Chapter Four
Nico
“Are you absolutely sure, Nico?” My name on his lips lit up my body like I was standing in front of the biggest fire burning in the hearth. Instead, I was holding a plate of leftovers and gawking.
“I’m sure.” I scoffed, trying to play it cool and failing miserably. “You can’t go back out there, and I have a warm cabin with food and a place to ride out the storm.” Goddess, I shouldn’t have used the word ride in any form around this man, but words and water were impossible to recover.
“Let me grab a few things from the car, and I’ll be back.”
I nodded and, as soon as he was back outside, let out a huge sigh of relief. I could do this. I could be normal and care for Paxton in this way without any expectations of what would happen next. Then again, was this Fate giving me a second chance?
A little could hope.
Once he was back, I led him to my cabin and thanked myself for stoking the fire before I left. Now that Paxton was here, I would put on some real dinner. It’s what I would do for any guest. Anyone who came to me for help.
“This is where you live now?” he asked, setting his bags down near the door.
He took off his coat, hanging it on the hook beside mine.
It looked like it belonged there all along.
His boots were shucked next, and again he placed them near mine.
All this time, and my body responded to every tiny detail as though we were back in our houses, living right next door to each other. Best of friends. Lovers, in my mind.
“Yes. I bought this place a few months ago and decided to restore it to the resort it once was. This cabin belonged to the owners, an older couple.”
Paxton took in the place while I made a mental inventory of what I could make quickly to warm him up. “It’s really cozy in here. Like something out of a movie.”
I nodded, trying not to ogle him too much.
Time had been good to him. He had gained a bit of weight but in all the right places.
His hair was longer now, less of a severe cut.
“I thought so too. There’s a restroom down the hallway to the right if you need to clean up, or make yourself at home by the fire.
I’m going to put on some dinner and some hot cocoa for later. ”
The man of my dreams walked over to the fire and warmed his hands, rubbing them together.
He made a low sound of approval and sat on the chair usually reserved for me.
He extended his legs and wiggled his toes inside of overly adorable patchwork-print socks.
I turned to my kitchen and focused on making some soup.
It was chicken noodle from a package, but if I added a few veggies and some leftover chicken, it would be almost as good as homemade.
Tomorrow, I would make him something better.
It was wrong of me, but I hoped the storm kept him here for a while.
I made him a bowl of soup and heated up some sweet potato cornbread I had planned to have for breakfast. I placed it at the table and realized that Paxton had fallen asleep in front of the fire.
His cheeks were rosy now, even the tips of his ears.
He was completely still with his arms crossed lazily across his chest.
I had been in love with this man since the first time I met him. Nothing had changed about my feelings. My heart still beat three times harder in his presence. He calmed parts of me that I’d thought permanently on vibrate. I felt rooted in safety when he was around.
I made the decision before reaching out to wake him up. While he was here, in my home, I was going to be 100 percent myself. I would be vulnerable and let him see all of me, including the parts I was afraid he would shun.
Including telling him that I was in love with him.
“Pax,” I said. The nickname flowed from my mouth easily. “I made you some soup.”
“Whoa,” he said, rubbing his eyes while smiling. “I can’t believe I passed out like that.”
“It’s fine. I’m glad you were warm. Your food is on the table.”
Paxton dug into the soup, eating with gusto. He ate the cornbread and asked if I had more. I used to make it for him all the time. I offered him more, slathered with butter, along with a steaming cup of my special hot cocoa. He’d had that before too.
“This is better than I remembered,” he moaned after taking a sip of the sweet drink.
“What is?” I asked.
“Your food. Being around you. I’ve really missed you, Nico.”
I cleared my throat, desperate to stop the tears before they came. “I missed you too. Maybe Fate wanted us to be friends again.”
He chuckled, and I swore there was a twinkle of something more in his gaze. “Maybe so.”
We laughed and talked about old times. I told him about getting burned out and seeing this place. How it saved me.
“I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you during that time.”
I shrugged. I’d missed him terribly when I was going through that.
I wished he was there—a shoulder to rest my head on.
Someone to vent my fears and frustrations to.
“I think I needed to get through it alone. It made me stronger. Made me braver.” I was definitely going to need some of that bravery tonight.
It wasn’t until Pax let out a yawn that I realized how late it had gotten. He pushed back from the table and put both mugs in the sink. “Am I taking the couch?”
My heart fell down to my stomach. This was it.
I was going to bring him to my room and he would get a hint of who I was when there was no one else around.
The other side of me. I almost laughed. It wasn’t like he could run away again.
“No guest of mine will take the couch, Pax. Come on. Let me show you to my room.”
“Nico, no. It’s enough I’ve basically invited myself to stay here after the time we didn’t keep in touch. I don’t want to take your bed.”
I tipped my chin up. If I got up on my toes, just a little, I could kiss his chin. “I’m not taking no for an answer. Did you want to grab your bags?”
He got his bags in his arms and followed me to my room.
Not only was my closet stuffed to the ceiling with stuffed animals, but my prized ones were on shelves, many in their boxes, giving the appearance of preserving their value.
A blanket reflecting one of my favorite anime movies topped the fluffy down comforter.
“This is my room. Bathroom is across the hall. I just need to grab some things.”
Pax came into the room as I gathered pajamas and socks, along with my favorite blanket. I would grab some pillows and other blankets from the hall closet for the couch. I turned and braced myself for his reaction to my room. “This is your room?” he asked, looking around.
“Yes. All my favorite things are here.” Those favorite things included him.
“I see. Well, good night, Nico. Thank you for taking me in.”
I wanted to hug him. Press my face against his chest and ask if I could sleep next to him. “Of course. Have a good night, Pax.”