Page 42 of That First Night

Just like her, to worry about others before herself.

“No, Gigi. Thank you, though.” I smile through the phone. “Is there anything I can get for you?”

“No, sweetheart. I’m just fine.” I can feel her smile through the phone too. “Lee is bringing me over some bagels.”

Lee is her best friend. They have been inseparable for years. They travel the world together and do just about everything together. She keeps Gigi grounded and is always looking out for her like a sister would.

“Make sure you get that boy some old-fashioned chicken noodle soup. That shit is good for the soul.”

I laugh; I love this woman. “You got it, Gigi. I will call you later today to check in on you, okay?”

“Okay, I love you.”

“I love you more.”

* * *

As I enter the living room, I find James laying on the couch with a small garbage pail next to him with his head resting on a pillow. His face looks pale, and his body looks weak as he lays there in nothing but a pair of shorts.

“Oh, buddy,” I say sympathetically as I walk over to him and press my hand to his forehead. He must still have a fever because he feels warm. “How are you feeling, James?”

“I don’t feel so good, Ms. Peyton.” He begins to cry.

I crouch down beside him and bring him into my embrace and let him curl in a ball on my lap as he continues to sob into my shirt. I hate it when children are sick because they are so small and there isn’t much you can do for them at such a young age. I feel tears forming in my eyes because I know he feels so crummy if he’s crying like this.

“It’s okay, buddy. I got you.”

I’m rocking James in my lap when I hear a throat clear behind me. I turn my head to see Thomas standing with a plate of waffles.

I swallow and my throat feels like it’s about to close up at the man standing there with no fucking shirt and a pair of gray sweatpants barely covering his hips. Doesn’t this man have any other color sweatpants or is he purposely torturing me? He has the most perfectly cut abdomen that has the sharpest V shape. Avery calls themfuck musclesand on Thomas, they look more likefuck memuscles.

“Good morning.” I barely manage to get the words out while my eyes skim over his body once more. “I, uh, I don’t think James will be able to eat that.”

“These aren’t for James.” He runs his hands through his hair. “These are for you.”

My mouth falls open and I can’t help but stare at him.

He made me breakfast?

I grab the plate from him with my free hand and place it on the coffee table in front of me. “T-thank you,” I stutter, looking at the plate of perfectly placed waffles. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“I know I didn’t, but I wanted to,” he says before walking back into the kitchen, not even allowing me a chance to respond.

I lay James gently back on the couch and bring the light throw blanket up over his shoulders so that he’s cuddled under it. “I’ll be right back, bud. Call out if you need anything, okay?”

He nods his head, and his eyes begin to drift shut. Instinctively, I bend down to give him a kiss on the forehead. Not even thinking about what I’m doing, just that I’ve grown to care for this kid a whole lot the last couple weeks. I felt a weird twitch in my chest from my move, but I stand up anyway and make my way to the kitchen with my plate of waffles.

The minute I step foot in the kitchen, I see Thomas cleaning the dishes. I don’t hesitate when I walk right up to the counter across from him and take a seat at the stool and ask him, “Do you want me to stay and help with James today?”

“That’s not necessary.” He moves his gaze from the sink full of dishes to me. “But I have a lot of work to do so I’m going to try to get some work done from home while he rests.”

“Thomas,” I say, but it comes out more like a whisper, “I’m here. Why don’t you head into the office and get your work done? This way you have quiet. I’ll take care of James.”

A look of confusion crosses his face, and I can tell he’s trying to figure out what to reply.

“Peyton, I can’t ask—”

“It’s really no big deal,” I cut him off. “We can have a movie marathon on the couch together. I used to love doing that with my grandma when I was sick as a kid.”