She finished her meal, her insides lined with trepidation.How could Kyle be so sweet to her?She really needed to tell him about Bella.
Bella.She winced.
“What’s wrong?”he asked quickly.
“I, uh, just remembered something else I need to do.”
“Is there something I can help with?”
Yes.“No.”But maybe one day, after she’d owned up to the truth, if miracles did actually happen.“Not yet, anyway.”
“Not yet?”He watched her carefully.“I like the sound of that.”
She picked at the grapes, her weariness still strong.She should leave, but this… this time together felt reassuringly cozy.Like a door had opened to an alternative life, one she could’ve had perhaps, if she had just said no, instead of getting caught up in passion.
But life didn’t exist on maybes or what-ifs.She was too pragmatic for that.She drew in a deep breath, and—“Ew.”
“What’s wrong?Don’t you like my deodorant?”
She winced.“I smell.”
“Hmm, you don’t smell bad.You smell like me.”
Her cheeks heated.He was right.She’d always thought he smelled nice.Even when he was sweaty.
“But I could find you a fresh T-shirt, if that would make you feel more comfortable.”
“Yes, please.”
A minute later she was changing in his bathroom, exchanging her gross shirt from yesterday into something clean.She drew in a breath, and held his T-shirt to her face.Closed her eyes.Oh, it smelled like him.She slipped it on, and even the extra softness felt like she was encased in him.But she couldn’t afford to get carried away.She still owed him the truth.Something she really needed to say.Would say.But not when she still felt this tired.
She collected yesterday’s shirt and went back.“Thank you.”
“My pleasure.Happy to be of service.”
“I’ll, um, get it cleaned and return it to you.”
“Keep it.I’ve got plenty.”
She studied him.Should she confess it now?Maybe.
Then her phone rang.“That’s my ringtone.But I thought my phone was dead.”
“It was.I charged it.”
“Thanks.”She checked and saw it was an incoming call from her mom.Well, this would be fun.“Um, Mom?”
“Where are you?”Mom screeched.“I thought you were dead!”
She closed her eyes, shifted the phone slightly away from her ear.“I’m fine.Just overslept.”
There was a moment’s silence.Then, “You mean you’re not at the hospital?”
“No.”Her eyes caught Kyle’s.“I’m, uh, at a friend’s house.”
He smiled, and her heart took flight.But no.No, no.This was not a good idea.“I’m coming home soon.”
“Don’t you have a shift at work?”
