Twenty
TWENTY
Josie
It had finally happened.
I was standing in Huck’s kitchen, first thing in the morning, and I was alone.
It had been a few days since I’d gone to my first therapy session. Since then, I’d gone to both another shoulder rehab appointment as well as a therapy session.
Things were improving drastically. In the physical sense, I felt like I was mostly back to normal. My shoulder was obviously still a problem, particularly when it came to my range of motion, but nearly everything else was better. The cuts had healed and almost all the bruising had faded. Sometimes, if I moved too quickly, my ribs would ache. But for the most part, with each day that passed, my body felt stronger.
Ever since I’d started going to therapy, I hadn’t had another nightmare. Of course, I wasn’t going to be overconfident about it. I didn’t believe I’d been magically cured from two appointments; I knew it didn’t work like that.
But for now, I was going to take the small wins as I got them. And going a few days without having a nightmare felt like a win.
This morning, I was excited about celebrating another victory. I’d woken up before Huck.
I walked out of the guest bedroom shortly after my eyes popped open and saw that his door was still partially closed—an indication he hadn’t gotten up yet. For a brief moment, I stood there, staring at it while it beckoned me forward.
Just a peek.
Just one little peek of Huck asleep in his bed.
That was all I’d wanted.
Sure, I’d seen him sleeping beside me when he’d come into the guest room on the nights when I’d had nightmares. But I thought it would be different to see him in his bed.
Somehow, despite the pull I felt to have a look in his room, I refrained. I didn’t need anything else messing with my head right now.
So, as quietly as I could, I crept down the hall in the opposite direction and descended the stairs to find I hadn’t been wrong in my assumption.
I was the only one awake, and the thought thrilled me for two reasons.
First, waking up at the time I used to wake up only reinforced the notion that I was truly on the mend. Regardless of the long road I still had ahead of me, things were returning to normal. Or, well, the new normal.
But the other reason I was so happy to have woken up before Huck was because I finally had the opportunity to do something I’d been wanting to do for a while now.
I could make breakfast for him. Since this felt like an extra special occasion, I didn’t want to do the typical eggs, bacon, and toast. I wanted this to be my opportunity to show my appreciation to Huck for all that he’d been doing for me over the last couple of weeks.
So, I decided to take stock of what he had in his kitchen. I perused the refrigerator, scanned the pantry, and ultimately realized he had all the ingredients I needed to be able to make him German pancakes.
I pulled everything out—doing it as quietly as I could—pre-heated the oven, then got to work. It didn’t matter that Huck didn’t have a mixer on hand, because he had a blender, and I’d always prepared my German pancake batter in the blender. Obviously, I’d been worried about the noise I’d make, but there was no other option if I was going to follow through on my plan.
A moment later, I had poured the batter into the baking dish, something I’d started using instead of the cast iron pan because it always turned out better for me that way. It was likely user error that I was never successful with the cast iron pan.
Once I’d popped the baking dish into the oven, I went about cleaning up the mess I’d made. That quickly turned into me taking on additional cleaning tasks. I emptied the clean dishwasher, put new ones in, and started sweeping up the floor while I waited.
I was in the middle of doing that, my head down as I focused on the floor, when Huck’s voice, sounding less than amused, made me freeze. “What are you doing?”
My head shot up, my eyes locking on his, and my grip on the broom handle tightened. Slowly, I took two steps back from him, unable to miss the way his eyes narrowed, and quietly replied, “I put breakfast in the oven and decided to clean up.”
He stepped forward until he came to a stop a foot or two in front of me. His hand curled around the broom handle. My throat felt like it was closing up, but I had to fix this.
“Please,” I begged, my voice barely a whisper. “I’m sorry.”
“Why are you apologizing? Why do you look so terrified? Josie, honey, relax. I’m not going to hurt you,” he said, his voice so soft and tender.
Huck.
This was Huck.
What had I been thinking?
My bottom lip trembled as I lost purchase on the broom. Huck took it from my hands as he wrapped his free arm around me so he could tuck me tight to his body. I easily went, quickly dropping my head to the center of his chest.
He must have set the broom aside, because it was barely two seconds later when I felt his other hand in my hair. I took several deep breaths to settle my nerves. Huck held me throughout, the soothing sound of his voice offering me the reassurance I needed.
When I got a handle on my emotions, I tipped my chin up and lamented, “I’m sorry. It’s just… it always seemed to start in the kitchen. And when you asked me what I was doing with that look on your face, I guess I assumed the worst.”
