Aw, fuck. Maybe that wasn’t as reassuring as he’d meant it to be, but it was too late to take it back now. He noticed the way her posture stiffened somewhat after he’d spoke about his own bad decisions, and wondered if she was going to turn and run. If she did, he wouldn’t blame her. In fact, it probably would’ve been the smartest thing for her to do. Since he was a relative stranger and all. Murder suspect, too.
“Yeah,” he chuckled nervously when she turned his awkward response into something more like a friendly and less creepy conversation. “Maybe a robot. Then we could always blame our bad ideas on whoever the hell programmed us.”
“Maybe true, but that stupid decision doesn’t just affect you.” A pointed comment that he expected her to understand. Rae had more than just herself to think about in situations like this. Kind of selfish of her, in a way, but then, Silas had issues when it came to bad mothering. “Guess that’s none of my business, though. Not my place to tell you who to talk to or where to go.”
Rae further explained why she was so willing to approach him and he bobbed his head in agreement. “True enough. If I was the killer, I wouldn’t have brought attention to myself by clearing my throat. Point for you.”
Silas had never touched or been touched by Rae, though it wasn’t for lack of wanting. All he’d ever gotten were casual chats that lasted no longer than a couple of minutes. Rae wasn’t available to him then, nor was she now, but the memory of their first handshake would stick with him for a while. Maybe he was delusional to think he’d ever have even the slimmest chance with her, but that was his cross to bear and no one else’s.
“Yeah, unofficial. ‘Least until I fill out O’B’s damn application.” He’d do it when he had time. Maybe.
He looked at her levelly. “What were you doin’ out here?”
For the time being, Silas made no comment about Rae’s baby. After the dead bird incident, coupled with his anonymous note, he didn’t want to bring too much suspicion his way. Didn’t want to seem too interested, even though he was concerned about her being out here all alone.