Creating Fire

Chapter 4, Sneaking Suspicion

‘Geez girl, you’d think with the way you’re fired up I had asked you to be my bed warmer.  It is only one night, remember that’.

I sat at the small dining table, the feature being something had not noticed when I first entered this room many hours ago.

I could tell it was dark outside now, the crickets singing their usual tune around this time after sunset.

Liam had ever so gratefully given me one of his shirts to keep, saying it was ‘something to remember him by’ or some corny line like that.

I could smell the strong detergent he used now seeping into my skin, the smell intoxicating even to me.

At the sound of the door opening, I rose to my feet ready to attack if anyone but Liam entered.

Seeing his slim body step through the entrance I relaxed again, my eyes scanning the items he carried in both hands.

The scent of some sort of Chinese food wafted in my direction, the saliva building on my tongue from the mere thought of food.

Chinese food had its own unique taste, the plastic containers barely visible through the plastic bag.

I could see Liam give a brief smile at my interest, a few other bags being balanced in the same hand as what I assumed was meant to be dinner.

‘Hope you like Chinese, there isn’t much else close by’.

Shrugging, I was honestly surprised the man even wanted to feed me after I had brushed him off every opportunity he tried to get closer to me.

Watching as he dumped the bags on the table, he took one I recognised as one of the Big W chain stores, my eyes only getting a brief glimpse of the fabric inside.

The bag was easily dropped over near the bed as Liam quickly returned to reveal the plastic containers of goodness from the other bag.

‘I didn’t know what you liked, so I got a bit of everything, hope you don’t mind’.

I sat silently, watching and waiting until I was allowed the food.  I watched as Liam went away towards the kitchenette area, his hands rummaging through the cupboards until he produced plates and cutlery.

Placing the large plate in front of me, Liam didn’t waste time cracking open the first container of food, the smell of honey chicken assaulting my nostrils.

‘Here, I figured you’d probably like this one, take what you want and I’ll open the others’.

Lifting my hand to take the container, this was the nicest gesture anyone had ever done for me, the kindness from this man I originally judged as a player seeming odd.

Stuttering as I began shovelling some food onto my plate, I let a small smile slip onto my features.

‘Thank you’.

Liam returned his own smile, more containers been passed my way before I could finish with the first.

‘Think of it as an apology for being such an ass earlier’.

Soon enough my plate was piled up with Chinese, the various flavours of honey mixed with the fried rice, vegetables and Mongolian lamb as well as a few others I could not put a name to waiting for me to eat.

Taking the fork, I did not wait for Liam to say anything, my body’s needs controlling my movements.          

Rach mouthful helped fill that empty pit I called my stomach, the organ used to going without food for days when I was on the run.