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“Yeah, baby. It’s me.” I press a kiss on her forehead to make sure she doesn’t have a fever. All I feel is soft skin and the scent of her floral shampoo.
“I don’t feel good.”
“No, I’d say you don’t. Do you think you’d be up for something to eat? I brought you chicken noodle soup from Alma’s cafe.”
Katie’s stomach growls.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” I laugh. She smirks, her eyes still closed as I massage her head. “I also have cold medicine, Advil, and cough syrup. I wasn’t sure what you might need.”
“Soup first, then meds. I think I have a cold.” Her voice is scratchy from either sleep or sickness. Or both, actually.
“Okay, little dove. I’ll be right back.” She starts to get up, but I press a hand on her shoulder. “No, you stay right there. I’ll bring it to you.”
She sighs back into her pillow, and I get up to put together her meal. Alma’s has the best soup and sandwiches in town. I got Katie both, but I have a feeling she’s not going to be awake long enough to eat all of it.
The soup is still warm, so I search through the cabinets for a bowl. I plate up the sandwich, too, just in case she wants it, and then make a plate for me before bringing everything to the living room. I set our food on the coffee table and then go back to the kitchen for our drinks.
When I get back to the living room, Katie has maneuvered herself into a mostly sitting position on the couch. She yawns and looks up at me with sleepy eyes. “You’re so fucking adorable,” I blurt out. She wrinkles her nose, obviously not believing me. I shrug my shoulders, not bothering to argue with her about it. “I got you a Sprite and a water. Whether you’re throwing up or drowning in snot, Sprite is always the go-to.”
I plop down on the couch by her feet. She’s got them tucked up by her butt while her back rests against the armrest of the couch.
Leaning forward, I grab her bowl of soup and hand it over to her. As she digs in, I grab my sandwich. We eat in comfortable silence for a while. Every now and then, while I chew, I wrap my hand around her calf and give it a squeeze.
“I’m sorry I forgot to text you about our date,” Katie says after a bit. She sets her half-eaten bowl down on the table and picks up the Sprite.
I look over at her. “It’s all right. I’m kind of glad you didn’t. Gave me a chance to take care of you.”
“You didn’t need to do all of this.” She waves at the coffee table with our food. “I would’ve been fine on my own.”
“Yeah, you would’ve, but this way, I didn’t have to worry about you.” Without a doubt, if I hadn’t caught Katie half asleep, she would’ve refused my help. She’d have sent me away and told me she’d text me when she felt better.
She frowns. “Why would you have worried about me?”
“You really have to ask?” I can’t keep the surprise out of my voice.
“I guess so.”
I straighten Katie’s legs and slide my arms around her to maneuver her onto my lap. She gasps at the sudden movement before relaxing into me. Using my thumb and forefinger, I lift Katie’s chin to make sure she’s listening as I prepare to pour out my heart. I’m tired of walking on eggshells around her, too afraid to make any sudden movements to keep from scaring her off. If she doesn’t want me around after I’ve shared every truth in my heart, then at least I can say I tried.
“Katie Cole. From the moment I met you, I’ve known you were someone special. Then you put me in my place at Adam and Ellie’s wedding, and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you since. I’ve spent many nights wondering if you’d ever give me the time of day, and for a while there, I never believed you would. That is, until New Year’s Eve, when you looked so goddamn gorgeous, I couldn’t stop flirting with you if I wanted to. When you started flirting back… well, let’s just say I was sunk. I want you. I want to be with you. I want to be the man who takes care of you when you’re sick and celebrates with you when something amazing happens.
“I want to spend time with you, even if that means we hang out on your couch and watch Disney movies with your amazing son sitting between us. I want to give you everything, and all I ask for in return is that you give me a chance. Give me a chance to prove to you that I can be the man you need.”
I swipe my thumb across Katie’s cheek as a tear slips down her face. Her eyes haven’t left mine, her unshed tears making them sparkle. My heart starts to pound with nerves as the silence stretches. I’m about to let her go when she whispers the word that I’ve been dying to hear.
“Okay.”
“Yeah? You’re going to give me a chance?”
She nods her head. She starts to open her mouth, but I don’t give her a chance to say anything. I press my lips against hers, needing to kiss her more than my next breath.
She pulls away far too quickly for my liking. “Germs. I don’t want you to get sick.”
“I couldn’t give a fuck about germs. The woman of my dreams just gave me permission to date her ass off. I’m gonna kiss her.” I grin.
Katie rolls her eyes. “What have I gotten myself into?”
“Too late now. No takebacks.” I press another kiss to her lips as she laughs.
