A few nights later, Elijah announced he’d be cooking pasta primavera using the fresh vegetables from the fridge. He also brought over a five-hundred-piece puzzle, which was Tristan’s idea since Chris liked to keep his mind sharp when he was bedridden in the later stages of brain cancer.

At first, I balked at the idea, especially when I glanced at the cover and saw it had a basket of adorable gray kittens. “You ass. I hate you.”

“I figured it would be like aversion therapy,” he quipped. “You need to grow to love cats again. One animal should not ruin the entire species for you.”

As soon as Elijah dumped the box upside down on the smaller table he’d slid toward me on the couch, I got lost in the task of turning over all the pieces. He probably knew it would appeal to my sense of order. No way I could let that mess of pieces just sit there like that. Fucker knew me too well.

Ginger was staying overnight with him again, so after he also laid down some Sudoku and word-find books on the opposite edge of the table, he positioned the collie beside me on the couch. It could’ve been my imagination, but a sense of calm immediately took hold. Or maybe it was just the company. It had been a solid four hours since Samantha left.

When Elijah first walked in, I was attempting to scroll one-handed through a Microsoft Excel file Jerome had sent to my laptop, frustrating the hell out of myself, so I took the needed distraction in stride. Ginger seemed as pumped to be here as last time, nuzzling into my side and nudging at my hands so I’d pet her.

It was completely endearing watching Elijah get to work in the kitchen. With determination in his eyes, he dug through my cupboards, pulling out a box of noodles, red peppers from the fridge, and a chopping board, intent on cooking something for dinner. I supposed I never really saw him in that light.

In fact, I usually thought of him in shallower terms, which wasn’t really fair. But these last two weeks have shown me a different side to him—he was loyal and sweet and thoughtful—and I wondered why Stewart, or other guys for that matter, couldn’t appreciate those things about him. Elijah certainly had his share of duds over the years. He absolutely deserved better. But it was also okay just to take time to be alone and figure things out. After Samantha and I split, I never thought I’d get another shot at love, and even though John didn’t end up being the one, it certainly made me wiser about what I wanted in a relationship.

By the time the food was ready, I nearly had a solid border going on the puzzle, to my utter amazement. No doubt Elijah would blab it to Tristan when we headed to his place for Thanksgiving dinner in a couple of days. I was definitely looking forward to getting the hell out of this apartment other than for a follow-up doctor’s appointment.

“Look at you go,” he said, and his eyes crinkled around the edges. “Told you it was a good idea.”

“Technically it was Tristan’s idea,” I responded with a smirk.

“Smart-ass,” he replied as he handed me a steaming bowl of pasta and sank down on the other side of Ginger, who perked up immediately at the smell. It was surprisingly good, even though the noodles were a little more than al dente, and I finished my bowl in record time, using only my left hand, which was a feat. But no way did I want Elijah trying to feed me again; it only made me feel like a child.

“That was awesome,” I said, trying not to wince as I adjusted myself on the couch. But today I was feeling especially achy, which the doctor said might happen as I started to heal and move around. “Thank you for dinner—again.”

“No problem,” he answered, collecting the bowls and walking to the sink. “But how about you swallow some pain meds, and I’ll help you get to bed?”

“No, I can do it,” I replied, feeling like I really shouldn’t be relying on people so much. I was nothing if not proud. But he obviously saw straight through my act and somehow knew I was feeling sore tonight.

Elijah rolled his eyes in mock exasperation. “I’m here, tough guy. So why hobble around if you don’t have to?”

“Fine,” I huffed, pretending not to enjoy our banter when in fact I looked forward to it. Damn, had I become that sheltered, or had being around my friend so much opened my eyes?

After Elijah passed me two pills and then a glass of water, he helped me off the couch. I stumbled a bit on my bum knee and steadied my chin against his shoulder. He smelled clean, like soap with a faint hint of the antiseptic they used at the groomer’s, and I realized I’d come to enjoy that scent. I lifted my head and put a couple of inches between us, hoping I wasn’t smelling rank again and that he wasn’t too repulsed.

“Ready?” Elijah murmured close to my ear. It was a soothing sound that made my stomach swoop unexpectedly. What the hell was wrong with me? I was becoming a sap. I supposed being rendered immobile and having to rely on those closest to me would do that. I had even teared up the other day when Samantha brought Olivia for a visit. Somehow, she knew I needed it. She positioned my daughter on my lap, and we read a few picture books together before watching her favorite show on Cartoon Network.

