He also knew what her apartment looked like; he’d stayed over a bunch of times.He knew her.
What was this though?This sudden desire to clean?To make herself look perfect?
This was Jason—the guy who’d sent her random packages and photos, sharing his experiences.The man who sent her emails full of fun commentary that made her day.
Yes, their relationship had started to morph and change before he left, but it wasn’t as if there were strong words or boundaries set.It was easy.
This?
Not easy.
Her heart pounded at the thought of him; she could hear his footsteps as he came into the building, could see him as he reached her door.
The knock shouldn’t have surprised her, but it did, eliciting a sharp intake of breath.
“Coming,” she said as she crossed the room before unlocking the door.
She wasn’t prepared for him, for his smell, for the way he stood, exhausted, half asleep in the hallway, backpack at his feet.
She wished she was stronger, but she wasn’t.Instead of any of the plans she wanted to make, she fell against him, her head against his chest.
Immediately, she could feel his arms come around her, the familiar scent of him strengthening her.
“You missed me?”
She nodded.“I…”
His arms loosened around her, stopping her words before meeting her eyes.“Are you okay?”
The reflex answer she’d give anybody else out of habit, even Livvy, would be yes.But to Jason?Who had no reason to judge her?
“No.”
“You want to talk to me?Tell me what’s wrong?”
And instead of lying or trying to put on some kind of façade, she nodded; it was a lost cause anyway.“Let’s go inside, get you settled and then I’ll tell you everything that’s happened since you left.”
*
Before he leftin January, he’d helped Naomi through the issue she’d had with her boss—Ida the horrible—about the caterer.Then he’d been there through the substitution of choices Judith had made because the ‘people weren’t up to the standards’ Ida had insisted on.
As he settled on Naomi’s couch, he listened as Naomi told the story.
The words she chose made his blood boil; he’d hated her now former boss already, and so to hear the woman had done this?Ol’ Ida was lucky she’d left the business without a forwarding address.But he couldn’t show anger Naomi wouldn’t be able to distinguish or even feel the need to apologize for.
He felt more comfortable showing incredulity instead.“So, until I got here, you spent the last few days trying to organize not only the wedding, but also your life?”
“Yeah.I had no choice, right?”She shook her head.“All of a sudden, not only do I not have a job, but my cousin’s wedding is basically disintegrating before my eyes.”
“I’m sorry,” he said.“I wish I’d been here.”
She shook her head.“No.You don’t, and you shouldn’t.You were doing something important for yourself and your career.Not to mention, I figured I’d tell you when you were back.”
“Makes sense.”
“Besides, you already had to yank me back from an Ida-caused disaster in January.Didn’t feel like bothering you to tell you about this one.”
He wasn’t going to say anything.Nothing.Zero.
