Chapter 36
Archer
Ellie insisted on sleeping in one of the guestrooms when we got home.
When I asked if I could do anything to help, she mumbled something about Jess, so I found Jess in her phone and texted her explaining the situation.
She responded almost immediately and told me not to worry about anything.
That Ellie’s team will take care of everything and just take care of Ellie.
She’s been so sick. She had to call off the past three days from work.
Lucky for me, I seemed to have managed to escape the plague.
Fish and I have just been bonding while Elle hides away in the guestroom.
I like to think we have our own language.
He meows; I scratch his fluffy head. I click my tongue several times and he comes running for pets. Like I said, our own language.
Fish is weaving around my legs while I’m making my grandma’s Italian Penicillin Soup when Ellie emerges from her sick bay.
“Hey. How are you feeling?” I ask as I stir the soup.
“Like death.”
“Do you want to try to eat something? I called my mom and got my grandma’s recipe.” I say, not waiting for her response as I ladle her a bowl. “This always helped when I was sick with a stomach bug.”
Ellie blows on the soup before gingerly taking a spoonful to her lips. She then sits and waits to see if it decides to make a reappearance.
After several minutes she deems it safe to take a few more spoonfuls.
“This might be the best meal I’ve ever had.” Her voice scratchy.
“Yeah?” I smile. “When you’re finished eating, I can run you a bath and you can soak in there while I clean up everything from dinner and then we can watch a movie in bed. That is, if we’re allowed to share a bed again.” I come behind her and rub her shoulders.
“I haven’t puked in twelve hours so I think we can snuggle.” She continues to slowly eat as I rub her shoulders. “I took tomorrow off again; I will wash everything in the guestroom and sanitize the crap out of the adjoining bathroom.”
“I can do that.”
“No, I can do it. My germs, my responsibility. That’s how the saying goes right?” A small smile graces her lips.
“Sure, it’s something like that.” I confirm. I place a kiss on the top of her head and grab her some water to sip on.
I let her finish her meal in peace as I go and run a bath for her.
Once it’s ready, I guide her into the bathroom where I picked out one of her new bath bombs and the fluffiest towels I could find.
Her favorite candle is burning on the vanity and the lighting is low.
I grabbed her kindle and put it beside the tub in case she decides she wants to try to read.
She kisses my cheek in thanks, and I go to clean up the kitchen.
Ellie emerges from the bath about an hour later and she looks like she feels much better, color has returned to her cheeks and she’s in a pair of Wolves pj pants and one of my sweatshirts. It dwarfs her small frame but she looks comfy as hell.
“Feel better?” I ask as she settles beside me on the couch.
“Yes, and now that I’m not puking my guts out and praying for death, I need to start the search for a new apartment.” She sighs as she opens her laptop.
“Why not just stay here?”
“What?”
“Stay here, I’m serious.” I’m firm in my decision.
I have loved having Ellie and Fish here the past several weeks.
“I mean we’ve basically been living together for like the last two months between me staying at your place and you staying here.
You have a key to the apartment, Fish is settled here, most of your stuff is here anyway, we can grab whatever else you need from your storage unit. ”
“You’re sure?” She gnaws on the inside of her lip; it’s her tell when she’s really thinking something over. “I don’t want to be a leech ya know, I want to contribute.”
“You do contribute; I’ve eaten more home cooked meals these two months than I had for the past couple of years.
You’ve turned this drab apartment into a home.
I actually want to hang out at home. You’ve done more than your fair share.
” I smile at her, hell I really hope she agrees to this.
I want her to stay, because realistically if she moves out then I have to move out with her and then I would have two properties on the market. That is not ideal.
What can I say? Apparently, I’m clingy.
“Okay, but if any time, you’re tired of me or Fish let me know and I will start looking for a new place.” She gives me a small smile.
“So, you’re staying?”
“I’m staying.”
I pull her close and kiss her.