So this is his apartment, it’s just as clean as I expected it to be. He’s already got the table set. Sitting down I place my hands on my lap and stare him in the eyes, “I feel the need to let you know I’m a taken woman.” I say this for you and me both. I don’t know what it is about this man but he makes me feel so warm when I’m around him it feels like someone else’s emotions.

John, the slick and silent man, sat back in his chair with a smirk, “I didn’t mean to give you the wrong impression Miss. Gun, but this is a business meeting of sorts.”

Of course it is, I knew I was jumping the gun with that. Dammit, I can feel my face heating up, I wish I had put on some makeup. “I’m sorry, I must have gotten the wrong impression then. I couldn’t help but feel you have been coming on to me.”

John tilts his head forward, “You weren’t wrong, however, that is a separate issue from this meeting.”

Oh dear, “Well, then I want to clarify that I’m a taken woman.”

John took his shades off for the first time, “It pains me to hear that, but I accept, under one condition of course.”

Condition, the fuck does he mean condition. Is he making demands of me, like I’m an object to be passed and taken between men?

John cut off my thoughts, “Please calm down, I can see it on your face. That was only a joke. I was just hoping to get the name of the lucky man.”

“I would prefer not to talk about him, however much I may love him, it’s a sore subject.” Lets see if he takes the not-so-blatant hint. The last thing I want to do is talk about Thomas with someone who is with law enforcement.

John nodded acceptingly, “I understand, one question then. Is this man Tom’s father?”

Fucking men can never take a hint, “Yes, it is.”… Why did I just say that? I haven’t spoken to anyone about Thomas so why have I slipped up now?

John put his shades back on, “Thank you, I will drop the subject immediately. Now about your son.”

Take a deep breath, remain calm, “Yes, what about Tom.”

“I have recently looked into his background, for obvious reasons of course. I hope that doesn’t upset you?” John now had his hands clasped together and was leaning forward.

I swallowed hard, “Go on.”

“He seems to be a good kid despite recent events, I don’t deny that. However, as his mother, I’m sure you’ve noticed that ever since he awoke from his coma he has been acting more aggressively than usual.” John waited for me to respond.

“Are you referring to the incident? I find that to be an extreme example it is clearly an unusual circumstance.” I reached for the glass of wine that had been prepared and was sitting in front of me, he did the same and we both took a sip.

“I understand your reservations about his actions there, it was clearly a traumatic event for him. However was it a traumatic event when he beat up his best friend?” John kept up his artificial smile.

“Well of course not, but that’s kids being young and dumb is all.” I’ve done far worse.

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“Of course, however, do you know about him assaulting someone at school over a volleyball?”

“Excuse me” My eyebrow shot up, I hadn’t heard anything about this, surely if it happened I would have been notified.

“Yes, well the kid suffered a concussion from it. It seems that none of the faculty noticed, students included. When I was going through the school surveillance footage I clearly saw Tom flip a boy upside down and slam him to the ground, but of course, he was going through a lot at the time, having just told his ex-girlfriend to kill herself and all.” John’s smile finally dropped as he attempted to look sullen.

“I see you have done your research on my boy. You can continue to bring up examples of incidents I don’t know the reality of or you could get to your point.” I stopped tapping my nail on the table as soon as I noticed it, when had I started?

“Well, Miss. Gun, I believe your son has suffered from some brain damage, or it may be a growth in his tumor. Either may be the reason for his behavior as of late. What I’m trying to say is it’s not his fault and can be corrected… With the proper care.” He looked down concerningly.

“If that is the case, why haven’t the doctors who have been examining him noticed?” At this point, I couldn’t help but take a sip of wine in between his responses.

“Ah, well, as much as I hate to say this. The general practitioner at a hospital isn’t trained in this line of expertise. It’s not their fault, of course, this is an amazing community, one of the best I have ever visited but it can’t teach them everything of course.”

“And you have this ‘expertise’?”

“Oh, no, of course not. However as I’ve told you, our facility has some of the best care in the world. I sent some of his scans to them and they had a look at it.”

Is it possible? Yes, it is. I’m no doctor and neither is he but Tom did hit his head hard enough to be put into a coma. It’s unlikely he was unscathed, and doctors do make mistakes. What is he smiling about?

“Don’t mind me, I just find it amusing that you didn’t say anything about me traveling from different communities. I had thought that was a rarity here.”

Fuck, “Ah, yes, well it isn’t my concern when my son is involved.”

“Of course.” John’s smile seemed genuine for the first time.

“I am worried about Tom, and I have no doubt that your facility it one of the best, but to send him away like that. I don’t think I can do that to him after everything that has happened to him. You see my Tom has never liked being confined whether that be his room or these walls that surround our community and protect us. It would feel as a betrayal to him.”

“I understand Miss. Gun, as long as you know that if he ever gets out of hand you have someone to fall back on, I’m happy. Now if you would, please indulge me with your company.”

“Oh, well I guess I could stay a little.”

I felt something brush past my face, a hand. Reaching out I grabbed it, twisted, and pulled. Opening my eyes, John was now inches from my face, his shades unable to hold back the surprise.

“I apologized Miss. Gun I was only trying to wake you up. I hope you don’t think anything perverse of me because of this predicament.”

“Looking through his shades I tried to find his eyes in the abyss to no avail, “Yes, well this is partly my fault for twisting and pulling your arm so suddenly. Now if you wouldn’t mind removing your hand from my breast.” My chest was pounding and my face was flush.

John’s face contorted with slight discomfort as I began to squeeze harder, “If I’m being honest with you Miss. Gun I’m afraid to move from fear of leaving them behind, so if you wouldn’t mind.”

“Yes of course.” Releasing his crotch he raised of me, ever so ungracefully. “Now why were you trying to wake up?”

“I see you’re still suspicious of me, well maybe this may clear things up” He points to a clock, “I would hate for you to be late.”

“Late but it’s…” I stared at the clock taking in the unwanted information, “Fuck, fuck, fuck! Sorry, I have to go.”

“No reason to apologize, I understand.”

“Of course you do.” Fuck why am I so stupid, this is so embarrassing, my god. Tom must be so worried but I have to get to work. “Would you mind stopping by and checking up on Tom?”

“Of course Miss. Gun.”

I wonder how I knew he was going to say that? “Thank you, I, I had a nice time.”

What the hell is wrong with me. Whenever I get around that man I’m so flustered, and for me to slip up and tell him about Thomas like that? Is there something with him or has it really been that long since I’ve socialized with someone like that?