Free A Blue Tale by Sarah Dosher Page A

and take advantage of me.” I teased.
    He smiled faintly and raised his eyebrows at me. “Take advantage of you, yes I’d do that in an instant…drug you, no. Now take them.”
    He put his hand under mine, leading it to my mouth.  I opened wide and let the pills fall in before taking a big gulp of water.  I put it down and started to jump down from the counter, but he held up his hands to stop me.
    “Just stay put, what do you want?”
    “Umm, I just want something to eat, I haven’t eaten much today.  My stomach won’t like the aspirin.”
    “When was the last time you ate?” He asked in a scolding tone, making me flinch.
    “I’m not sure, it’s been a busy day.”
    “You should take better care of yourself.” He said bluntly.
    “What?”
    “You heard me.”
    I scooted away from him and jumped off the counter then retreated around the island to put some distance between us—I couldn’t seem to think with him so close.  He eyed my every movement with his signature scowl directed right at me.
    “Look Deacon, thank you for the medicine and water.  But don’t think you know me because you don’t.”
    “I never said I knew you, I just said you needed to eat.  There’s a big difference.”
    He turned back to the refrigerator and started searching through its contents.  I watched, completely stunned, as he pulled out sliced cheese and butter, grabbed a loaf of bread from the counter, and moved to the stove.
    “Wait, what are you doing?”
    He stopped and held up his hands, a frying pan in one and a spatula in the other, “Umm, cooking.”
    “I can see that, but no.  I can find something to eat, you don’t need to cook.”
    “It’s a grilled cheese, Eli, it’s not like I’m whipping up a gourmet meal over here.  Just sit down and chill the fuck out already.  Good Lord, you act like no one’s ever done anything nice for you.”
    “Grilled cheese?  That’s what my dad always made.” I said faintly as I fell into a chair at the table while memories of my dad standing exactly where Deacon currently was standing washed over me.
    “Yeah, a grilled cheese.”  He said, turning back to the stove.
    Minutes passed while he cooked and I stared into space, trying hard not to let my childhood memories rip my heart open and pour out all its baggage in front of Deacon.  I’d already come to terms with these feelings, it had been years since he died.  But something about Deacon made them flood through my soul more than they had in years.
    I was startled when he set a plate in front of me with a perfectly cooked grilled cheese.  He sat next to me with his own plate piled with three grilled cheese sandwiches.  The smell of gooey cheese hit me and my stomach immediately let out a loud growl I knew he had to hear.  I cut my eyes toward him and he gave me the biggest smile I’d ever seen. 
    Before I could start eating, Luci jumped on the chair next to me and stood with her paws on the table.
    “Get down, Luci.” I snapped and swatted her away. “Sorry, she likes cheese.”
    “Why is her name Lucifer?” He asked for the second time tonight.
    “Cinderella.” I answered.  He shook his head at me and shrugged his shoulders.
    “The cat in Cinderella is named Lucifer.  I thought everyone knew that.”
    He made an amused grunting sound that really felt good to my ears. “No, I can promise I didn’t know that.”
    “Cinderella was my favorite fairy tale growing up.  I still read it all the time and watch the old cartoon at least once a year.” I admitted and then felt childish, so I added, “Umm my dad bought it for me, and he read it to me every single night when he was alive.  It’s my favorite, every little girl wants to live a fairytale.”
    His face softened and he nodded.  We both stopped talking and ate.  I could feel the time ticking by, but the silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable, it was soothing.
     

Chapter Ten
    Eli Blue
    “So, your dad?  He was a fan of the grilled