50. Cal
Chapter fifty
Cal
“You didn’t have to do this,” Noelle murmured, carefully sitting up from where she’d been lying on her couch.
“Don’t thank me yet. It might not be edible,” I teased, handing her the bowl of egg drop soup I’d whipped up.
She didn’t laugh. “Don’t dismiss it, Cal,” she whispered. “Thank you. Really. I’m sorry to have to change plans. No guy’s ever made me soup before.”
The words warmed my chest, and I dropped a kiss on her hair. “Anything for my girl. And don’t apologize. The Pumpkin Patch is exhausting on a good day. Now, what are we watching? Great British Menu reruns or I Love Lucy?”
“You pick.” She cradled the bowl to her chest.
I queued up the cooking show on her laptop before settling down beside her on the sofa.
Greyson and Paisley brought Rosie over to my place for the evening to watch Khia while Noelle and I went on a date.
But today was a flare day for her after yesterday’s outing.
So we were doing a “date night in” at Noelle’s place instead.
After saying grace, I hit the play button, and we watched the contestants in a flurry of activity trying to wow the judges with their appetizers.
“There’s no way that gets higher than a seven,” I remarked with all the finesse of a man who was barely confident enough in his egg drop soup capabilities.
“I’m thinking six,” Noelle said, nibbling on a piece of gluten-free toast with melted cheese.
We were both correct when the judges gave two sevens and a six. After we finished dinner, I dished out two bowls of mint chocolate chip ice cream and brought them back to the couch before we started the entrée episode.
“Do you want tea?”
“I can get it—” Noelle shifted, intending on standing, but I touched her shoulder. Not too hard, but enough that her dark eyes flicked up at me.
“Let me take care of you,” I said. “You don’t have to prove anything to me.”
“I’m not used to it,” she whispered.
As I thought.
“Then you better start, sweetheart.” I leaned down and kissed her forehead. “What kind of tea?”
“Spearmint.”
“With honey?”
“You know it.”
I winked at her and quickly boiled the kettle. Once the tea was steeping, I added a squirt of honey and topped it with a bit of cool water, exactly how she liked it.
“Mint tea and ice cream doesn’t feel like an ideal pairing,” I said, setting the mug down on the coffee table coaster.
She spread a crocheted afghan over her legs. “It’s comforting.”
“If you say so. Need anything else?”
“No, thanks.”
“Noelle.” I eyed her seriously. “Don’t lie to me to avoid being an inconvenience.”
She smiled tiredly. “I’m telling the truth, Cal.”
When she patted the cushion beside her, I relented and sat down. She immediately leaned against my shoulder, hugging my arm. “Thank you for taking care of me,” she whispered.
I rested my cheek against her hair. “Thank you for letting me.”
Halfway through the dessert episode, the weight on my shoulder increased.
I glanced down and Noelle’s eyes were shut, her eyelashes pillowed on her cheeks.
This close I could make out the freckles on her nose.
I’d always loved them, even though she’d been self-conscious about them whenever I used to mention it.
She didn’t stir when the show ended, and it was getting late.
“Noelle?”
Nothing.
I didn’t want to wake her up since she’d mentioned that chronic fatigue made sleep difficult, and the couch, though comfortable enough, wasn’t meant for sleeping.
Gently easing her off my shoulder, I scooped her up in my arms, cradling her to my chest as I headed for her bedroom.
She sighed softly, her face tucked against my neck.
The softness of the gesture sent an electric bolt to my heart. I love this woman. Careful to not jar her neck, I set her on the bed, tucking the blankets around her. Leaning down, I kissed her forehead. “Good night, sweetheart.”
Retreating from the bedroom, I quietly tidied up her small kitchen and turned off the lights before locking up with the spare key.