BEN WENT INTO the kitchen and heated a can of chicken soup, the only thing he could find that Donnie would be able to eat with his sore mouth. After Donnie had eaten, Ben helped him to bed and dosed him up with as much Tylenol and Advil as he thought was safe.

Donnie slept through most of the afternoon, and when he woke in the evening, he looked less pale and didn’t sound so wheezy anymore. Ben brought him tea and another bowl of soup and helped him sit up in bed. Soon after Donnie had finished the soup, his eyes began to droop again.

Brushing away Donnie’s protest, Ben stayed the night. He lay down on the sofa, keeping the door to Donnie’s small bedroom open, alert for his charge needing anything during the night. He woke once to shuffling feet and went to help Donnie to the bathroom. Donnie accepted the kindness with wordless gratitude; when they were back in his room and sat on the side of the bed to rest, Donnie leaned into Ben with a grateful sigh, intertwining their fingers in his lap.

The next day, Ben had to go back to work but promised to return in the evening. That night, on his way to Donnie’s house, Ben bought groceries and more painkillers. The injured man was up and moving around more easily when Ben arrived just after half past five. The smile that lit up Donnie’s eyes when he opened the door warmed Ben to the core.

The bruises on Donnie’s face had turned a lighter shade of purple and green, and his eye looked less swollen. But the overall severity of the injuries still gave Ben pause.

When he had stepped through the door, he turned around and cupped Donnie’s chin, studying each cut and graze. “How’re you feeling?”

Donnie shrugged. “S’okay,” he said, then gave a small smile. “Better now that you’re here.” He looked at the brown paper bag in Ben’s arm. “You brought me food?” He blushed and pulled away from Ben’s hand. “S’not necessary, y’know.”

“You gotta eat,” Ben said, “and with your mouth right now, the stuff you got in the cupboards isn’t any good. I brought more soup, yogurt, and soft bread.”

Donnie nodded, his face still red. Then he motioned to Ben to follow him into the kitchen. “It’s real nice, that you care,” Donnie said in a quiet voice as he watched Ben put away the groceries. “Not many people do.” He stepped close, took the milk carton out of Ben’s hand, and intertwined their fingers.

For a moment, Donnie looked down at their hands. Then he leaned in and gave Ben a small chaste kiss on the cheek and leaned his forehead against Ben’s shoulder with a sigh. “Thanks.”

Ben put a hand on Donnie’s neck and drew small circles with his thumb. Donnie sighed. It would take time for him to get used to this, to them. But Donnie’s small gesture of gentleness gave Ben butterflies. Standing in that shabby kitchen on the cheap linoleum floor, he felt happier than he had in months.

That night, at Donnie’s insistence, Ben went home. “I’m fine, jus’ sore now. I’ll take it easy for the rest of the week. You got your work and Laura.” Ben had told Donnie that he had a daughter but hadn’t gone into any further detail.

“If you’re sure...”

“Am sure,” Donnie said, and smiled that shy smile that made Ben feel all strange inside. They exchanged phone numbers, and Ben promised to look in again the next night.

But the next morning, Helen asked him if he could pick up Laura from school, and Donnie was very understanding when Ben called him during his lunch break to explain. The day after, a late arrest made Ben’s shift overrun, and when he phoned at ten, Donnie told him to go home.

“I’m just about to drop off,” he said, sounding sleepy. “It’s fine, I’m feeling much better. Arthur was here today. He brought me food. Let’s talk on the weekend, all right?”

For a moment, there was a trace of furtiveness in the other man’s voice. Ben gave himself a mental shake and rubbed his face. This was madness. He had to stop overanalyzing everything Donnie said.

“Okay,” he agreed. “I’m working Saturday, but if you need anything, just call and I’ll come by.”

“Thanks, Ben. Speak soon.”

There was a niggle of disappointment when Ben hung up the phone. All day, he’d been looking forward to seeing Donnie. But they would see each other again soon. He just had to be patient. It was surprising how hard that was, because one thing was clear: Ben was developing feelings for Donnie, and it was a nice sensation.