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I’ve got a Zoom call to consult on a tough SCI case, so I can’t really leave home.

Damn. There went our hookup reunion.

Joey:

Okay, I understand. Maybe we can meet up tomorrow night?

Kit:

Why don’t you just come to my place?

Joey:

Really? What about Dakota?

Kit:

She’s going out with Felipe. She told me not to wait up. So, what do you say?

Joey:

Sure. Let me know if you want me to bring anything.

Kit:

Just your sexy self

I finished the last few touchups, my hand twinging with that stupid sliver, and stopped in the kitchen to say good night before heading out.

The drive to Kit’s went by quickly. I parked at the front curb, in front of the mailbox where I’d been so horrified to run into him all those weeks ago.

I walked up the sidewalk and rang the doorbell. Their dog started barking. Kit called out, “Coming! Pogo, shush!”

The door opened, and there he was, in his usual athletic gear, but barefoot. Somehow, those bare feet made him seem more approachable. The smile didn’t hurt either.

He grabbed Pogo’s collar, tugging him back. “Come in! Damn, it’s cold out there.”

I stepped inside, my cheeks stinging with the change in temperature, and closed the door behind me. I chafed my hands together but broke off with a hiss.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just got a splinter.” I checked my hand. The area around the splinter was red and puffy. Probably didn’t help that I’d worked the rest of the evening with it lodged in there.

Kit took my hand in both of his, frowning. “Well, this won’t do. Let’s get it out of there.”

“Oh, you can just lend me some tweezers and I’ll do it. I don’t want to interfere with your Zoom meeting.”

He closed his fingers around my wrist and tugged me toward the bathroom. “I’ve got time. Come on.”

I followed, letting him lead me to the closed lid of the toilet and push me down. I sat there, noting the gleaming metal support bar next to it and the zero-entry shower with a bench seat.

After working on a few New Horizons projects, it was all familiar to me, and yet different somehow, knowing that Dakota needed these supports every day just to get through the mundane tasks the rest of us took for granted.

Kit’s fingers touched my chin, warm and gentle, and he turned my head toward him. “Hey, you okay?”

“Yeah.” I summoned a smile. “Just zoning out.”

“Hmm.” He crouched in front of me, close enough our knees brushed, and lifted my hand for a closer look. With tweezers, he plucked at my skin.