Elijah helped me to the bathroom and waited outside while I took a leak and then painstakingly brushed my teeth. I felt like a toddler being checked on by his parent.

Still, I held on to the sink so I wouldn’t accidentally fall over, honestly glad that someone was here with me because tonight even lifting my arm felt like effort. I was more than likely overdoing it with the trip to the couch, but I just couldn’t stand being cooped up in my bedroom for so many days on end.

After Elijah breezed in and allowed me to steady my weight against him down the hallway, I breathed a sigh of relief.

“How about tomorrow I give you another sponge bath, and this time I’ll wash your hair too?”

A shiver raced through me. Why did that excite me as much as it freaked me out? Still, the idea of clean hair was so pleasing, I nearly moaned aloud.

“As long as you promise me something,” I replied as he helped me sit down on the edge of my bed.

“What?” he asked, adjusting one of the pillows I always kept my splint propped on. Ginger jumped up on the end of the bed and made herself comfortable, dragging the chew bone Elijah had given her after dinner so she wouldn’t beg. Maybe I’d consider adopting an older dog someday. I hadn’t realized how comforting they could be.

“Promise you’ll go out one night soon,” I continued, adjusting myself on the mattress. “Meet the guys at Bent or something.”

“You trying to get rid of me?” he asked as he helped me scoot farther up on the pillow.

“No, I just…”

He narrowed his eyes. “You think you’re like a chore on my to-do list?”

“Well, wouldn’t I be?” My stomach tightened, wondering if I should even be asking when I felt wholly nervous about his answer.

“See, that’s where you’re wrong,” he responded as I finally leaned back, and he drew the covers over me.

“Please tell me how wrong I am,” I deadpanned.

He crossed to the other side of the bed and slid beneath the comforter, keeping his distance, but I could still feel his body heat. Interesting how that was the thing I noticed this time around when in the past there hadn’t been drawn boundaries between us.

Was it something he was now conscious of as well?

Each night, he’d lie in my bed for a while before I fell asleep, but more recently I was becoming increasingly aware of his presence, like the crackling of an electric current between us. Maybe it was because we were spending so much time together. Which was the exact point I was trying to make.

“I like being with you,” he said when he was settled, and I felt a twinge in my chest at his words.

“Sure, me too,” I replied, ignoring my feelings and pushing forth the issue again. “But every night? That’s got to be taking a toll.”

“Well, you are a bit whiny at times,” he replied, scrunching his nose to tease me.

“See?” I huffed out. “Anyone is liable to get sick of me and my bullshit the more time they spend with me.”

“I was only kidding, you goof,” he said, squeezing my hip beneath the covers for effect. I nearly gasped out loud at the sensation. “Stop this nonsense. Don’t you have more important things to worry about?”

“Such as?” I asked in mock irritation, trying to ignore the beating of my pulse in my ears. “What color pajama bottoms I can wear tomorrow?”

He tilted his head as if considering it. “Those are big decisions.”

“Just promise me you’ll go out soon.” I tried stifling a yawn, but it was no use.

“Okay, I promise,” he responded as I shut my eyes.

I felt myself floating away as Elijah’s warmth settled beside me like a steaming bubble bath. What I wouldn’t give for one of those.

“Night,” I managed, the pills already knocking me out.

* * *

When I blinked open my eyes in the morning light, I felt surrounded by heat. Elijah was still asleep beside me, and Ginger had remained near my feet.

I swiped my wrist against my eyes and stared at Elijah’s sleeping form. His tousled brown hair, black lashes framing his cheeks, his full bottom lip—had I ever studied him this way? He was certainly adorable, and sometimes he used it to his advantage.

When he roused beside me, I nudged him.

“What happened?” I asked in a groggy voice. “Did you fall asleep?”

“Got too comfortable, I guess,” he murmured. “Your bed is cozier than mine.”

I chuckled and reached for my phone on the nightstand to look at the time. “Don’t you have to get to work?”

“Switched shifts with Brooke for Black Friday so she could go shopping with her sisters,” he said around a yawn before sitting up and stretching. “But I need to feed Ginger and take her outside. I’ll be dropping her off to her owner. She’ll be back in town for the holiday in a couple of hours. Be right back.”

He reached for my worn Legend of Korra sweatshirt that Mae had folded and left on my dresser after picking up around the apartment. It felt so…natural watching him slip it over his head, mumbling about borrowing something warm to go outside. As he slid back into his tight jeans, which he must’ve discarded sometime last night, I turned away before my thoughts betrayed me.