“She still sleeping?” he whispered.
She nodded. “Finally. Lesson to both of us: don’t wait until the pain catches up before she takes the next pills.”
He grimaced. That would indeed suck.
“I’ll need to wake her up in about forty minutes to do a lap.”
Trevor peeked in on the recliner. Maggie sat with her feet up, her head back, a throw blanket draped over her legs. She looked old today, though her hair hadn’t gone gray and no wrinkles had shown up on her face. It must be in her expression, the tightness around her eyes and mouth even as she slept.
When he entered the kitchen, Kelsey eyed him with her arms folded. “What is all that you’re carrying?”
“Dinner,” he said.
“Oh, I was going to warm us up some stir fry.”
“Nope. I don’t eat from the care package. That’s all for you two.”
He led her onto the deck off the kitchen and slid the glass door shut. Ignoring the patio chairs, he set down the ancient wood picnic basket and spread out his buffalo-check waterproof blanket.
“A picnic on the deck?” she said.
“Or in the yard, but this way she can see us if she wakes up.”
Kelsey gave a slow nod and a slower smile. “What’s for dinner?”
He made a broad gesture. “Please be seated.”
She laughed and sat cross-legged on the blanket, then reached for the basket. Trevor snatched it up.
“One course at a time,” he said.
He opened the basket but blocked it from her view, and she rolled her eyes but continued to smile, didn’t attempt to peer around him. He brought out a long foil takeout tray and popped it open.
“Sushi!” Kelsey rocked forward onto her knees. “Oh yay, sushi.”
Thank fate—no, don’t thank fate, not literally, he wasn’t about to start the practice. “So you do still like Asian.”
“It’s my favorite.”
He grinned. “How about key lime pie?”
“Also my favorite.”
“Lavender and aqua?”
“You saw my car, I assume.”
“Looks like a custom color.”
“Yep.”
It was something he’d personally never splurge on, though not because he struggled. Didn’t even live paycheck to paycheck. Had a decent savings account for a self-employed contractor who charged affordable rates on principle. But nobody who grew up here padded his mattress with dollars. The wolves lived securely, not extravagantly. He loved that she was thriving enough to indulge a little, and an aqua car that matched no other on the highway was…well, exactly the way his Kelsey would indulge.
She selected a roll topped with masago, popped it into her mouth, and moaned happily. “Trevor, this is from our place. In town, on Ninth Street.”
“Chef’s special.”
“You’re the best.”
