Renley
He cleared the table after lunch, and was tying up the overflowing trash when he noticed that Eveline was oddly quiet. He found her watching him hesitantly, twirling the hem of her shirt in her fingers.
“What’s wrong, kitten?” Usually, her nickname brought a bright smile to her eyes, but not this time.
Eveline sighed, frustrated, and when she spoke, her words were hardly a whisper. “Can you help me into the bathroom?”
“Of course I can.”
Though Eveline rambled on. “I just need you to help me through the door because my wheelchair doesn’t fit and… well onto the toilet.”
The way her eyes glistened and shame coloured her cheeks made his heart bleed. “Anything.” He quickly washed his hands before following her to the bathroom. “I’m your muscle, just tell me how to help you.”
“If you stand right there you can lift me to sit.” He followed her instructions and stood where she indicated but before Renley could move, tears flowed down her cheeks. “I’m sorry.”
He dropped to one knee, took Eveline’s hand and snatched a tissue from the box to dab at her cheeks. “Shh. I know how hard it is for you to ask for help, but you’re safe to express what you need with me.”
She sniffed and took another tissue. “It’s just so embarrassing.”
“I think you’re brave for asking me to help you.
“I don’t feel that way.”
Unsure of what to say, he took his time kissing each of her knuckles. When she set the tissue aside, he peered up at her through his lashes. “Ready?”
“I guess.”
With steady footing, he hugged her to his chest and lifted her, pausing so she could undress before he sat her down. He busied himself in the kitchen, only returning to her when he heard the bathroom door creak open.
“Thank you,” she whispered, still visibly upset.
Gently squeezing her shoulders, he kissed the top of her hair. “Anything for you.”
He got straight back to work, refusing to force her to talk about it if she didn’t want to. With each new song that played she seemed to relax, the awkward moment soon forgotten. Once they were finished, she seemed ready to leave.
Eveline helped him clean up, and happily accepted when Renley offered to walk her to her car. With his hand on her neck and his fingers spearing through her hair, he walked by her side.
“Thank you for helping me.”
“I enjoyed it, and I got to meet your best friend too.”
“I liked how you handled him.” He leaned against her car, waiting for her to be settled before giving her one last kiss. “Can I see you again tomorrow?”
“I usually do my meal prep on Sundays.” He was about to prepare for disappointment when she added, “But if you don’t mind grocery shopping and cooking with me, you’re welcome to join.”
“I would love to.” He took her hand in his and kissed the back of her fingers. “What time would you like me to be there?”
“I should be up and ready by ten-ish.”
“I’ll see you then.”
He saw her off and with a pep in his step, returned to his apartment.
The next morning, he was greeted with a warm smile and Luna in Eveline’s lap. He leaned down for a kiss and followed her inside.
“I’m still making my list. I didn’t want to get out of bed this morning.”
“You’re the only reason I got out of mine.”
She threw him a grin over her shoulder and continued the inventory of her kitchen while he perched on the counter.
“Do you mind if we stopped at the pet store first?” she asked.
“I’m here for it all.”
“It seems so boring for you.”
“It’s time with you, kitten. What else would I possibly want?”
“Adventure and fun?”
“You really believe I would come with you if I wasn’t going to have fun. I repeat: I enjoy the time with you.”
She squeezed his thigh as she passed him to grab her wallet and reusable bags. “I think I’ve got everything.”
“Miss Harris is a planet saver too, huh?” he teased, jumping off the counter.
“Something like that.” When he needed to move her chair to sit in the passenger seat, she frowned. “I’m sorry, I meant to do that earlier and totally forgot.”
He only shrugged it off, setting her chair in the trunk and taking his seat.
With his hand on her thigh, he kneaded his palm into her, his head rolled back, and his eyes closed.
He only opened them again once the car came to a stop.
Under her watchful eyes, he swiftly put her chair together, only asking for her help once.
When they walked into the pet store, and she attempted to place a basket onto her lap, he cocked his brow at her.
“Who do you think you are?” he asked, snatching it from her. “Like I would let you carry a thing.”
“I don’t want—”
“Me to think that’s why I’m here? Yes, I’m aware, but I’m not just something pretty to look at, you know?”
“Well, what am I supposed to do if I’m not allowed to carry my own shopping?”
“Relax and enjoy being spoiled.”
Her cheeks were rosy and the few people who stopped to stare made her blush even harder. “Okay.”
