"And then Banks came in, guns ready. You should have seen it" I exclaim as I wash the dishes in the sink. My back is to Hex as he sits at the island behind me. I had got home to an empty house; it was strange and I was wary to enter honestly. Normally the sound of mum in the kitchen would greet me but it was dead silent because she's still at work. I wasn't alone for long though before Hex arrived home.
I could feel his mood through our bond before he even opened the front door. It was dull, nothing there and I braced myself for him to walk through angry but it only broke my heart further when I saw the fake smile he slapped on his face once he saw me.
"I don't know how they're going to work together for much longer, one of them has got to go" I continue on, filling the empty silence of the kitchen. I can feel Hex's eyes all over me so I know he's listening but his silence is making me nervous and so I keep yapping away.
"Kevin had to step in and then Harley and Banks left" I finish up washing the last dish as I place it on the drying rack. I dry my hands with the tea towel.
"Sounds like you had an interesting day, baby" Hex says, his voice sounding fake as he does his best to not let on with what's going on in his head.
I turn around and drop the tea towel besides me on the counter as I cross my arms, my face settling into a serious expression as I lay eyes on him. He doesn't even try to hide the fact that he had been faking it ever since he got home as he drops the look from his face and the way he is truly feeling displays itself.
He sighs as he rests his palms in the sockets of his eyes and his elbows on the island. He's still dressed in his work clothes and his hands are still dirty as they rest on his face. His back is tense as he hunches over and his hair is a mess, like he had been running his hands through it all day.
I use my butt to push off the counter and round the island to face him; he leans back and allows me to take the place on his lap as I sit sideways. His arm winds around my back to ensure I don't fall off as he grabs my hip and pulls me tight to his chest. I wrap my arm around his shoulders as I face his profile.
I ignore the smell of cigarette that sticks to him.
"Harley tell you that mum got accepted into the hospice?" Hex murmurs between us. The closeness of our bodies ensuring he doesn't have to speak loudly for me to hear him. I run my fingers through the hair on the back of his head comfortingly.
I nod as I observe him from the side, watching as he focuses on the bottle cap that he rolls along the island. "It's the best place she could be Hex, they'll give her everything she needs" I reassure him.
He shakes his head, not in disagreement but in almost frustration.
"She doesn't know what she needs" he drops the bottle cap and rubs at his forehead harshly "she doesn't know anything, she doesn't even know she's sick" he whispers. I don't say anything back because it's true; she's past the point of return. She's not getting better and the disease isn't going to slow down.
"Did you call her last night?" I ask into his ear. I hadn't felt him leave or come back to bed last night, I had been getting used to the nightly disturbance of him leaving and my mind had been ignoring it for sleep instead.
He nods as he pulls my head to his and I rest my cheek on his temple.
"Did she talk to you?" I whisper, already knowing the answer but hoping I'm wrong. He shakes his head, no.
We sit in silence as we comfort each other. My hand rubbing the back of his head as his hand grips my hip and rubs on the skin underneath my shirt that had ridden up.
"I think we should move the wedding forward" Hex suddenly exclaims, breaking the silence.
My eyes almost bulge out of my head as I freeze. Move the wedding date up? It's only ten weeks away, isn't that close enough? We haven't even got anything planned. I push the overwhelmed feeling away and focus on Hex's reasoning.
"Bring it forward?" I pull my head back so I can look at him. I have to place my hand under his chin and direct him to make eye contact with me. "It's only ten weeks away, we don't even have anything planned Hex" I try and reason with him.
"I don't think mum's got ten weeks in her, baby" he mutters. He holds eye contact with me and I take in his face. The dark bags that hang under his eyes, the sickly pale shade to his face and his cracked lips. I feel that lump grow in the back of my throat as I try my best to hold back the tears at the sight of him like this.
I nod "okay" I whisper "okay" I repeat as I press a kiss to his forehead and then his mouth.
"Thanks baby. I love you" he says to me as I repeat it back.
"I love you too".
*
I'm alone in the lounge room as I watch TV. Hex is in the shower, the sound of the pipes running through the walls can be heard throughout the apartment.
I hear footsteps walk up to the front door over the sound of the TV. I would be wary if it wasn't for the distinct sound of the small wedged heels mum had worn this morning. I mute the TV and bound off the couch, reaching the door before mum can pull it open.
She gasps; her hand flying to her heart as I scare her.
