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He chuckles, the shyness I’ve come to adore dances in his eyes. “Yeah, hope you don’t mind. I thought maybe I could make us some breakfast. And I slept on the couch last night after carrying you to bed.”
He places the plate on the island counter, and the spread is a tempting mix of pancakes and fresh fruit. Gratitude swells within me.This man is a gentleman.“Thank you,” I say, genuinely touched. “This is amazing.”
Pouring coffee into a mug, he asks, “How do you take it?”
“Two sugars, please.” I watch as he carefully measures out the sugar, and when he hands me the mug, our fingers brush briefly, sending a thrill up my arm.
“Here you go,” he says, his voice warm and inviting.
“Thanks.” I take a sip, the taste as comforting as his presence. I find myself getting lost in his eyes, the silence between us comfortable.
“I’m really glad you came over last night. It means more to me than you know.”
Eric’s gaze softens, his eyes locked onto mine. “I’m glad I could be here. You can talk to me about anything. You know that, right?”
Resting against the counter, I feel a smile tugging at my lips. “Well, you’ve already endured my life story,” I teased. “So you’re stuck with me now.”
His laughter is genuine and infectious. “Trust me, I’m not complaining.”
A comfortable silence envelopes us again, as if the unspoken words between us are forming a bridge, connecting our hearts. I take another sip of my coffee, stealing a glance at Eric.
“So, what about you?” I ask. “I’ve done all the talking. Tell me something about you that I don’t know.”
“Well, I was a construction worker for a few years before moving back here, and I’ve always wanted to learn to play the guitar. Not for any grand performances, just to strum away the day’s worries in the quiet corners of my room.”
“Blue collared man and an entertainer… interesting mix there.” I giggle.
He looks at me with a side smile and shrugs. “Yeah, I guess.”
I grab the syrup from the cabinet and pour it onto my food. “So, uh, are you still working in construction?” I ask, placing the syrup down and digging into my plate.
“Yes, I am.”
“Oh, that’s good,” I say.
A warm smile spreads across his face. Just as the conversation settles into a comfortable rhythm, I hear my phone ping from the other room.
“Excuse me,” I say and head over to my phone. I pick it up and see a text from Scarlett.
Scarlett
Hey, are you working today?
I frown slightly, realizing that I had completely lost track of time. But I realize I want something to take my mind off Ray passing, and work can be a healthy distraction for me. Swiftly, I type out a reply as I walk back into the kitchen.
Me
Yes, I’ll be there.
As I press send, I glance apologetically at Eric. “I didn’t realize how late it was. I’ve got work,” I say, stuffing my phone into my purse.
I hurry into my room, close the door, and change into a T-shirt and jeans. “Would you like a ride?” he calls out.
I smile when I walk into the living room. “That’d be nice.” I slip my shoes on, and while doing so, I see him place our dishes in the sink and clean them. I grab my keys and purse.
“You ready?” I ask.
“Yes,” he says while drying his hands with my kitchen hand towel. We rush out the door to his car, but before I can reach the handle, he opens the passenger side for me. I pause for a moment and give a shy smile. “Thanks,” I say softly. He nods his head and I settle in while he closes the door before getting into the driver’s seat.
