How was I even supposed to describe him? He's the magical alpha of my dreams that I wished for on a cherry blossom petal and now he's real and perfect and I want to be with him forever? "Friend," I finally said.
"Sure," Ms. Smith said, snorting. "And I'm a sexy nine-foot tall vampire."
When Ulysses strode over to us, I desperately hoped he didn't hear our conversation. He bowed to Ms. Smith. "Good evening, madam."
She chuckled. "And he's got manners, too? All right, I approve."
"Ms. Smith!" I cried, blushing furiously.
"Ryan, could you hold Andrew for a moment?" Ulysses handed my son over. He was still fast asleep, knocked out from the excitement of the day. Then Ulysses turned to Ms. Smith. "I'm unable to ignore a maiden in need. Would you allow me to carry you to your apartment?"
Ms. Smith let out a bark of a laugh. "Well, I'm certainly no virgin, but this maiden wouldn't mind at all, thank you very much. Though how you plan on hauling me and my chair up the stairs, I haven't got a clue."
"Fret not," Ulysses assured her. "Please hold on."
I blinked in confusion as Ulysses bent his knees and wedged his hands beneath Ms. Smith's wheelchair. I'd seen Ulysses crumple up the stroller, sure, but that was different. He was toned, not a bodybuilder. There was no way he could actually—
Ms. Smith let out a whooping laugh. "Well, I'll be damned!"
My jaw dropped. Ulysses washolding up Ms. Smith and her wheelchair.
"How... how did you do that?" I asked, my voice cracking.
"Did I not say I can't ignore a maiden in need?" Ulysses replied, like what he was doing was the most normal thing in the world.
I stood there with my mouth gaping open like a dumbass as Ulysses carried Ms. Smith towards the stairwell without a care. His knees weren't trembling, he wasn't grunting with the effort—hell, he wasn't even breaking a sweat!
Ms. Smith giggled all the way up to the third floor. It was the most I'd ever heard her laugh.
"Which door, madam?" Ulysses asked.
"This one, dear, right next to Ryan's."
He carefully set her down. She was breathless from laughing while Ulysses was standing as calm and evenly as ever. Was this guy superhuman or something? Therehadto be something special about him.
"Enjoy the rest of your evening," Ulysses said in farewell to Ms. Smith.
She pulled me aside and murmured, "This one's a keeper, Ryan. If you don't like him, I'll take him off your hands!"
I definitelydidlike him and I wasn't eager to let him slip away. But that meant I had to take the next step, as terrifying as it was. Before the end of the night, I had to tell Ulysses how I felt.
After the two of us made a very stern phone call to the building management demanding they fix the door and elevator promptly, we said goodbye.
As I let Ulysses into my place, I said, "Sorry about the mess."
It wasn't dirty but there were some children's books on the coffee table and a blanket on the couch, since I sometimes fell asleep there while reading to Andrew.
"A fine abode," Ulysses remarked as he looked around. There wasn't a trace of sarcasm in his voice.
I chuckled. "I doubt it's anything compared to your place."
"Home is where the heart is, Ryan," Ulysses said. "My place of residence is just that. A residence. But this feels like a true home."
My chest felt warm and fuzzy. It often did when he said things like that. Out of anyone else's mouth they would've been cliche and over-the-top, but Ulysses made them sound real. He couldn't be that much older than me, maybe ten years at most, yet he was like an old soul in today's society. It was refreshing.
"If you don't mind my asking, how old are you, Ulysses? I'm twenty-five."
"What is age but a number?" he responded. "I've roamed this earth for years immemorial…"
