jesse doesn’t response as she leaves, can’t stop himself from watching her as she does. he stays there for a few more moments, knocks it down to someone being too fucking paranoid for their own good and then leaves. he was meant to be at badger’s almost an hour ago, but he gathers the other man is too high to remember what time he was actually meant to get there, so he’ll be in the clear.
the knock the next day startles him, and he can’t remember agreeing to see his cooking partner for at least another day. the cops were too fucking insistent, these days. he had to be more careful and that involved taking breaks. it wasn’t like he paid to live here, so he was fine as long as he had food in the cupboards. he opens the door anyway, completely caught off guard at the sight of the blonde woman from the day before.
“—can i help you?”
quivering fingers poke at the plastic protecting the homemade pudding as the door is finally answered. nerves heighten when she feels the awkward smile accompanying the flush on her cheeks. really, she just doesn’t remember the appropriate way to interact with new people. for the last eight years, her life has been dedicated to motherhood. plus paul, her ex-husband, had very limited tolerance of her talking to other men. if she doesn’t scatter in the opposite direction, rita will label this as a success.
‘ hi! i hope i’m not bothering you. i just wanted to bring say i’m sorry i’m yesterday. i can get a little crazy when it comes to my kids, i know. ‘
it takes all her strong will not to gulp after dishing out such a long speech, more words than she’s spoken to any adult in months voluntarily. remembering the treat in her hand, she holds it out to him and hopes it’s not a bad or unwelcome gesture.
‘ it’s pudding. ‘
