Page 57 of Seeing You

But for right now, this would have to be enough.

Chapter Ten

The next day, Billie stood in front of the Calloway home, holding a box of assorted cakes and cookies.

She and Marcus had decided that friendship was the only thing on the table for them, and she found a certain amount of peace in that decision. It took the pressure off, and she could finally look at him and not have anxiety. More than anything though, she could look at him as the boy she had been friends with so many years ago. She’d missed that guy.

Walking up to the front door, she knocked because she wasn’t sure if John was resting, and she knew the doorbell would probably startle him.

Marcus opened the door looking mildly disheveled, and it was such a good look on him. The beard, the hair, the piercing blue eyes…it made her want to move in close and just rub up against him.

I shouldnotbe thinking about rubbing myself all over a friend!

“Billie, hey! What are you doing here?” His smile was genuine and he looked like he was sincerely happy to see her.

“Well, I just got done baking your father’s favorite coffee cake, and I thought he might appreciate having it right out ofthe oven. Then I decided to throw a few more things in here that I know he likes.” Then she gave him a sassy grin. “And I chose some things I know you’re partial to as well.”

“Wow, that was incredibly sweet of you. Come on in. I’m sure Dad will appreciate having someone to talk to other than me,” he said, sounding a bit weary. “I had some business calls to make and he kept interrupting so…we’re not having a great day. I have another call in five minutes, and I’m going to have to take it up in the attic at this point.”

Nodding, she stepped inside and froze. “Wow. You weren’t kidding. If I didn’t know what year it was, I’d swear we were both kids and I was coming over to hang out with you.”

“Right? I told you, it’s like a time capsule in here.”

“I can hear you!” John called out. “Is that Billie Donovan you’re talking to?”

Marcus went to answer, but she held up a hand to stop him. “Go make your call. John and I will visit.”

“Are you sure?”

“Believe me. I get it. My mom was in an accident last year and we all took turns staying with her. I totally understand your frustration. Go. I got this.”

He leaned in and gave her a quick yet thorough kiss, and she was too surprised to remind him that friends don’t kiss each other like that.

If they did, I’d certainly try to find more male friends…

“Hey, John!” she said cheerily as she walked into the den. Holding up the box she grinned. “The crumb cake is still warm from the oven. You hungry?”

“Are you kidding?” he joked. “Always!”

Placing the box down on the coffee table, she totally made herself at home. “Let me go grab us a couple of plates from the kitchen. What are you drinking? Coffee? Tea? Milk?”

“Ooh…milk sounds good. Marcus can tell you where everything is.”

Standing in front of him, she looked down at him. “John, I practically used to live in this house, and from the look of things, nothing’s been moved. I remember where everything is.”

He looked a little embarrassed, so she decided to change the subject.

“So how are you feeling?” she called out as she poured them each a glass of milk and then carried them and everything else back to the den.

“I’m bored and uncomfortable. I hate having someone give me a shower. It’s emasculating. And embarrassing. I’m not saying I’m a prude, but…the only woman who ever saw me naked was my wife.”

Unable to help herself, she laughed softly. “I hear you, John. But nurses are trained professionals. They can’t worry about your modesty. They’re just there to make sure you don’t fall and hurt yourself.” She handed him a plate with a big slab of cake on it. “We went through the same thing after my mom’s accident. Her nurses said it would have been easier to bathe a cat. I think Mom actually hissed at them a time or two. I used to tell her it was better than letting her sit in her own filth and stinking to high heaven!”

That made him laugh. “I guess you have a point, but I still hate it.” He took a bite of the cake and hummed with appreciation. “I swear, it’s perfection every time.”

“Thank you.” She sat and took a bite of the cookie she brought for herself. “But seriously, how are you feeling?”

“Like an idiot. I’ve been neglecting things around here for far too long and once Marcus came home and made a big stink about it all and how he was going to hire people to do it, well…it rubbed me the wrong way. Now I’m paying the price for it. I already wasn’t in great shape. I know I should have just let himpay for it, but it’s my house, dammit, and I wanted to prove I could still do it.”

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