down without saying a word through it all, just keeps his hand underneath mine, draped on my knee, with nothing but the radio and the rush of passing cars to fill the silence.
I finally look at him, eyes blurring my vision and sore as I wipe at them. “I miss him, Carter. I miss him so much.”
His hand flips and takes mine in his, tightening his hold once. Just once. But that small, comforting gesture is everything. “I know you do, Piper.”
He doesn’t say he misses him too.
But I can see it in his eyes.
When we finally arrive at my house, he studies the outside and lone light on upstairs that must be from Easton’s room. I don’t mention my roommate, or Ainsley, or Danny. I just say, “Thank you” and feel his heavy gaze on my every step until I’m locked inside my house.
Chapter Fourteen
The sweet smell of maple bacon lures me into the kitchen, tired eyes scoping out the way Easton towers over the stove and Ainsley stabs into eggs at the counter. I blink a few times before walking to the full coffee pot, watching my roommate take the pieces of bacon and slide them onto a napkin-covered plate beside him.
“Morning,” he murmurs, focused on finishing the eggs that sizzle on the pan over.
My eyes study the whole scene curiously, wondering why he’s cooking breakfast. “Uh, hey. Is that real bacon?”
One of his brows quirks. “Yeah.”
“But you’re vegetarian.” It seems stupid to point out to someone what food preferences they have, but I’m a little lost. It’s not the first time he’s cooked something, it’s just usually tied to an apology or bad mood he’s in. “Did you have a good night?”
He grumbles something under his breath before flicking off the burners. “Just thought I’d make breakfast. That so bad?”
I quickly shake my head, brining my full mug of coffee over to the seat by Ainsley and sitting down as he sets a plate of eggs and bacon in front of me. My stomach grumbles loudly over the mouthwatering smell as I pick up a fork and look at Ainsley. “Did you just get up?”
She hesitates, looks at Easton who’s not paying us any attention, before signing yes. I smile at the use of a word we learned over the course of weeks, knowing we still have a long way to go. But it’s better than a head nod or shake or tugging on my clothes when she wants something.
“Didn’t see your car,” he notes, sliding eggs from the frying pan onto a new plate. I stab some of my eggs and watch him grab the stool at the end, picking up a glass of water and sipping it while watching me expectedly.
Oh. “I got a ride home from somebody. My car broke down on campus.” Eyes widening, I murmur a curse and look around for my phone, only to remember I left it in my room. “I need to call someone to look at it.”
His eyes stay locked on my face. “I can.”
I blink. “You’re a mechanic?”
“I know a thing or two.”
Contemplating it, I shake my head. “It’s okay. I’ll call my dad after I’m done eating. I’m just glad Jenna had Ainsley. It was … the weather was pretty bad.”
“I can look at the car. I’m closer.”
How he knows that is beyond me. I don’t remember telling him where my hometown is. Then again, it’s probably not hard to assume that wherever it is isn’t as close as our house is to campus. Still. “Easton, it’s fine. Plus, don’t you have work today? My dad can come look at it later on.”
His head cocks. “And how are you going to get to campus?”
Damn. He has me there. “Uh…”
Sighing, he picks up his fork. “I’ll drive you. The shop doesn’t open until later anyway.”
I glance at Ainsley. “I don’t want to be an inconvenience to you or anything. Ains needs to get to school, then me to campus—”
All he says is, “Better get eating then.”
And all I can do is shut up and stare.
The hood on my car is up with my roommate bundled up in layers that hides his tattoos well. For some reason, it saddens me. Then again, the girls that pass by in swarms and glance at his toned butt that’s bent over the front as he looks at the engine garners enough attention—add ink and he’ll never get away without getting passed more phone numbers than he’ll know what to do with.