Jack nodded and went resolutely to shower.
Chapter 10
Britt cleared away the meal and did up the dishes. She gathered up the garbage and put the empty glass bottles in the recycling bin. She picked up clothes off his floor and sorted them into approximate laundry loads. Although her exploration of the apartment had not been extensive, she felt certain that he sent his laundry out. Looking around, she finally found a bag for dry cleaning and another for washables and she filled them each accordingly. She surveyed her progress and deemed that she’d made a respectable dent in the mess. She opened the windows to pump some fresh air into the stagnant room.
She went into Jack’s room and waited for him to come out of the shower. When he did, in just his shorts, toweling off his wet hair, she felt her heart lurch. She loved him so much, so deeply. The sight of him, sad and broken, yet still visibly strong, his bare chest shining with drops of water from his recent shower, tore her apart. On one hand she wanted to soothe and comfort him and make no demands. Britt went to enfold him in a hug.
Jack shook his head and pushed her away, resisting the consolation. He sank down onto the bed and all of him seemed to sag under the weight of his grief. She settled down beside him and put her arm around him. Britt laid her head on his shoulder without saying a single word and in a moment, he leaned his head against hers. Companionably, they sat without speaking. Then he yawned, not even trying to stifle his exhaustion politely.
“It’s okay,” she said. “Just lie down and rest. You need it.”
Jack settled onto a pillow and Britt drew the duvet up over his perfect torso. She took his hand and held it, then gave it a squeeze.
“Stay?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she answered. “Is this because I offered to buy you a steak?”
“I’ll write you an excused absence for your boss,” he said with a harsh laugh.
Britt messaged work to say she wouldn’t be in the following day and thought in passing that it was a good thing she’d never used her vacation days before this. She kicked off her flip-flops and scooted in beside Jack. He pulled her back against him and curled around her, pulling the fluffy duvet up over her shoulder. He kissed the back of her neck warmly. Just as she was settling in to that tingle and wondering if he wanted more than passive comfort, she heard the low train-engine sound of his snore and had to stifle a laugh. She snuggled in beside him and daydreamed about all the things they hadn’t done together yet, all the beautiful firsts that lay ahead for the two of them as a couple.
First vacation—she favored Puerto Rico but Jack probably liked some place more exotic because he was so well travelled.
First weekend away—some romantic B&B in New England, she hoped.
First trip to IKEA followed by the first attempt to work together on a DIY project.
First dinner party with their friends from work—Luke and Marj specifically.
First roller coaster ride.
First cooking class.
First pet together. Britt liked cats but she couldn’t help thinking Jack would be the sort to want an athletic golden Lab instead.
She smiled to herself at the thought of all the fun that lay ahead and how it would bind them ever closer to one another. She drifted off to sleep in his arms and had wonderful dreams of the life they would share together. When she woke it was because Jack had rolled over onto his side away from her and she felt cold where his arms had been wrapped securely around her. His snoring did not resume. She wondered why, if he was awake, he had turned away from her. But it felt wrong to ask at such a time.
“Hey,” he said. “I’m starving. Those cakes just didn’t do it. I haven’t eaten in I don’t know how long.”
Britt vaulted off the bed and found her shoes.
“I’m going to pick up some tacos. Want anything?”
“Tacos? It sounds wonderful. But it’s one in the morning.”
“I realize that. Perfect time for tacos, dude. Especially since you’re starving. Do you have a preference?”
“Chicken taco, no sour cream,” he said, sounding surprised.
“Great. I’ll be back. Want anything from Redbox?”
“Nah, I have Netflix.”
“Pick something to watch when I get back then. If neither of us is going to sleep we might as well have a midnight picnic,” she said. “Now I’m off to get tacos.”
“Not without me. A man has to protect his woman, like a knight protecting his princess.”
Britt laughed. “Get your shoes on, Prince Charming.”