I sat down next to him and held his hands, relief making me deflate.
“I thought maybe you went into anaphylactic shock,” I said and glanced at Honeybee.
Samir’s jaw dropped but he closed it back up again, squeezing my hands back and smiling.
“Oh no, silly. I’m so sorry I scared you. I just fell asleep. Your dog didn’t kill me.”
“But you’re allergic.”
He laughed.
“Yes, to their saliva. And even then, the worst that happens is I get hives all over my body. I don’t drop dead on sight. At least, not so far.”
“Well, that’s good.” I put my hand to my chest and sighed with a chuckle.
Samir looked around him then bent over and picked something up from the floor. His phone.
“Oh wow. It’s been a while. Are you okay?” He inspected my face, and I instinctively touched my cheek. There was soot in my fingers when I removed my hand.
“Ah. Yeah. I-I’m fine. There was a big fire we had to deal with.”
Samir gasped.
“Is everyone okay?”
I nodded.
“Everyone is fine. We managed to put it out, but we still had to inspect everything and file reports and stuff. I’m sorry I left you alone with Ella for so long.”
Samir pulled my hand back to him and he covered it with both of his.
“Don’t be silly. We were fine. We got on like a house on fire.”
I smiled.
“And I even got on with your dog. Though I did have to raid your medicine cabinet for some antihistamines because she wouldn’t stop licking me.”
I frowned and glanced at Honeybee.
“Really? She rarely licks me.”
“She must like the taste of my skin then. Or she was actually trying to kill me with affection.”
I laughed. Samir laughed too.
“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t even think to warn you.”
He shook his head.
“Don’t worry. We figured it all out in the end. Didn’t we?” he said and reached for Honeybee who tried to boop his hand and lick it, but he was quick and pulled back before she did.
“Sneaky little devil.” He chuckled, then turned to me. “You must be starving. Do you want to go have a shower, and I’ll get your food ready?”
“Food? What food?” I raised an eyebrow. “There was no food when I left this morning.”
Samir smirked.
“There is now.”
