“Thanks.”
I put a stack of pancakes on the dining table. “Maple syrup?”
He got off the couch and came to sit down. “Yes, please.”
I brought him the bottle and went back to prepping lunch.
The fact that he’d asked me if I’d help him with his agoraphobia humbled me. It was clear that he felt safe around me, which was a gift, but that he also wanted someone outside his immediate little family to practice going outside with.
I was reheating the blended soup when Theo and Seb came inside. They chatted and went to wash their hands in the downstairs bathroom, then Theo knocked on the office door to get Lake’s attention.
I put a pitcher of ice water and glasses with a large basket of garlic bread on the dining table.
“Nicely timed,” I told Seb, who came in to give me a guy hug.
“Of course, it’s your cooking. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” He grinned and went to sit at the table.
Rey, who had moved back onto the couch after eating his breakfast, seemed flushed.
“Hey, don’t eat too many of those candies back to back,” I told him, and he blinked at me, then blushed more and nodded.
Theo and Lake, both a bit flushed and Lake with beard burn on his neck, appeared before I had time to holler at them.
“Okay, line up.” I waited for Theo, Lake, and Seb to all do as told. “I’ll give you a bowl and you can top it off however you like. There’s roasted chickpeas, shredded rotisserie chicken, bacon bits, and herbs in those bowls.”
I ladled them each some soup and watched them fix it to their liking.
“Rey? Do you want some too?”
“I mean, it smells awesome,” he admitted.
“Get just a little. You can have more later, we’re saving some for River for his lunch tomorrow.”
“Awesome,” Rey said, beaming as he came to get his bowl.
He put a bit of everything on top, then went to sit with the guys.
Finally, I took my portion and joined them at the table. I had to grab a chair from the second table, but everyone made room for me to eat with them, awkward as it was with how everyone but Rey was a full-grown man and the table was supposed to sit four instead of five.
We had fun talking, and everyone was praising the food, which again, felt nice.
Once we’d eaten, we returned to work. I did mine by cleaning the kitchen and dining area. Rey went to feed the kittens and clean their litterbox and told me he’d be back in soon so we could try going outside.
I hoped he would. I also knew that fear could paralyze even the most determined people, and I wasn’t sure if Rey was ready to take his fears on yet.
Chapter 9
Rey
Yeah, my choking had nothing to do with sour candy. Seeing Seb and Jack hug like that was…certainly something. I took a mental picture or maybe a bit of film that I was going to dig from my memory the next time I had some me-time.
After lunch, I felt stuffed, and I needed a break. I told Jack I needed to do kitteny things and sure, I did, but I also needed that pause from peopling to be able to try going outside.
Cleaning the litterbox that was in the corner of the room was always a delight. Not.
“For such little things, you guysstink.” They were helping out, of course. They always did.
I’d tried to get the cleaning done while they were eating, but I guess I was in my head, because they’d finished eating already.
