Page 109 of Anything To Be With You

"It was my pleasure, Dani. We'll have to get together again soon, without the boys this time." Elle giggles.

"Erin will love that," I laugh. "She's still salty from last time."

We say goodbye, promising to touch base in a few weeks to have a girls night and hang up. I feel lighter. Even though I didn't talk about what I went through with Elle, it felt nice to talk with someone who's been where I have.

I climb off the bed and pick up the clothes I was wearing last night and walk into the kitchen, finding Luke standing at the island, cutting up peppers and mushrooms. "How did your talk go? If you don't mind me asking."

"Good, actually. I didn't do much talking, but Elle gave me the number of her therapist."

"And?" he questions, stopping what he's doing and giving me his full attention.

"I think I'm going to give her a call." I tell him with a smile.

"That's music to my ears, Sweetheart. I am so proud of you for take that step."

I blush from my head to my feet. "Th—thank you. Laundry?" I inquire, holding up my dirty clothes.

Luke points with the knife he’s using towards a closet door. "Detergent and dryer sheets are on the top shelf."

I open the door and find a full-size front-loading washer and dryer. I toss my clothes inside and stretch up, my fingers just graze the detergent bottle.

"Archer," I call, "I can’t reach."

"I’ll be right there." He reaches up, placing the detergent and dryer sheets on the top of the washing machine.

"Do you have laundry you need done?" I question.

"You don’t need to do my laundry."

"But I only have four things. It’s a waste of water."

Luke chuckles. "Such a mom thing to say."

"Shut your face."

"The hamper is in my bathroom."

I make my way into the bathroom and drag the hamper into the closet. "Do you separate your darks and lights?"

"No."

Oh, thank God. I hate doing that and Luke has a lot of lights. I toss everything in the large drum of the washing machine and add the soap to the compartment, turning it on.

I hop onto the chair at the island and Luke puts a plate in front of me, along with a glass of water. He turns and grabs the pan off the stove, sliding a thick western omelet onto the plate.

"Thanks, Archer."

He nods his head and digs into his own omelet. I pick at mine before shoving a forkful in my mouth. I don’t know if it’s because I haven’t eaten in twenty-four hours or what, but this is the best omelet I’ve ever eaten. Finished it in seconds.

"I guess you were hungry," Luke quips with a grin.

"Starving."

"Would you like another?"

I shake my head. "I'm good and thank you for taking care of me and for listening to my story."

"No thank you needed, Sweetheart. I care for you, very deeply, I wasn't going to let you go through this alone."

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