Page 273 of Safe With You

“I use the tools available to me.”

“That feels unethical.”

“It works.”

I laughed and started gathering the plates.

Ellis reached across the table and took mine before I could stack it.

“I got it.”

“You cooked.”

“And?”

“And I can clean.”

“You helped with homework.”

“I corrupted your child.”

“That too.”

I stood anyway and took Mila’s glass with me.

Ellis looked at it, then at me.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“That was definitely something.”

He carried the plates to the sink while I followed with the glasses.

“I’m helping.”

“I can see that.”

“And you’re not going to stop me?”

“Would it work?”

“No.”

“Then I’ve grown.”

I smiled and set the glasses beside him.

“Proud of you.”

He bumped his hip lightly against mine before turning on the faucet.

I reached for the container of leftovers on the counter and started putting the rest of the spaghetti away while he rinsed the plates.

For a little while, neither of us said anything. Water ran into the sink, the refrigerator hummed behind me, and I could hear Mila moving around upstairs.

It wasn’t the kind of silence I used to feel responsible for filling.