“First of all, you did nothing wrong. But even if there had been some grave error you made, I would never lay a hand on you in anger. Never, Josie.”
I nodded my understanding, desperate to reassure him. “I know. I know. I guess it was just a momentary flashback or something.”
“Okay. Are you okay now?” he asked.
“Yeah. Yeah, I’m alright.”
I thought the conversation would end there and Huck would ask what I made for breakfast. Apparently, I was wrong. “Good. Can you tell me why you feel the need to clean at this hour of the morning?”
I shrugged slightly, my shoulder still not loving that movement. “I guess I’m trying to find a way to earn some of the kindness you’ve been showing me.”
“What?”
“You’ve done a lot, Huck,” I explained. “Right from the start, you’ve been looking out for me, and you’ve gone above and beyond to take care of me. I don’t like having to sit around doing nothing, and when I woke up this morning and realized you were still asleep, I wanted to do something nice for you for a change. So, I made breakfast.”
“But why are you cleaning? Your body is still healing.”
The answer seemed obvious to me, but I had a feeling I was going to have to do some serious reasoning with Huck. “I’m getting better, though. I’ve been going to therapy, and I’m feeling so much stronger. I hate feeling like I’m not doing anything to contribute, especially when you’ve gone out of your way to do all that you’ve done for me.”
Huck’s eyes roamed over my face, something conflicted in his stare. “Josie, honey, I need you to understand something. You don’t need to earn anyone’s kindness, especially not mine. And if anyone tells you any differently, they don’t deserve to have you in their life. Nothing that I’ve done for you over the last couple of weeks was done with the hope that you would repay me in some way. I’m doing it because you deserve to be treated with kindness and respect.”
God, he was such a wonderful man. He’d always been such a great guy, and I wished we hadn’t had so many years apart from one another. “It means the world to me, though. I just want you to know I appreciate all that you’ve done.”
Huck removed his hand from my hair, brought it to the side of my face, and brushed his thumb over my cheekbone. “I already do. You don’t have to clean the house for me to know that.”
“I was just sweeping the floor,” I reasoned.
“And you unloaded the dishwasher,” he reminded me.
Feeling the need to defend myself, I argued, “Well, I didn’t want to leave the dishes I’d used to prepare breakfast in the sink.”
He smiled at me, and it was that single look which had those last remaining bits of tension leaving my body. “Speaking of which, what exactly did you decide to make for breakfast?”
I grinned at him. “I thought it might be nice to change things up, so I made some German pancakes.”
Surprise washed over him. “I’ve never had German pancakes.”
“Well, then I’m honored to be the one to introduce you to them,” I told him. “I checked before I made them and saw you had syrup and powdered sugar, which is a great way to enjoy them. But you also have some strawberries and chocolate-hazelnut spread, which is another great combination.”
Huck’s arm that was wrapped around my body tightened slightly, his fingers pressing in firmly at my side. “Maybe I’ll have to try them both ways.”
With a nod of approval, I declared, “That’s a solid plan.”
It was at that moment when Huck laughed, and I was given the privilege to not only see it but to feel it, too. It caught me off guard.
Because while Huck and I had plenty of moments over the last couple of weeks where we touched one another, whether holding hands or hugging, none of those instances had affected me like this was now.
In those scenarios, particularly when he’d stayed with me at night in the guest room, it was always about needing the comfort of his touch to settle my nerves. In other situations, like when I’d walked out of my first therapy appointment, it was about feeling such overwhelming gratitude for him.
But now? Being in his arms felt different than any of those cases. It felt like the two of us standing in his kitchen in the morning, laughing at each other, while breakfast cooked in the oven.
It felt normal.
It felt like this was how it was always meant to be.
It felt good.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. And that’s what happened next, when the timer on the oven went off, indicating breakfast was ready.
“I’ll grab that, if you want to grab plates,” I told him.
Huck released me and moved in the opposite direction. “You’ve got it. Did you put the tea on?”
As soon as he asked, I stopped to look back at him. “Crap. I got so caught up in the pancakes and cleaning that I forgot about the coffee and tea.”
“That’s okay. I’ll put the coffee on and get the kettle filled up for the tea.”
Just like that.
Huck made everything so comfortable and effortless. He didn’t get angry over something so insignificant. He wouldn’t go into a rage and take his fists to me because I accidentally forgot to do something. Huck would just take care of it.
