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Tonight, I’d heard things. Seen things that a friend should definitely not see.

Stars, help me forget, I willed myself, but I could not wipe the image of Reid with that woman against the wall from my mind. The way he had moaned my name as his orgasm crashed into him sent my stomach into a tight coil. And his… Gods, I needed to get that image out of my head. I moaned into my pillow, bunching it into my face. Reid and his late-night antics. I knew he didn’t date, but, wow, getting his dick wet in a back alley during work hours was next level. I closed my eyes, willing those thoughts to leave my mind.

I should be thinking about his apartment. About my friend losing everything. Instead, my brain had chosen the worst possible memory: the best-looking damned erection I’d ever seen in my existence.

I needed to forget that happened. Erase it from my mind. When sleep took me, it dragged me under so deeply that I had no dreams at all.

***

I woke the next morning to daylight spilling through the crack in the curtains, my breath swirling in the cool air around me as I let out a yawn. It was getting colder by the day.

Getting out of bed, I pulled on a hoodie and slippers before making my way downstairs. As I entered the lower level, the unexpected smell of coffee hit my senses.

“Yes, please,” I said aloud as I made my way into the kitchen.

Reid sat at the counter, a coffee mug sitting just out of arm’s length from him. The full mug sat untouched, and no steam rose from it.

Cold.

Hearing my voice, he looked up at me, and I noted his sock-covered foot bouncing on the bar stool. I held back a sympathetic look at the sight of him.

Shadows hung beneath the depths of his brown eyes, hinting at his lack of sleep on the makeshift bed last night, and he wore the same long-sleeved work top from yesterday, only now it sported creases. His usually ‘styled but not’ hair was definitely not, giving him more of a ‘just got laid’ look, rather than ‘slept like shit’ one. I forced myself to push the thought from my mind. I hated that my brain noticed things like that, especially after the fire.

Here to help a friend.

“Thought earth witches preferred herbal teas?”

I smiled. “Not this one.” Walking into the kitchen, I made my way to the cupboard and grabbed a mug of my own. “Me without caffeine is not something you want to witness.”

His half-smile creased the corners of his eyes. “Noted.”

“Would you like another?” I motioned to his cold coffee.

He shook his head.

I went about making myself one, feeling his eyes on me. “Did anyone contact you about your apartment?” I asked, leaning against the counter and taking a sip of the hot liquid. Its rich contents hit my taste buds like the sun on the first day of spring. Warmth took over my body at its comfort.

“Yeah, there’s a lot of smoke damage, but unsure as to what extent. Colt’s picking me up any minute to see how bad it is.”

I read between the lines. Reid’s car was already here. Which meant Colt was bringing his truck to help move anything salvageable.

What a shit situation to be in.

He lifted from his stool, picking up his cap from the counter and placing it on his head. “Are you sure it’s okay if I stay here for a while?”

The question came out quieter than I expected.

I nodded. “For as long as you need.” And I meant every word.

Knocking drew our attention, signaling Colt’s arrival. Reid’s shoulders relaxed, and he adjusted his cap. “Thanks, that’ll be him now.” He headed for the door, looking over his shoulder. “I owe you coffee.”

I laughed. “You don’t owe me a thing.” Because I would do anything for a friend, especially someone who had potentially just lost their home. I knew if something like that ever happened to me, he would do the same.

This time, he smiled. “Catch you later.” Then left.

I stared at Reid’s coffee mug, still sitting on the counter, and a strange sense of bewilderment came over me. Reid had possibly lost everything. Yet, somehow, he was still worried about owing me coffee.

Reid