She smirks. “For starters. You’ve come a long way from the grunting hockey heathen that used to eat all of our Lucky Charms before I got a bowl.”
It’s my turn to smirk. “Gotta be fast.”
“Oh my god, I used to get so mad when you’d say that and shake the empty box.”
“I know better now,” I say contritely. “Obviously I’d buy two boxes. You get your own.”
She grins. “Bet you’d still eat both.”
I pause from making her a plate to raise a hand. “I solemnly swear to share cereal fairly.”
It makes her giggle until she breaks down in a cough. I get her water thermos from where she left it on the counter.
“This is annoying. I hate getting sick,” she mutters.
“All the more reason to take it easy. You’ll get better faster than if you pushed yourself.”
“You’re right.”
I pull out her chair and set a plate in front of her. “Want a cup of tea? I wasn’t sure what kind you liked, so I got chamomile and ginger since the box said it was good for colds.”
She tucks a stray hair behind her ear. “Ginger tea sounds nice. Thank you.”
I open the box, then pause, searching her kitchen. “Do you have a?—?”
“Kettle? An electric one. It’s in the same cabinet as the blender to the left of the sink.”
After it begins brewing, I lean against the counter. She cuts into her stack with more energy than she had before she rested.
The first bite makes her hum. “These are great. Totally hits the spot.”
My stomach tightens. I grip the edges of the counter to root myself in place.
“I’m glad you like them.”
She studies me, sliding her lips together. “I appreciate the things you do for me. This—” She gestures to her plate and the medicine. “—helping with my camper. I know I keep saying it a lot, but thank you. It means a lot to me.”
My heartbeat kicks up. I hold her gaze.
It means a lot to me, too.
“Of course, Evie. I’m here for you whenever you need me. There’s nothing else I’d rather do than be here right now making sure you feel better.”
Every word is the truth. I could be hanging out with her brother or researching new techniques to present to her dad for training. None of that would make me as content as I am when I’m with her. Maybe it should scare me how well we fit together.
The kettle beeps, breaking the moment. I pour her tea and steal some pancakes for myself.
“Oh my god!”
I jolt, worried she burnt her tongue. She splays her hands on the table, pinning me with an excited look.
“Don’t ask how, but this just reminded me of this show I got sucked into last night.”
“What was it about?”
Her eyes sparkle at my honest interest. She plays with the cuffs of my jacket while telling me about what she watched while she was working on her design. Her feet bump mine beneath the table when she swings them. I stretch my leg out, anticipating the contact.
Listening to her start, then stop herself to fill in backstory for context, then get off on another tangent before she meanders back to the original explanation puts a stupidly happy smile on my face. I don’t bother hiding it.
