Yes, I was supposed to be listening to a presentation. No, I didn’t care.
ELEANOR: Just running to the store for a few things.
I could have gone with you after my meeting.
ELEANOR: I won’t be gone long. I’m good, Sawyer.
Okay, El. Drive safe.
She did, and then she was back, not long afterward. Thank God. I knew I was worrying too much. Ellie wasn’t fragile, and she could take care of herself. But everything that surrounded her—us—felt incredibly breakable. And until I was more confident that this period of grief had passed, or at least lessened, I couldn’t help but fidget nervously every time she was out of sight.
When Ellie strode back in the door, she carried several bags, putting them down on the kitchen table in front of me, where I’d set up my workspace this week.
“I got something for you,” she said, and she looked so nervouslyhappythat I immediately closed my laptop. In the middle of my meeting.
Fuck, I might pay for that later.
Again, I didn’t really care.
“You got me something?” I repeated because it didn’t compute in my brain.
She wasn’t supposed to be getting me anything.Iwas supposed to be gettingherthings.
“I feel like you’re bored, so?—”
“Darling, I’m not bored. What have I done to make you think I’m bored?”
“Nothing, nothing,” she quickly said. “It’s just, if you keep messing with the sprinkler system, I’m afraid it’s going to break.”
I flashed her a mock frown.
I would fix that fucking thing eventually.
Just in time for the first frost, I was sure.
Placing a hand on my chest, I feigned offense. “You wound me, Eleanor.”
Her lips tugged upward. “Maybe I can make it up to you?”
“I’m sure you can.”
She could simply stand there and smile at me, and that would be enough.
Fucking loved seeing her smile again.
“Will you put together theMillennium Falconwith me tonight?” she asked, pulling out a giant LEGO box. Then, shethrew down another colorful package on the table. “Also, I found these lightsaber gel pens, and I had to get them.”
All I could do was stare at her for a moment, my eyes drifting from the enthusiasm in the lines of her face to the gifts on the table, and then back to her smile.
God, that smile.
“Eleanor Summers, there is nothing in the entire world I would rather do than put together theMillennium Falconwith you,” I choked out.
“Okay, good.” She looked a little shy now. “It does have, like, a lot of parts. So maybe I was too ambitious, but…”
She drifted off, and I shrugged. “We’ll just take it one little piece at a time. How’s that sound?”
“One piece at a time sounds good.” She pointed to the bag on the table. “I got snacks, too.”
