Page 19

"I’m a patient man."

James Adler

After some delicious brownies and a cup of well-deserved coffee, Elizabeth and I both take a shower—separately, obviously—and walk downstairs to Aaron and Marissa’s place to grab the rest of her stuff.

“Leaving us already?” Miles says to Elizabeth as we step into his apartment. “I get it, though. His place is pretty cool with all the scented candles.”

“And my collection of sparkly trophies,” I add with a grin. “She loved those.”

E lizabeth just shakes her head.

I give her a nudge. “Come on, you totally did.”

She sighs, walking past me. “Fine, they were kind of cool.”

“I have some trophies too,” Miles says. “But I keep mine in my office. Less braggy than this one.” He hits me with a light punch in the stomach.

“Right. Well, I’m going to get my stuff,” Elizabeth says, a smile dancing on her lips.

Once she leaves, Miles turns to me. “So, you finally got her to stay with you,” he says, eyeing me suspiciously. “You’d better be a gentleman.”

I cock my head to the side. “When am I ever not?” In a more serious tone, I add, “You know I like her. I’d never do anything to make her uncomfortable. I’m just goofing around. She needed a place to stay, and you know I don’t like being alone for too long.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” he says, rubbing his buzz cut. “I couldn’t get one weekend alone with my wife this summer.”

“Oh, come on. I went to Europe for an entire week with Hawthorne to see the Grand Prix. You had plenty of time alone with her.”

He bursts out a laugh. “Yeah, one week. You leech. And that was before the wedding.”

“What can I say? I love you, br o,” I say, bumping his shoulder.

“Careful there,” he teases. “Don’t want to exhaust yourself. Remember, you’re still in recovery.”

“Haha. Very funny. I can still kick your butt if I want to.” I throw him a kick, and he traps my head under his arm. I know he’s going easy on me, but I’m not.

“Hey!” Elizabeth calls out, her tone stern. “What is going on here? I leave you alone for five minutes, and this happens! You have got to be kidding me.”

I press my lips into a thin line, and Miles swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. The situation is pretty ironic. We might be two burly grown men, but this woman has all the power in the room.

“Sorry,” Miles mutters. “We were just playing around. He’s fine.”

“Yeah, it’s all good.” I nod, smiling. “But thank you for worrying about me.”

She shakes her head, then sighs. “Well, I have everything. Can you help me bring this upstairs?” she asks, and I grab her suitcase.

“What time are you going to the arena?” I ask Miles.

“Actually, I should already be there,” he says, checking his watch, and a pang of disappointment hits me. “But come back later today—around three for a game of NHL Master.”

I force a smile. “Sounds good.”

“You two had better behave this time,” Elizabeth warns as she hauls her other bags toward the door.

“Don’t worry, we’ll stick to video games. No risk getting injured there,” I reassure her. And as much as I like playing, that’s also why it’ll never be as thrilling as a real hockey game.

“See you later, bro.” Miles waves as we head out.

We take the elevator back up to my place, and I notice a familiar underwear tote bag in her hand.

“Don’t you need help with that?” I ask with a grin. “All those panties must be hard to carry.”

“Haha, you’re hilarious.” She narrows her eyes. “Don’t make me and my panties regret moving in with you.”

I pretend to zip my mouth shut and throw away the key.

Once we bring her stuff to my apartment, I walk her to work. It’s a sunny fall day, and it’s nice to get out and enjoy a breath of fresh air.

“So, I’ve been wondering, where does your love for baking come from?” I ask as we stroll side by side.

“My parents,” she says, turning to me. “They actually ran a restaurant in New Jersey for twenty years. When I was younger, I spent all my free time there, helping them, learning the ropes. It was how we sp ent most of our time together. If I wasn’t in the kitchen with them, I was at Grandma’s playing cards. ”

“Ah, now it all makes sense,” I joke.

She smirks. “Yep. You’ve uncovered all my secrets.”

