The first thing I did when we arrived home was dive into the bathroom, brushing my teeth at least five times and using half the toothpaste tube. Then I ducked under the shower, taking a long hot relaxing shower, not something I do too often.
It helped me relax my muscles from the long trip where I just spent the hours sitting in the bathroom not knowing when I was going to throw up. For a whole day, that was not fun.
I ran a hand through my hair, switching the taps off before the water went cold and wrapped fluffy towels around me. I peeked out the doorway to see the bedroom empty and ran to the walk-in closet and rummaged for some clothes.
I threw on some fluffy pants and wore a big warm jumper and tied my hair in a towel. I hated the feel of wet hair on my shoulders, just as much as I hated the after feel of a shower. I loved showers, just not the hot, sweaty feeling afterwards.
I shuddered. I hated that feel.
I opened the door and went downstairs. Was Ma back yet?
Somehow I was missing her presence.
I found Darius hunched over the dining table looking at papers spread out before him.
"Do you ever take a break from work?"
Darius looked over his shoulder and smiled before doing a double take.
"To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"What?" I asked, looking down at myself. Pleasure for what?
He answered. "Is this the first time you took a shower and changed clothes willingly?"
I could feel my cheeks burning up but I ignored him and walked toward the kitchen. "You spend too much time with my dad," I snapped.
Did dad have to tell him everything? I mean, sure he was my husband, but everything? Some things were better left unsaid, like my suspensions and bathing rituals.
I looked at the cupboard. Was there anything to eat?
“I'm hungry," I said, sighing.
"Of course," Darius said as he walked into the kitchen. And, unsurprisingly, he had the folder in his hand. "Are you ever not hungry?" He looked at me with knotted eyebrows, crossing his arms across his chest as he leaned back against the table.
"What?"
I opened the fridge and looked at the bread. Was it edible? How old was it? Only one way to find out.
"How do you pack it all away?"
"I don't eat a lot. I just eat more times a day." I shook my head. Fast me
tabolism, that’s what you call it. Did the guy ever go to a normal school? Probably not, just some business school.
Darius stayed for a few more minutes as I raided the cupboard and found a pack of instant pasta. Just add hot water.
"I'm going to take a shower."
I nodded absently, waving a hand as I read the flavour. Chicken. Yea, I can live with that.
I grabbed all four sachets and placed them in a bowl and read the instructions at the back.
Pour 250mL of hot water into the bowl for five minutes, which meant one litre if you wanted all four packets.
I placed two bowls out, glad that Adrian went back to his place. I don't want that pig eating my food. Plus, I have a reason to be hungry. I threw up everything I ate.
I grimaced, remembering it. Should I be eating this soon?
I'll eat slow.
I ran the tap, turning it to hot water, and went up to check my phone. I used to be attached to this thing as a kid, now I barely use it. I laughed. How times have changed.
I grabbed my phone out of the carry bag and walked back downstairs as I switched it on.
Full battery. That was a surprise. Wait till dad heard about this.
I scrolled through the unread messages, wincing. Oh dear, I should call Rose.
I went back to the tap to test the water. Still lukewarm. I turned the tap fully to the left. Hurry up, I'm starving.
I opened a new message to reply to Rose, leaving my hand under the water that was gradually turning hot, but it was slower than a snail.
"Aluminium!"
I jumped and turned around, "Wha –?" The word got caught in my mouth as Darius stood glaring at me. Did someone turn on the ducted heating because it was suddenly hot in here?
"I can't get hot water upstairs if you have the hot water turned on full here!"
"Aha," I dumbly said with a nod, trying not to stare, but it was really hard when he was standing wearing a lime green towel in the middle of the kitchen, with one hand wrapped around holding it together and the other rubbing his forehead like he was frustrated.
Who has lime green towels? I was really expecting it to be white, or grey, or even black.
"Are you going to switch it off?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. I tried not to stare at the water droplets that were pretty much clinging to every part of his upper chest. Rose was right, he was –
I swore, taking my hand out of the water as it hit the hot level and then I closed the tap.
"I need hot water," I said, looking at my red finger. Idiot, Ivory, only you would do something like this.
"Microwave it," he said before turning around and walking away, leaving puddles of water wherever he went.
"Microwave it," I mimicked, filling the bowl with cold water and doing what he said. I placed my finger in my mouth. That's what I get for staring, karma. This was exactly why I didn't stare last time. Muttering to myself, I looked around till I saw the microwave.