"Mum!" I exclaim, watching as her face lights up "how was it?" I ask as I step back to let her through the door. She hugs me and gives me a kiss on the cheek as she passes me.
"Oh honey, I loved it!" She brings her cupped hands to under her chin as a smile spreads across her face. She kicks off the wedges and makes her way over to the couch before she plops down on the recliner "I'll tell you what though, I'm exhausted" she huffs and lies back in the chair with her eyes closed.
I laugh, happy that she enjoyed it. Mum bends down to pat Teddy as he wraps his tail around legs before jumping onto her lap and settling.
"Do you think they'll keep you on?" I ask as I head in the direction of the kitchen. I know mum will still offer to make dinner but I'll do it today, she deserves it.
"I think so!" I hear her call out as she remains on the recliner. I hear the TV unmute as she continues watching the show I had been watching before she arrived home.
I pause in place as I remember the conversation I had with Harley earlier today. I tiptoe to the doorway of the kitchen and peak out into the lounge room.
"Uh.. mum?" I call softly, she turns to look at me "where is this place?" I ask with an overly sweet smile. Mum laughs, tossing her head back.
"I was wondering when you'd ask" I feel my cheeks flush slightly, either due to embarrassment or shame as I wait for her answer. "It's at Benny's" she answers and turns back to the TV.
I mouth a silent 'oh' and head back into the kitchen. Benny's is a little boutique on the main street. They sell mainly clothes but also homemade goods.
I successfully cook dinner without burning anything and all of us head to bed early. Mum seemed wiped out while she was eating and headed to bed pretty much straight after. Teddy followed her into her bedroom where he likes to sleep on her bed; I don't know what he'll do when she moves into her own place.
I watch Hex in the mirror as we brush our teeth. I stand back as he takes up most of the room; he uses one hand to lean on the counter with his mouth directly over the sink. I watch as his naked back moves and his tattoos ripple as a result. If I didn't have the toothbrush in my mouth I'd be drooling.
He spits the toothpaste out of his mouth and rinses before looking up and finding my gaze in the mirror. I cheekily smile the best I can with my toothbrush in the way and it gets a small smile from him too as he moves out of the way and allows me access to the sink.
I bend at the waist to spit into the sink and almost choke when Hex stands directly behind me, his hands grabbing my hips and pulling me back into him. He chuckles when he notices my reaction before pulling away. He smacks my ass harshly before stalking into the bedroom. I don't know how I didn't manage to spit toothpaste everywhere when I jumped from the sting.
Hex is already under the blanket when I enter the bedroom. His eyes crawl over me as I dress in only his shirt and underwear, the same as every other night but somehow he never gets sick of it. But then again I never get sick of seeing him walk around in track pants and no shirt.
"Tired?" I question as I slide in beside him. I turn on my side and move into him until he wraps an arm around me while he lays on his back.
He shakes his head "nah". His face says differently but I don't voice my thoughts.
"Me, Harley and mum are going to go look at wedding venues on Friday. Want to come with us?" I ask as I rest a hand on his chest, my fingers tracing the entwined poppy and rose flowers. Hex watches closely.
"Friday?" I nod "yeah, I'll come. I'll ask Clyde for the day off" he says. I smile and lean up to give him a kiss as he bends his neck.
"We need to decide on a new date" I state quietly. He nods in agreement. "Do you have a timeframe in mind?" I ask.
He swings his head to look at me. "Within the next six weeks would be ideal" he answers. I nod, swallowing audibly. I watch as Hex's face drops "I know you didn't want to do it like this".
I shake my head, sitting up a bit so that I'm eye level with him.
"No, in the end I'll be your wife and that's all I've ever wanted. I just don't know how we're going to have everything ready within six weeks" I explain I don't even have a dress.
"Between you, Harley and your mum I can guarantee that everything will be done weeks before the wedding" Hex curls his arm around my back so that I'm pushed into his chest and he can reach my forehead as he rests his lips there. "As for the dress, you could wear a bag down the aisle and I'd still say I do" my heart does a flip, a spin and then a twirl all at the same time as it thumps in my chest.
Hex pulls my shirt down to just above my breast so that my brand is visible; he runs his fingers over it, making me jump at the sensitivity. He pulls my shirt back into place after a moment as he presses his lips to the ring on my left hand before finally placing both of our folded hands over his brand.