“I take it your parents don’t have a restaurant anymore? You used past tense.”

“They closed it down when I finished college. Actually, it was my idea. The hours were crazy, and it was getting more and more difficult to make a good living between the rent, supplies, energy costs, and staff wages. Instead, we opened a catering business together.”

I do a double take. “Wow, really? How did I not know that about you?”

“It was before Marissa moved to New York and suggested we start a business together. I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, just like my parents. That’s why I majored in business.”

“That’s amazing. So, they’re running the catering biz alone now?”

“Yeah. I transitioned little by little as Marissa and I were getting the coffee shop up and running, and then I transitioned to full-time. Although If they have a big event, I still help out.”

“So, I take it you’re an excellent cook as well?”

She chuckles, her cheeks flushing pink. “Maybe.”

“Looks like I really won the lottery with my new roommate,” I tease, bumping my shoulder with hers.

“What about you? Was it always going to be hockey?”

“Pretty much,” I say with a grin. “I grew up just outside Chicago, so it’s practically in my blood. There was a small lake—well, more like a pond—in our backyard, and I’d skate there for hours and hours. We also had hockey in PE, and the rest is history.”

“How amazing that your work is your passion.”

“It is amazing. We’re both lucky in that department, I guess,” I say as we turn onto Warlington Lane.

With the weather being so nice, the small pedestrian street is bustling today.

Mrs. Edibam has a display of flowers outside, the door of the barber shop is propped open, and Mr. Darcy, the bookstore cat, is lounging in the sun.

“Well, this is me,” she says, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Thanks for walking with me.”

“My pleasure. That was pretty much my exercise for the day, so I should be thanking you.” I give her a curt bow.

She chuckles, and I don’t think I’ll ever get over that sound.

“What time do you finish?” I ask, swaying on my feet. “I could go crazy and walk you home—double my steps for the day.”

Her smile widens. “I’m going to close, so six—well, six-thirty because I have to clean up.”

“Great. I’ll pick you up then.”

A light breeze frees her hair from her face, and I’m suddenly reminded how beautiful she is.

“Listen, James.” She clears her throat. “I just want to say, I’m beyond grateful for you giving me a place to stay, but I meant what I said the other night.

” She swallows hard, avoiding my gaze. “I’m not ready to jump back into a relationship, and I’m not sure I ever will be.

I really don’t want to lead you on or give you any false—”

“Whoa, whoa.” My eyes widen at the realization of what she’s trying to say.

“What is this about? No, you’re not leading me on,” I say, giving her an earnest look.

“I’m just glad I can help you, and frankly, it’ll be nice to have the company, especially now that hockey is out of the picture.

” I take a deep breath, leaning against the wall.

“I don’t know what kind of movies you’re into, Elizabeth.

But this is not that type of arrangement. ”

She swats me on the chest. “Shut up.”

“Seriously, though. I’m just glad I can help out. We’re friends, right?”

She gives me a firm nod, her gray eyes softening. “Yes, we are.”

“As for the rest,” I say, til ting my head with a smile, “I’m a patient man.”

A shadow falls over her eyes as she says, “And what if I never get there?”

I shrug, smiling. “Then, friends.”

“Friends,” she repeats, almost in a whisper.

“Um, okay then,” I say, clearing my throat and averting my gaze. I need some breathing room, or I might do a very unfriendly thing, like pin her against the wall and kiss her senseless. “See you later, Elizabeth.” I turn on my heel to walk away.

“You know,” she calls, and I turn back around. “All my friends call me Beth.”

I fight a smile and pretend to think it over. “Nah. I like Elizabeth better.”

Her shoulders drop, and she chuckles. “See you.”

It takes everything in me to turn back around and walk away, but I have to. Baby steps. Plus, I meant what I said. I’d settle for friendship if that’s all she can ever give me. Which is why I need to learn to keep it together. For my own sanity.