the evening, we talked and ate, getting caught up with one another in a way that could have been seen as intimate. It was as if he wasn’t who he was currently and life hadn’t sped past the way it had. We were teenagers, both forced to attend the same events. Given we had never done this much open talking, it was different, but a welcomed difference.

We spent so much time together that when it was time to go and I was being driven home, the time shocked me. The entire time I was with him, I hadn’t paid my phone a lick of attention. He had my undivided attention the entire evening and I didn’t know how to feel about that.

“I really enjoyed myself,” I said aloud as the truck turned onto the street I lived on.

“Yeah, even though you were acting like you didn’t want to eat with me.”

I laughed. “It’s not that and you know it. You live a different life, one I am not used to nor a part of. One I make it a point of avoiding,” I stated bluntly.

He shrugged. “It’s never too late to get used to new shit, Nic. But before you get all bullheaded, I enjoyed you as well.”

The truck stopped in front of my building and the driver got out. His door opened and he was out before I could get out. Instead of the driver meeting me at the door, Hondo did. And just like when we got to the house earlier, his hand was extended for me to accept.