He followed her down the aisles, watching as she loaded up the basket with food and treats. “No litter?”
“No, I get that delivered.”
Like the gentleman he was, he put her chair away while she got comfortable and put it together again at the grocery store.
“I could get used to this,” she chirped, handing him the reusable bags as she locked the car.
“You better, because this might well be our every Sunday routine.”
“Are you getting anything?”
“I could but might embarrass myself with my microwavable dishes and soda addiction.”
“I was addicted to fast food before I started meal-prepping. I’m far too tired after work and cooking for one can just be a hassle.”
“So, you’re not doing it for any kind of diet?” he asked, grabbing a shopping cart.
“Not really, I try at least one new dish every week, but not because I’m strict with my food intake. Do you watch what you’re eating since you work out?”
He shrugged and leaned on the cart, walking beside her as she began to fill it up. “Not religiously. I just try to get enough protein and not eat too much junk food.”
They followed her list, making their way through the store and talking more about their daily routines. Although he wouldn’t admit it out loud, he could see himself by her side in the future.
“What would you say if I asked to join you at the gym?” Eveline inquired once they were back in the car.
His heart leapt and he tried not to let his excitement show. “I would be very excited.”
“I’ve never worked out. I mean, I did physical therapy but I don’t think that counts.”
“What would your goal be if you’d tagged along?”
“Honestly? Just overcoming my fear of embarrassing myself.”
“You think I’ll let that happen?”
“No, but everyone will be looking at you anyway.”
“Ah, I see, I’m just the distraction,” he teased.
“Basically.”
Not wanting to scare her away from the idea, he didn’t press further. Secretly, however, he was already planning to research a routine.
Back at her place, Eveline instructed him to chop vegetables while she began cooking.
“Would you be open to talking about yesterday?” he asked.
She glanced at him, seeming to hesitate before nodding.
“I saw how upset you were, but I would like to let you hear my side of things. But if you’re not ready, we can talk another time.”
“I’ll listen.”
“I know you like your independence and I’m not here to take that away. When I don’t allow you to open doors or push your cart it’s not because you’re in a wheelchair. I would do those things no matter what, even if you were a bodybuilder and could lift me like I was a twig.”
She laughed, just as he’d hoped she would.
“I felt very blessed that you were comfortable enough to ask me for help. You could have just said you were ready to leave, but you chose to ask me, and I think that is very brave of you.”
“I don’t want you to think of yourself as my carer.”
“But I am, just as much as you are mine. If I were sick and puking my guts out, you’d hold my hair and offer me a wet cloth. If I had surgery and needed your help you would do it.”
“Yes, but yesterday was different.”
“How so, kitten?”
“Because I wasn’t sick or hurt, I was just incapable.”
He set the knife aside and turned to her, giving her his undivided attention. “Look at me, please.”
She sighed, doing so reluctantly.
“I understand why you might feel that way and I knew these kinds of situations might happen, but they don’t scare me. I don’t mind taking care of you when the world around you won’t let you be the strong, independent woman you are.”
“I appreciate the way you think. Maybe I just have a hard time accepting it.”
He bent down and kissed her hair. “It might take a while, but it’s important for you to know how I see these things too. And we can talk about it any time you like.”
Eveline fisted his collar and hauled him into a kiss that left him weak in the knees. “Thank you.”
“If I ever make you feel as if I’m downplaying your abilities, please tell me.”
“No complaints so far.”
He laughed and turned back to his task. “Don’t worry they’ll come soon enough. Wait until you see my hack job on these veggies.”
Once the food was finished, he set the table and snuck in some cuddles with Luna.
She didn’t seem to mind him picking her up, but maybe she was just after the ear scratches.
He insisted on doing the cleaning, so Eveline busied herself sorting out snacks for the week.
As she worked, she explained how much it helped to be able to grab things on the way out the door.
When the kitchen was sparkling and the countertop reset, they curled up on the couch together, though he paused to admire the craft supplies on the shelf next to the TV.
“Would you be willing to teach me?”
“How to knit?”
“Yes,” he said, picking up some loose needles that looked rather dangerous. “I’m not very crafty, so you’ll have to be patient.”
“You want me to turn you into an old, boring grandma like me, is that it?”
He turned towards her and cocked his brow. “What did you just call yourself?”
“Old and boring I guess.”