Page 26 of Connected By Souls

No, I’m just now leaving work. I was going to eat a salad I made the other day when I got home.

Noah

That’s perfect. I’m on my way home, too. I was going to grill tonight, and guess what I forgot to go with the steaks?

Emma

Let me guess, a salad?

Noah

How did you guess? I bought way too much food for one person, so it’s fate.

I wait before replying. Noah, alone, for dinner…am I ready for this?

Noah

Please. I’ve been with Mr. Harvey all day, talking about how his arthritis flares up when it rains and how he’s dealing with bunions on his feet. This went on for hours. I could really use some normal conversation. You’d be doing me a big favor. You don’t want me eating all alone with images of Mr. Harvey’s bunions in my head, do you?

Laughing at his drama, I text back.

Emma

Oh my God, you’re ridiculous, you know that? Ok, I’ll be over in an hour. Let me grab a shower real quick. I’m covered in decades of old dust from cleaning out the storage room for the children’s art area.

Noah

I need to shower and prep the steaks, so an hour works. Thank you, Emma. You really are saving me from those images.

I shake my head and laugh.

Emma

Glad I could help. We can’t have you suffering over there with bunion images. See you soon.

Setting my phone down, I start my vehicle and head home. Butterflies fill my stomach from either excitement or fear—I can’t tell. Ready or not, I’m having dinner with Noah tonight.

ChapterThirteen

Noah

I can’t keepthe grin off my face as I step out of the shower. I quickly dress in gym shorts and a t-shirt deciding to keep it casual and hoping it will make her feel more comfortable. I jog down the stairs and get the steaks out of the fridge. I season them and wash two baked potatoes from the pantry as thoughts from this morning come back to me.

When I got that text waking me up, I could feel her panic as if it were my own. I knew she was badly shaken. It didn’t take me long to decide that I needed to make sure she was okay. I know it was a big step for her to trust me enough to comfort her, letting me see a side of herself that she keeps hidden. It brought back many memories of other times we would hold each other when one of us needed the other. We’ve always been each other’s safe space, and I’m glad she felt that today.

Setting the steaks and potatoes on a tray, I go outside to the back deck to start the grill. Nala races past me to run around the yard and chase lizards. One thing about Florida is that you have to get used to the lizards. They’re everywhere. Luckily, a nice breeze is coming off the water tonight, so the bugs shouldn’t be a problem.

I light a couple of tiki torches just in case and turn the gas fire pit table on low to make it more cozy. Putting the potatoes on first, I go inside to get the wine and glasses. I’m usually a beer guy, but wine sounds good tonight with the steak—plus, I know she loves red because I spotted it in her kitchen.

Twisting the cork off, I hear a knock at the door. “Come in!” I yell, pouring two glasses. I look up as Emma comes in. “Hi, you made it.” I can’t help the grin on my face. She has on a pair of black yoga pants and an off-the-shoulder t-shirt. I don’t know how someone can look so adorable and sexy at the same time.

“Well, it sounded like an emergency.” She laughs and walks over, setting the salad on the counter. She looks around in awe. “Wow. This place is…it’s beautiful.” I watch her take it all in.

Looking around, I beam with pride. I put my heart and soul into this place, bringing it back to life. I kept the original floors because I love the wide plank look, but I sanded them down and went with a light stain showing off the lines of the wood. The living room and kitchen are an open concept with tall ceilings and wood beams that match the floor in color. The white stone fireplace goes all the way to the ceiling as a focal point for the whole area. An L-shaped light grey couch is near the fireplace and faces a television hanging on the wall.

The kitchen has white cabinets on the bottom and open driftwood shelving on top. A white marble island in the center holds the sink and extra countertop for preparing meals with barstool seating. I have a farmhouse-style driftwood table on the other side for more of a sit-down family meal.

“And you live in this huge house all by yourself?” She asks.

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