Maybe that was how it worked in the real world for most people. I’d never experienced it, so it was no surprise I couldn’t bring myself to do anything besides stare at him.
Stare at him while feeling the overwhelming desire to kiss him. More than anything else I wanted in the world, I wanted to know how it would feel to kiss Huck.
Being lost in that thought, I hadn’t managed to move. That’s when Huck glanced over at me, noted my inaction, and stopped what he was doing. “Are you okay?”
And there was that, too.
Huck was always concerned with my well-being. That hadn’t hit me as a surprise just now, but it didn’t negate the depth of appreciation I had for it.
Huck wasn’t selfish; he cared.
He was generous.
“Josie?” he called again.
God, I wanted to kiss him.
No. No, that wasn’t it.
I wanted to be kissed by him.
I shook my head, attempting to rid it of the thoughts I was having. Then I smiled at him and insisted, “I’m okay.”
“Are you sure?”
I gave him a nod. “Yeah.”
He eyed me curiously, and I wasn’t entirely sure he believed me. But it didn’t matter, because I knew I was telling the truth. I was okay; I was the best I’d been in my whole life. And I wasn’t crazy to believe things were only going to get better.
So, instead of trying to convince Huck with words, I decided I’d show him by springing back into action. I turned toward the oven so I could get our breakfast out.
A few minutes later, after I’d cut and served some pancakes onto our plates while Huck took care of the coffee and tea, we sat down with one another to eat.
Huck didn’t hesitate to dive in, and he was even quicker to tell me how he felt.
“This is so good, Josie.”
My heart skipped a beat. “You like it?”
He shoveled in another massive bite with syrup and powdered sugar. “It’s excellent. I love it.”
This was exactly what I’d been hoping for, to give Huck something that he’d thoroughly enjoy. Judging by the way he was eating, it was obvious he was enjoying this. I had to keep reminding myself to eat, because I was so distracted by him and the way all that was happening this morning was making me feel.
It seemed impossible that anything could have happened to make the morning any better, but I should have expected nothing less from Huck. He’d gotten through the first two large helpings of pancakes I’d given him, gotten another serving, and sat back down. Before he took another bite, he asked, “So, did you have anything else planned for today?”
I shook my head. “No. Why? Did you?”
He hesitated a moment, his lips twitching. “Well, I mean, it’s not exactly my usual idea of fun, but I was thinking about taking you out shopping.”
My brows pulled together. “Shopping?”
Huck laughed, clearly amused by my surprise and confusion. “You didn’t hear me incorrectly. I was thinking we should go out shopping and see if we can find you a dress for the wedding you agreed to attend with me.”
My belly flipped.
I still hadn’t quite come to grips with the fact Huck wanted to take me to Jesse and Sawyer’s wedding. Granted, he hadn’t left my side in weeks, but this was so unexpected. And considering I hadn’t had the opportunity to get dressed up to go anywhere nice since sometime near the beginning of my relationship with Kurt, it was safe to say I was excited.
“I’d love to go shopping with you. But I get the distinct feeling you’re going to regret it. I suspect I’ll be very indecisive.”
He grinned at me. “Not a chance I’ll regret it. In fact, I’m looking forward to buying you everything you’ll need to get yourself all dolled up for the wedding. Dress, shoes, makeup, perfume. Whatever you want, whatever you need.”
“Wait. What?”
He raised a curious brow. “What are you confused about?
“What do you mean, you’re looking forward to buying it?” I questioned him.
Huck’s features softened, and he placed his hand on top of mine, which was resting beside my plate on the table. He rubbed his fingers back and forth across the back of my hand and said, “You’re not working right now, and I know things are tight for you. But regardless of that, I want to do this. I invited you to be my guest, Josie. I want to be the reason you look and feel good for one night.”
This man was impossibly wonderful. “Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Huck, but you’re the reason I feel good most days and nights now. A dress and shoes aren’t going to change that.”
“That’s not bad news, honey. That’s good to hear. So, I guess I’ll say I want to make you feel extra special then, more than usual. Does that work?” he asked.
I couldn’t disappoint him, even if I thought he was doing too much for me. I didn’t have the heart to take away whatever doing this was giving him.
“That works, Huck. I can’t wait to go.”
He rubbed my hand again. “Me, too. Let’s finish breakfast and get out of here.”
I perked up, feeling excited about the day ahead, and finished my breakfast. No matter what happened, there would be no chance of wiping the smile off my face.