Chapter Nine Adjustments
Evie
The day after they marked out the layout, Evie and Thorn met with Tommy’s contractors to go over the plans.
One of the first things Evie wanted them to consider was Thorn’s size and how to make the space truly work for him.
The contractor immediately understood and began asking questions about what Thorn struggled with in a standard apartment.
Seeing him hesitate, Evie led him toward the area they’d designated as the kitchen. “When you’re cooking, what’s uncomfortable for you because of your height?” she asked gently, trying to get him thinking about how the space could adapt to him instead of the other way around.
His expression cleared, and a spark of excitement lit his eyes. “We can adjust things for my height?” he asked, glancing at the contractor for confirmation.
“Oh, definitely,” the man said with an easy nod. “It might raise material costs a bit and cause minor delays while we get custom pieces made, but nothing serious.” He looked Thorn up and down, tapping something into his tablet. “You’re what? Six-nine, six-ten?”
Thorn nodded, looking mildly impressed that the man had guessed correctly. Evie was less impressed; she figured that after twenty years on the job, a contractor could probably estimate someone’s height within an inch or two.
“Can I make some suggestions?” the man continued.
Evie hung back, letting them talk as he proposed raising the counters from the standard thirty-six inches to forty-two, installing a deeper sink, raising the shower head by sixteen inches, widening the door frames to ninety-six, and adjusting all the fixtures and switches slightly higher.
By the time he finished, Thorn’s excitement was unmistakable.
The contractor took measurements and photos of everything, promising to send a detailed proposal by the end of the week.
Before leaving, he suggested they start looking at color palettes, fixtures, flooring, and tile options so he could order materials early and stay ahead of any custom fabrication delays.
When they were alone, Thorn pulled her into his arms and gave her a bear hug that lifted her clean off her feet, making her giggle uncontrollably.
“I don’t know how to thank you or Tommy,” he murmured against her hair, his voice thick with gratitude. The sound of it filled Evie with warmth.
“You don’t have to thank us,” she said, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and hugging him back. “We’re just happy to help.”
**********
The rest of Evie’s winter break passed in a blur of planning and errands. She and Thorn spent most of it hunting for reinforced furniture made for taller people or finding places willing to custom build what he wanted, then arranging orders and deliveries.
The contractor estimated a three- to four-month timeline for the remodel, explaining that the finalized floor plan had been submitted to the Department of Buildings and that permits - even fast-tracked through Tommy’s channels - would still take four to six weeks.
He was confident everything would be approved and had already started ordering the custom cabinetry, fixtures, and finishes in the colors and styles Thorn had chosen.
On Evie’s last night before returning to her apartment and starting the new term, she and Thorn decided to make pizza and watch movies in Tommy’s TV room, Evie had been pleasantly surprised to learn that Thorn enjoyed cooking and baking, and it had quickly become their favorite evening ritual.
He’d been introducing her to Serbian food, but tonight she wanted something simple, unhealthy, and gloriously greasy.
Despite everything that had happened, Evie had to admit this Christmas ranked among her top ten holidays.
Not having to walk on eggshells around her father’s temper or her mother’s melancholy had made her realize how much energy she’d spent managing their emotions.
The difference was startling, especially when she compared it to being around Thorn’s easy, good-natured calm.
The only thing that dimmed it was how little she saw of Tommy.
He and Thorn were gone before she woke up most mornings, and though Thorn usually returned by mid-afternoon, Tommy didn’t come home until she texted to say dinner was ready.
Even then, he ate distractedly, jotting notes on his PDA, kissed her on the top of the head, and vanished back to his office.
When she’d finally brought it up the night before, her voice edging toward a whine despite her best effort, Tommy had smiled apologetically and kissed her cheek.
“I’m sorry, Princess,” he’d said softly. “I’m working on something huge right now.”
He must have seen the question forming, because he reached out and gently pinched her lips shut.
“I can’t tell you yet, it’s top secret. Only Thorn and I know the details.
” He sighed, pulling her into a hug. “I should’ve waited until you went back to class, but I thought sending Thorn up to keep you company in the afternoons would make up for it. ”
She’d had to admit, at least to herself, that it mostly had.
Thorn’s company filled the gaps, even if she didn’t want to give Tommy that satisfaction.
Her days had settled into a comfortable rhythm: late mornings, long walks, and afternoons spent with Thorn working on his apartment or exploring the city.
But since none of that fit her narrative, she’d only frowned at Tommy. “Still miss you, though.”
“Stop pouting.” He’d grinned as he let her go. “I’ll spend tomorrow evening with you before you head back.”
“You’d better.”
“I promise.”
The elevator doors had closed between them, leaving Evie and Thorn to clean up the dinner dishes and leaving her with a smile that lingered longer than she wanted to admit.
Thorn stretched out along the chaise, and Evie curled beside him, propping a pillow against his thigh so she could lie comfortably at his side. The sound of the movie filled the room, soft and steady.
Tommy, despite his promise, hadn’t come to dinner. When Evie texted to remind him, he replied that he had a meeting with Rupert and would see her later.
