Noah’s mouth parted a fraction, and although Eli had expected surprise or even amusement, what he saw was gratitude and a hint of disbelief.
“Yeah,” Noah said quietly. “Yeah, I do.”
They settled near the heater. Noah handed him a mug of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows, and Eli cupped it greedily.
Noah smiled. “That’ll thaw you out. Are you good?”
“Define ‘good.’”
“You still have a nose?”
“Barely.”
“Then you’re fine.”
Eli huffed a laugh.
They talked about the storm for a few minutes, the conversation normal, a discussion of harmless things. But the air between them wasn’t harmless. It buzzed, as if the room was waiting for something.
Eli let his gaze wander. The workshop was cluttered, warm, lived-in. A blanket was draped over an old plaid couch in the corner, worn through in places. A few framed sketches hung on the wall, mostly rough furniture drafts mixed with watercolor landscapes.
Eli pointed to the latter. “Did you paint those?”
Noah rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah. Strictly hobby stuff, though.”
“They’re good.”
“You’re biased.”
Eli blinked. “You don’t know my standards.”
Noah shot him a look. “Oh, I know enough.”
It was the same sentence he’d uttered the previous night, only that had been in a different context. This time it landed like a punch to the chest.
Eli cleared his throat. “This is cozy.”
Could I sound any more lame?
“This is accidental hostage-taking by weather,” Noah corrected. “But I’m glad you’re here.”
The honesty in his voice made Eli look up.
Are you?
Noah wasn’t sure when the cold stopped mattering.
Maybe it was the moment Eli stepped out of the storm, shaking snow from his head and stood there, his cheeks flushed, looking like trouble Noah very much wanted to have turn up on his doorstep.
Oh God.
He’d hoped Eli would come. He’d also told himself he wasn’t hoping. But the second he saw him in the doorway, shivering, stubborn, and beautiful as hell, something in Noah’s chest loosened so suddenly it almost hurt.
You walked here?
He’d heard the edge of panic in his own voice. Becausenobodyhad walked across town for him, not in a storm.
Not ever.
