“Elowen needed to head into town.”
"Next time, I can pick you up."
“Thank you.”
“I put a casserole in the oven. It should be done—” the timer rang, and he turned toward the kitchen. “I guess it’s done now.”
“Cool. I’ll help you get it out.”
“Thank you. You don’t have to. You are my guest.”
“I feel useless not helping.”
Thario nodded. “I get that. I hated not doing things after I got out of the hospital.”
“I bet that was tough.”
“Yeah. Almost killed me. Frog helps a lot. Without him, I’m sure I would have been totally depressed.”
“Depression is weird.”
Thario put the dish on a doubled-over kitchen towel and then grabbed plates.
“It is weird. A dog saved me, but talking to people made me more depressed. It took a certain group of men as friends to bring me back.”
Calla served herself a small portion of food, and he wanted to tell her to eat up, but she was small, and she probably couldn't eat a huge meal.
Instead of piling his plate full, he only dished up about half of what he normally would, so he would remember to offer her something to eat in a couple of hours.
They sat at the table that the previous owners had left. It was awkward for a moment, but then Calla started speaking.
“I appreciate you and your friends helping me so much.”
Thario didn't know what she was getting at. He hoped this wasn't a brush-off. She'd had therapy the day before, and maybe the therapist had been smart enough to tell her not to get involved with him.
“We like helping. I’m glad we were able to get you to freedom.”
She nodded. “It is nice having a place to go, but what is better is-um—“ Calla took a sip from her water. “Gosh, this is hard.”
"It's okay." He was preparing himself for her rejection. So many people had rejected him since he'd been injured. He should be used to it, but this hurt.
She met his gaze and then stood and moved closer. He glanced up, and she took his hand.
"I don't know much about relationships, not real ones. But I want one with you. I know it's too early. I know we don't know each other, and you probably?—"
He stood, and she took a step back, but he pulled her closer again.
“I want that with you. I know you’re going through a lot with therapy, and they won’t want you to get wrapped up in me, but I want you to know I’m here for you. I’m not going to push you, but I’m not stepping away.”
She cupped his cheek, running her thumb over his stubble. It was rough and made noise as she moved her thumb. It felt good touching him, and she liked how his beard tickled her hand. She wanted his arms around her and to feel his lips on her, but she couldn’t rush this.
“I’m going to go slow. I don’t want to overwhelm you. If you need me to back off, ask.”
“I’m not going to need you to back off.”
"Just remember, I can slow down even more if it gets to be too much."
“Thank you,” Calla said as she pulled him in for a close hug. This was better than she’d expected. She and Thario were going to get together. Being with him was better than she’d expected. He was very kind and sweet, and he didn’t freak out when she said she wanted to be with him. Maybe they wouldn’t make it, but she was going to try.
