Page 16 of Magically Generated
Holy crap.He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept in so much.
He was lying on top of his quilt, and he was still wearing his jeans and sweater.As he sat up, the events of last night slowly returned to him.
He’d gone to a park in the east end, as planned, and made the sculpture.It had taken him a long time, and he’d barely managed to catch the last subway train.His head had pounded the whole ride home, a sign he’d overexerted himself.He’d drunk the juice and eaten the trail mix he’d brought with him, but even with all the pizza he’d consumed earlier, it hadn’t been enough.He’d told himself he was okay, he just had to make it home.It was only ten minutes, if that, from the station.
But the short walk had taken a lot out of him, and he’d collapsed by his door.
Everett typically tried to be very careful, to make sure he had enough energy for the magic he intended to conduct.He hadn’t had any incidents in years…until last night, when Nora had found him in the hallway.
How embarrassing.
His memory of what happened next was a little foggy, but he vaguely remembered eating pizza while sitting on the floor, and he remembered her concern.The furrow between her brows.The fuzzy dinosaur under her arm.The way she entered her number into his phone and made him promise to text when he woke up.
Her bossiness had been rather hot.
That should have been the furthest thing from his mind ten minutes after collapsing, but he remembered thinking it.He also recalled how her finger had felt against his lips.When she’d snatched her finger back, much to his disappointment, the feeling had lingered.
Not wanting her to worry, he pulled out his phone.
Everett:Just got up.Thank you for looking after me last night.
Her reply came not thirty seconds later.
Nora:How are you feeling?
Everett:I’m doing fine
He couldn’t tell her what had been wrong, but he could say that much.He really was fine now, aside from the fact that he’s slept on his shoulder funny.But he was well rested, and as soon as he had a shower, he’d feel refreshed.
Nora:There’s another snow sculpture.I know we talked about seeing it together, but if you’re not well enough, I understand.
Everett:No, I’m up for it.How’s two thirty?
Nora met him in the hallway.Unlike last night, she wasn’t accompanied by a plush dinosaur.
She looked him up and down with an assessing gaze.Everett wished she were checking him out, but he knew she was trying to evaluate his health.
“Are you sure you can handle it?”she asked.
“I’m sure.”
She tapped her cross-body bag.“I’ve got food and water in here if you need it.”
He was touched that she was looking out for him.He’d brought some trail mix too, just in case, though he didn’t expect any problems.
When he’d first met Nora—a week or two after he moved in, if he remembered correctly—they exchanged only a few words.Enough for him to get the impression that she was rather aloof.And that was fine.
But in the past week or so, he’d seen a different side of her, and now, he wanted to spend more and more time in her presence.
“How was your Christmas celebration?”he asked as they stepped into the elevator.
She gave him an odd look.
“Oh, did I ask that last night?”He frowned.“I don’t remember your answer, sorry.”
“Because I didn’t answer.Anyway, it was good.”
“There wasn’t too much Christmas music and cheer for you?”
