someone.”
My dad meets Desmond halfway and wraps his arms around him in a tight hug. The exchange has me choked up all over again. My dad whispers something I can’t hear, and Desmond just nods, appearing as though he’s about to well up with tears too.
“Dinner is ready,” I say softly.
Desmond glances in my direction. His eyes landing on the three plates of food I made then flitting up to mine. “Whoa. Did you make those?”
My dad’s boastful laugh echoes around the entire condo while he squeezes Desmond’s shoulder. “She did. I watched her. I wouldn’t have believed it otherwise.”
Desmond walks over and starts to inspect his sandwich like I might have poisoned it. Then he takes a bite, and his eyes flutter a little. “Are you serious?” he asks with his mouth still full. “That’s damn good. Is this my recipe?”
I shrug while my heart dances. “Well, yeah. It’s the only recipe I know.”
My dad takes a bite too and has a reaction similar to Desmond’s. “This is very good, daughter.”
I chuckle. “Thanks, Father.”
I don’t miss the strange look Desmond gives us both. “You two eat,” I say while sticking the spices back in the cabinet. “Enjoy. I need to go to my place for a bit. I’ve been wearing the same two changes of clothes for too long.”
Desmond’s mouth is still full when he speaks. “At least you’ve been washing them.”
I make a face. “They still feel dirty. I’ll be back.” I step around the counter and lift myself onto my toes to kiss Desmond’s cheek. Then I hug my dad goodbye and smile when he squeezes me a few seconds longer.
“I’ll see you soon?” he asks.
I nod and kiss him on the cheek too. “Yes.”
My shower lasts as long as the hot water allows. I probably should have opted for a bubble bath instead. My muscles feel tight from the tension I’ve held over the last week, but the hot water is a gentle reminder that while things might feel different. Everything heals, everything will be okay.
I towel myself off, wrapping myself in the cloth when I’m done. Then I leave the bathroom to find a change of clothes, knowing my father has probably left already.
When I see the figure sitting on my bed I jump so high I think my heart leapt outside of my body. “Holy shit, Desmond, you scared the crap out of me.”
He turns from looking out my window and winces. “Sorry. Your dad left, so I thought I’d wait for you here.”
“I forgot you had a key,” I say gently. Then I walk toward him and sit on my bed to face him. “You okay?”
His eyes search mine for a second before he nods. “I will be. It’s just… heavy, you know? I keep thinking about the last time I saw him alive. It had been over a decade since I last saw him smile, and he smiled at me that night.”
I scoot forward so my knees are touching his legs. “You never told me that.”
Desmond releases a small smile, and I swear a blush is crawling up his cheeks too. “Yeah well. Maybe that’s because he was smiling because of you. He told me I was in trouble, and you know what?”
I swallow, my heart pounding like crazy. “What?”
Desmond leans forward and brushes his lips across mine. “My father was right. I am in deep”—he kisses me softly—“deep”—he kisses me again—"trouble.” This time, he pulls me back onto the bed with him until I’m snuggled in his arms. “Can we sleep here tonight? I’m too tired to walk back to my place.”
As he speaks, his eyes start to flutter closed, and I wonder if there’s a different reason he wants to sleep here, a reason he doesn’t want to speak out loud. This studio was supposed to be his father’s after all. “Of course, Des. I’ll get the light.”
I leave the bed to flip the switch on the wall, leaving us in darkness except for the glow of the moon filtering in through the large box paned window. Desmond has already stripped himself of his clothes, and he’s holding the sheet open for me to slip beneath.
I remove my towel and join him. Our body heat collides as our mouths meet in a slow and tender kiss. It’s been days since we last made love, and while I desperately miss him, I know I can’t be the first one to make a move.
Our hands roam like we’re exploring each other for