“Let’s order dinner from that Thai place you love. What sounds good?” River asked, his voice a balm to the racket of sniffles and coughs that had been my symphony since morning.
“Pad See Ew,” I croaked, the mere thought of wide noodles and savory sauce enough to make me forget the relentless tickle in my throat. “And we need Tom Kha Gai. Its magic could probably cure this cold.”
“Ah, the healing powers of coconut soup,” River chuckled, his thumbs deftly navigating the screen on his phone as he placed the order. “I should’ve guessed you’d go for the comfort foods.”
“You remember that time you tried the Evil Jungle Prince curry?” I teased, a smile tugging at my lips despite the persistentstuffiness in my head. “Your face matched your shirt. I wasn’t sure if it was a fashion statement or a cry for help.”
River laughed, the sound rich and warm. “That was nothing compared to your culinary masterpiece during finals week. The ‘Spaghetti a la Adam’—burned to perfection.”
“Hey, that was art. Abstract cuisine.” My defense was halfhearted, but the memory sparked a lightness in my chest.
“All right, food is ordered,” he said, setting his phone aside. “Now we just wait for the magic soup to work its wonders.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, gratitude mingling with a thousand other unspoken emotions.
“Anytime.”
I caught myself gazing at him longer than necessary, lost in the way his laughter softened the lines around his eyes.
“River,” I began, my voice barely above a whisper. The words tumbled out before I could stop them. “I want to kiss you so bad right now, but I can’t even breathe through my nose.”
His expression shifted, a playful smirk giving way to something more tender, more cautious. “I’d rather remain germ-free, thanks.” He winked, but there was a hesitation in his voice that let me know my confession hadn’t fallen on deaf ears.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, looking away. “Cold meds talking.”
“Don’t apologize,” River said, his voice low, serious. “It’s not the cold meds, Adam. It’s us. This thing between us.”
My heart skipped a beat, my eyes snapping back to his. “Thing?”
“Whatever it is,” he said, shrugging slightly, but his gaze held mine with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.
“Is it weird?” I asked, my insecurities bubbling to the surface.
“Nothing about this is weird,” River reassured me, his hand finding mine beneath the blanket, giving it a gentle squeeze. “It’s just…new territory. For both of us.”
“New territory.”
“Exactly,” he said, the corner of his mouth lifting in a half-smile that made my heart race. “And I think it’s worth exploring.”
“Even with my germs?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood.
“Even with your germs,” he confirmed, his thumb brushing against the back of my hand in a gesture that felt like a promise.
“Good,” I said, feeling a resolve settle over me. “Because once I’m better, I plan on taking you up on that.”
River’s smile grew wider, and he leaned back against the couch, pulling me with him. “I’ll hold you to that.”
I found comfort in the weight of his arm around my shoulders, the silent conversations we held with our eyes, and the undeniable truth that we were on the brink of something beautiful.
The doorbell’s chime sliced through the comfortable silence, and River was on his feet before my brain could register the sound as the arrival of our Thai feast. He returned with bags that filled the room with the rich, tempting aroma of spices and herbs. My stomach growled in anticipation, echoing louder than my sniffles.
“Here we go, my dear patient,” River announced, setting the spread out on the coffee table. “Feast your eyes and your taste buds on this.”
“God, it looks amazing,” I managed between coughs, sitting up to help him unpack containers of delicious food. The steamy warmth wafting from the dishes seemed almost medicinal, and I breathed it in, hoping for a momentary reprieve from my congestion.
With dinner sorted, River browsed through the streaming service for a movie, settling on a romantic comedy with two male leads.
“Perfect choice,” I approved, my voice rougher than I liked.