**********
Thorn
“Are you okay, Evie?” Thorn brushed her hair back from her face, frowning at the sadness in her expression. She’d been quiet since Tommy skipped dinner, and while he guessed that was the reason, he didn’t want to assume, especially with her leaving for her apartment in the morning.
“Yeah… Tommy promised to spend the evening with me, but I guess he forgot about his meeting with Rupert.” She shifted, stretching a little and forcing a small smile before turning her attention back to the movie.
Thorn shook his head, knowing why Tommy was meeting with Rupert and that he had set the appointment that afternoon as Thorn was leaving for the day.
“Why did you not say something to him?” he asked quietly. He knew how much Tommy loved Evie, but he also saw how often Tommy took advantage of her patience. It bothered him more than he liked to admit, and he made a mental note to bring it up later.
“When he’s caught up in a new idea or plan, it’s almost impossible to get his attention. I’m used to it.” She shrugged, ducking her head. Thorn could tell she was trying to seem unbothered, but the slump of her shoulders gave her away.
“Besides,” she murmured, almost to herself, “I shouldn’t have to remind him to keep his promises.”
The quiet hurt in her voice made something click in Thorn’s chest. Without a word, he nudged her gently upright and pulled her into his lap.
“You want to be remembered,” he murmured, wrapping his arms around her and drawing her close. He tried to focus on comforting her, not on how right it felt to have her in his arms.
She rested her head on his shoulder with a soft sigh. “It’s fine. I’m used to it. He’ll make up for it later.”
Evie reached for her blanket and pulled it over them, settling deeper against his chest. She wasn’t doing a great job of hiding how much Tommy’s absence hurt her. Thorn tightened his hold, silently promising himself he would always keep his promises to her, even the unspoken ones.
“Thorn,” she whispered after a minute, laughter threading through her voice. He looked down, puzzled by her tone. “You’re squeezing me too tight.”
He chuckled and loosened his grip, though a part of him hated letting her go. “I am sorry, Little One. I did not mean to hurt you.”
“Didn't hurt.” She twisted, straddling his lap and wrapping her arms around his neck, hugging him back, tightly. “Just couldn't inhale.”
“That's not how I would want to take your breath away.” It came out before he realized what he was saying, and he silently cursed how the way she was sitting on him made him weak. He would have preferred that she never knew about his attraction to her so things wouldn’t become distant and awkward between them.
“You want to take my breath away?” Evie’s voice was soft and husky as she pulled back to look at him. Thorn met her eyes, felt his heart stumble, then forced himself to remember every reason he had to keep things platonic. He chose honesty instead of evasion.
“If I were younger,” he said quietly, sliding his hands to her waist and lifting her so she sat sideways across his thighs again, “and had less blood on my hands, I would happily take your breath away.” He smiled and pressed a kiss to her temple.
“Every night, as often and for as long as you would let me.”
“You’re twenty-eight, not forty.”
He chuckled; she made the gap sound trivial. “And you are nineteen.” He brushed a strand of hair from her shoulder and leaned back against the pillows. “Even if my childhood had been normal, there is a world of difference between a nineteen-year-old girl and a twenty-eight-year-old man.”
Disappointment flickered across her face, her lower lip jutting out just slightly. Thorn sighed, knowing he’d have to be blunter than he wanted. “Do you know how many people I had killed by the time I was your age?”
She shook her head.
“Neither do I,” he admitted. “I lost count by thirteen.”
Her eyes widened, but there was no disgust in them, only sadness. She didn’t pull away. That, at least, felt like a victory. “We have lived very different lives, Mali?a. It is not just the age difference holding me back. I do not ever want to hurt you.”
“Why would you tell me that? It was easier when it was just a fantasy of mine.”
Thorn barked a laugh, half relief, half horror as the meaning sank in. “Why would you tell me that?”
“To make things fair.” She grinned, eyes bright with mischief. “And maybe to make you change your mind.”
“Evie.” He huffed, torn between exasperation and affection. She had no idea how dangerous hope could be for him. “It is not just the years or the past. I have nightmares that turn violent, and I have never kept a relationship for long. They end badly. Always.”
“You are far too important to me to have what will be a short-lived romantic relationship that will end with resentment and hurt. Trust me. I know what I can offer you, and it is not enough.” He cupped her cheeks, looking at her seriously.
He could live another hundred years, and he would not be able to offer her what she deserved.
“I would rather have our affectionate, platonic relationship and have you in my life forever than enjoy a month or so of sex and romance that will end badly, leaving you hurt and upset with me.”
“So, what now? We just pretend this conversation never happened?” Evie frowned and Thorn was happy to see there was acceptance mixed with the disappointment on her face. He was also extremely happy she wasn’t pushing him away or telling him to go fuck himself.
“No,” he said gently. “We know. We accept it cannot happen, and we move on.” He searched her face for any sign of hurt, then asked softly, “No hurt feelings?”
“No hurt feelings,” she echoed, managing a small smile. “A little disappointed, but I understand.”