I was stretching my neck side to side when a knock sounded. Without checking, I called out for them to come in.
Niko opened the door slowly, a steaming cup in one hand and a pair of headphones hanging from his wrist on the other.
“Hey,” he said quietly, but didn’t walk in. His body language was tense and hesitant.
Straightening in my seat, I pushed down the warring feelings of surprise and, what was it? Relief at seeing him again? That couldn’t be.
“Ah, come in,” I repeated, deciding to call a cease-fire since I didn’t have it in me to argue again. He walked toward me until he stopped at the desk I was temporarily using. When his eyes looked over the mess on it, then met mine, I moved the folders out of the way, assuming that’s what he wanted.
“I brought you this. Luke mentioned you might have a migraine, and this blend helps my mom when she gets one,” he said, his voice quiet but steady as he set it down.
My eyebrows lifted as I answered, “Oh, that’s very kind of you. Thank you. And it’s not too bad now that I moved away from the windows.” I leaned toward it, the sweet smell of peppermint filling my senses. I instinctively closed my eyes. It brought back memories of my mother brewing me a cup when the migraines started in college.
“She has a special brew that does wonders for her. Mostly it’s peppermint, but it also has a bit of chamomile and ginger in it for the nausea.”
The tension in my shoulders seemed to ease away with his melodic voice and the scent of the tea.
“I’ve never had that blend, but it sounds heavenly. Thank you again.” I took a sip. It was warm without being too spicy. After a few more sips, I could already feel the ginger easing the nausea that had kept me from eating much more than a few crackers for lunch.
“She found it at a specialty tea emporium in Liberty Station. The owner talked her into it, and it’s all she drinks now when she feels one coming on. She says it’s magic. I went over to the tea shop on my lunch break.”
I smiled, letting another slow sip bring me comfort. “That was incredibly sweet of you. And I think she may be right. It’s perfect. Would you like to sit down?”
“Yes, thank you.” He eased into the chair in front of the desk and held up the full-sized headphones. He seemed embarrassed by them but finally said, “I also brought you these. Sometimes when I just need a minute away from people while at work, I’ll put these on and listen to something soothing.”
“Oh? Do people usually get on your nerves?” I asked, trying to lighten the mood, but when he sat up, spine stiffening, face darkened with annoyance, I knew it hadn’t landed right.
“Not usually. It’s not like I don’t enjoy being with people…”
“Niko, I was teasing you. I’m sorry it didn’t land right. I seem to do that often with you.” It was frustrating that it kept happening. There had to be something I was missing, more than just our differing personalities.
He visibly relaxed, his posture loosening, a small but tight smile appearing.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to sound defensive. Anyway, I’m sure you’re busy. I’ll take these with me. It was probably a bad idea.” He started to stand, so I set the cup down, leaned forward, and stopped him by reaching out toward him, not quite touching him. His eyebrows raised as he looked at my hand as if it were a wild animal.
Pulling it back, I said, “Please. It was a generous, thoughtful idea. I’ve never tried that, but I’d like to.”
He sat back down, twisting the apparatus in his hands nervously.
“I enjoy a wide variety of music, but when I feel overwhelmed or anxious, usually classical music helps.” He went on to explain how I could sync my own preferred playlist to the Bluetooth system, but I wasn’t really paying attention.
My eyes scanned his handsome face. It wasn’t quite symmetrical, but that just made him more interesting.
“Does that make sense?”
I realized he was asking me a question. I shook my head and absently answered. “Yes, I think I got it. Thanks again. I’m sure these will really help.”
“Now is not the right time, but I wanted to apologize again for my behavior the other night, Leyla. I got in my head and let my emotions run away from me. But I just wanted to say I’m sorry again for everything. I truly was trying to protect you,” he pleaded.
“I think I’m starting to believe you. And I’m sorry, too. There are details that I still don’t understand, but for now, I just haveone question. Did you really tell Logan you’d take the blame with me?”
That admission had been playing on repeat in my mind since that night.
Niko nodded. “Yes, I did.”
I paused as I scanned his face for any sign he wasn’t telling the truth, but found none. “Thank you for that. When we have time, there’s more to say, but for now I’d like us to call a truce.”
His wide smile was immediate, and it stunned me. I’d forgotten that one side of his mouth curved a little higher when he smiled. His smiles were rare, but when they happened, they deserved recognition and attention like the aurora borealis. The little quirk on one side made my heart flutter.
