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He rolls his eyes at me. “Anyway, let’s bundle up, and I’ll call my brother to see how they’re doing. Oh, and let’s gather all the candles and flashlights, too. We’ll probably need them later.”
“Whatever you say, Doc.” I disappear into my room to find my thickest wool socks, adding them over my regular socks. Then I layer on a tank top, T-shirt, and sweatshirt. I put on leggings under my sweatpants. That’s about as good as it’s going to get without limiting my mobility.
Walking back out into the living room, I catch the tail end of Derek’s conversation with Hawk as they say goodbye.
“Well, he says they’re okay.” He laughs. “Drew and Ava are used to colder weather, so they want to go play outside.”
“Sounds about right,” I say.
“He talked to the guys, told everyone not to come into work obviously,” Derek says. “Oh, and he said if it’s not back on by tonight, he’s going to start the generator he has for the building and everyone is welcome to come over to crash.”
On the one hand, that news is great. Warmth and lights and hot food would be nice. On the other, the thought of being around literally everyone and Derek at the same time gives me enough anxiety to fuel a rocket.How would we act? Would we let them know? Would we pretend nothing is going on?So many questions.
“Well, shit,” I say. This is a lot of information to absorb.
After a few minutes of planning logistics, we sit at the kitchen table, eating bowls of frosted flakes. It’s the only breakfast that doesn’t require cooking. And while it’s not the breakfast scene I imagined for us this morning, I’m grateful for it.
“You know,” I say, “I think I have one of those little burners for camping in storage in the basement.”
“Well, why didn’t you say something, woman?” He laughs. “I could’ve at least made us some eggs or something.”
“I can go grab it for second breakfast,” I offer.
“So, we’re hobbits now?” he asks, his eyebrow raising.
“First, I’m surprised you know that reference. Second, today we can be,” I say.
“I’m offended,” he says. “Of course I know that reference.”
We both laugh as we finish our cereal, and Derek’s phone dings. He picks it up, reading a message on the screen.
“Thank fuck,” he says. “The hospital hired a new doctor. He starts tonight so I don’t have to go in.”
“That’s good,” I say. “You’ve been working a lot lately.”
Derek runs his hand down the stubble on his face, shrugging his shoulders, as if to say,“That’s just part of the job sometimes.”
I know he works hard andhasworked hard to get where he is. He’s earned his place, and I admire that. What’s more, I have an extreme appreciation for the work he does. I can’t imagine it’s an easy thing. And then to volunteer even more time for those wonderful children…
I’ll never understand that kind of strength. It’s one of the things I admire most about him.
His news brings the realization that we’ll have all night together.All night. Together.You’d think that after the number of times we’ve kissed since yesterday, I wouldn’t be as nervous, but you’d be wrong. If anything, the thought makes me more nervous. Like, kissing is going well. Why pile on? Let’s stay in this perpetual kissing-only stage.
“I’ll run down and grab the burner,” I say. “You can bundle up.”
With that, I slip out of the apartment, heading down to the basement where each tenant has additional storage space. I need a moment away from his presence to catch my breath and think clearly.
The man suffocates me.Wow, that sounds bad.I mean, he suffocates me in the best way. With lust or something. He suffocates me with his lust. That’s not better, but whatever. It’s the best I’ve got.
I rifle through several boxes, finding both the small burner and a large cooler for the perishables. It’ll come in handy later and there’s no sense in making two trips.
When I get back upstairs, I find Derek in the chair next to the window, using the light coming through to read the book I picked out for him at the bookstore the other day.
He looks up at me, smiling. “I figure there’s not much else to do.” He shrugs and laughs.
“I suppose you have a point.” I go store the cooler in the kitchen and set the burner on the counter. Retrieving my own book from my room, I take a seat on the couch and start reading. There’s no better plan for a day like today. Plus, idle hands and all that. I know if we don’t distract ourselves, we’ll end up doing a lot more than kissing.
“Oh, hey,” I say, remembering I had something to tell him. “I think I came up with a great fundraiser idea for your children’s cancer center.”
