Chapter 10 #2
He really did have a coupon in his billfold, although he suspected it was expired. However, he wasn’t certain, so again, it wasn’t a lie. He wondered if he was playing a little fast and loose with the truth, but in his heart, he was certain God understood.
Lee smiled. “You sure?”
“I am.” He waved to the waitress who came over and took Lee’s order.
He asked for the same meal Noah had. Noah wanted to warn him about the coffee, but before he could, Lee ordered orange juice.
Good call. “Could you bring me a glass of orange juice too?” he asked the waitress.
She nodded, made a note on her pad, and then walked away.
“The coffee is awful,” he told Lee. “Wish I’d ordered orange juice from the beginning.”
Lee smiled. “I can’t drink coffee this late. It would keep me up all night.”
Noah sighed. “When we’re working a case that takes up so much of my time, no amount of caffeine affects my sleep. Takes a while to build up that kind of resistance, though. I don’t recommend it.”
The smile slipped from Lee’s face. “I’m sorry. You should have told me you were too busy to meet me. The waitress hasn’t turned in my order yet. We can cancel it.”
Noah felt guilty again. Why had he said that?
“Don’t worry about it,” he said with a smile.
“If I went home now, I probably couldn’t sleep anyway.
” Now that statement was the truth. He’d lie in bed and worry about hurting Lee’s feelings.
Staying here was the only way to keep his conscience clear.
Besides, being completely honest about it, the concentrated coffee sludge really had given him a bit of a rush.
Probably not the healthiest way to get his second wind, but it was what it was.
“If you’re certain,” Lee said. “My apartment building is being fumigated. They sprayed this morning so I can’t go back until tomorrow morning. We worked today, and I stayed after we were done so I could clean the mowers. I didn’t realize it was this late. I shouldn’t have called you. I’m sorry.”
Noah glanced at the clock on the wall. A little after nine. Not late for most people. “It’s okay, Lee. Really.” Noah frowned at him. “What will you do tonight? Do you have someone you can stay with?”
He shook his head. “I’ll just sleep in my car. I’ve done it before. I’m going to park in front of my building. At nine, I can get inside, take a shower, and go back to work.” He smiled. “It will be fine.”
Noah felt as if he should ask Lee to stay at their house.
They had four bedrooms, but one was the home office he shared with Kaely, the guest room was where Erin was staying, and the other room had been turned into a nursery.
A little prematurely, but he and Kaely had been convinced she would get pregnant.
They planned to finish the basement at some point, but they hadn’t had the time yet.
Noah had only been accepted at the BAU a little over a year ago.
Getting set up after the move had taken some time.
Of course, there was the couch, but that wouldn’t be very private.
He and Kaely got up pretty early. It was then that he remembered they had a folding cot in the basement they could bring upstairs.
“Are you sure?” he heard himself saying. “We have company right now, but we could find a place for you. I have a cot I could put in our office, or we could put you on the couch.”
Lee looked unsure. “I . . . I don’t think that’s necessary, but thank you. Like I said, I’ve slept in my car before. It’s pretty comfortable, and it’s not hot outside yet. It’s just for one night.”
Noah had seen Lee’s car. A strong wind would probably cause it to collapse. It looked as if it was held together by rust instead of metal.
The waitress walked up to the table and handed Lee his pancakes and bacon. Then she put two glasses of orange juice on the table, along with the bill, which she slapped down next to Noah.
“Anything else?” she asked.
Noah shook his head. “Not right now but thank you.” As she walked away, Noah took a deep breath. “I’d feel better if you’d stayed with us, Lee. Really.”
Lee stared at him for a moment and then shrugged. “You’re very kind. I guess I could do that. Thanks, Noah.” He frowned. “You mentioned our office. You share an office with your wife?”
Noah nodded. “We have four bedrooms. Our room, a guest room, and another room we’ve turned into a nursery.
We’re hoping for a baby one of these days.
So, my office became our office. Kaely helps an author with research for her novels.
We each have our own filing cabinets. She uses the office during the day if she needs to, and I use it at night and on the weekends.
It might be problematic for some people, but it seems to work okay for us.
We really haven’t missed having our own space.
” Noah smiled. “So far our marriage is still intact.”
Lee smiled. “That’s all that matters.”
Noah nodded as he stabbed another bite of his pancakes.
He knew Kaely would understand. Still, he felt a little uncomfortable.
He probably should have checked with her first. But his wife was the one with the big heart.
He felt confident she would have extended the same offer.
Lee was a nice guy. Everything would work out fine.
Besides, it was just for one night. What could go wrong?