He studies them for a moment, rolling the metal between his fingers.
“You just gave me the keys to your house.”
Then he lifts his gaze, and suddenly I’m not looking at the Captain anymore, the big man full of pride, ready to take the world by the balls.
What I see in his eyes tells me no one has ever handed this man the keys to their house, and that he has probably received very little in life.My heart just hammers harder, telling me it’s ready to make up for it and give my Captain every last thing he never had.
Chapter51
Jamie
Ipace around the Doctor’s apartment, doing my best not to nose through his things.I’d asked if I could wait for him here because he didn’t want me to wait at the hospital, and I couldn’t bear to be away from him.I never thought he’d actually give me his house keys.
I’ve never had anyone else’s house key before.Even as a kid, I didn’t have one, and I still don’t have a key to my sister’s place, unlike the O’Connors.The Doctor handed me his like it was no big deal.Maybe it’s normal — we’re sort of dating, I’ve stayed over, slept in his bed, and he’s taken care of me when I’ve been sick.
That’s how things go, right?For normal people, anyway — not for jerks like the ones I usually hang out with, and definitely not for me.
Don’t panic now, Jamie.
It’s not like he got down on one knee and asked you to fucking marry him.
They’re only keys.That’s all.
They don’t have to mean anything else.
I sit on the sofa and look around.He keeps a few things — pictures of Evan and a few of Evan as a baby.He displays little but hides nothing.I grab the remote to find something to watch, but he doesn’t even have Netflix.
Where on earth does he live?
I put on an action movie that’s already started, stretch out on the sofa, and let the scenes distract me, even if they don’t really hold my attention.If I let my mind wander right now, I’d probably run again — and I’m afraid I wouldn’t come back this time.
A knockat the door wakes me.I blink myself awake, realising I must have fallen asleep.As I sit up, I check my watch — one in the morning
“Hey,” he says, wearing his best puppy-dog face.“I tried to warn you, but you didn’t answer.”
“I fell asleep,” I admit as he steps inside.
“I was so late.I’m sorry.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I brought you something, though.I stopped at one of those twenty-four-hour gas stations.They didn’t have much, but I got us hot chocolate and some cookies.I figured you probably hadn’t eaten.”
“That’s fine.”
The Doctor sets everything on the table and shrugs off his jacket.
“I bet you’re exhausted.”
“Nah, I’m fine.I couldn’t wait to get home.”He reaches over, hooks a finger in my shirt, and tugs me closer.
I slide my hands over his face and pull him in.“I might stay this time.”
“What do you mean?”
“I brought my bag.”
“Oh…”
