Coming Home(154)

“Alright,” she said as she stood. “Now what? Oil, and then I’m done, right?”

Danny smiled as he noticed the second smudge on the side of her chin.

“Did you retighten the drain plug?”

“Yep.”

“Lube the O-ring on the new filter?”

“Lubed and ready,” she said before holding her hand out to where Jake stood a few feet away, giving him the floor.

“That’s what she said,” he said casually as he searched through one of the toolboxes, and Leah nodded, turning her attention back to Danny.

He laughed as he pushed off the car and walked toward her. “Good job. Oil and then you’re done,” he said, leaning close to her ear when he reached her. “And then I’m taking you somewhere we can be alone,” he whispered.

Danny saw the corner of her mouth lift before she turned her head slightly, looking over her shoulder at him.

“You’re liking this, huh?” she whispered.

He nodded once. “A lot.”

Her smile grew more pronounced as she turned a bit further, her lips almost touching his. “In that case, can the guys do the rest?”

Danny didn’t say a word as he grabbed her hand and turned, towing her behind him as he made his way toward the door. “Finish the job,” he called over his shoulder, and just before the door swung shut behind them, he heard Jake call back, “That’s what she said!”



Spring break.

Traditionally, it was a time of year teachers prayed for, counting down the days until it became a reality. By the time spring break rolled around, the year was wearing out its welcome—the students all had spring fever, a precursor to summertime laxity. Everyone was desperate for a little reprieve.

But for the first time since she’d started teaching, Leah found herself wishing it would never come.

Because once it was over, he’d be leaving.

He’d been spending the night at her apartment for the past few weeks, but now that Leah wasn’t working, they spent their days together too—if they weren’t down at Catherine’s or at the shop, they were back at his apartment cleaning. It was nearly empty now, with all his things in storage or with Catherine or the guys. With each passing day, Leah felt like she was being gutted along with the rooms. Scrubbing and washing and vacuuming and dusting what was left provided her with something to do other than stare at the barren space while trying to keep her heart from shredding into nothing.

By Thursday of that week, Danny’s entire apartment was immaculate—from his ceiling fans to his appliances to his floorboards and everything in between. They had worked until the sun went down, and by that time, they were filthy and starving and far too tired to even think about going out for food. There were no table or chairs left at his place, but they ordered Chinese and ate it straight out of the cartons, sitting on the floor in the middle of his stark living room.

Leah looked around the empty space as she chewed a bite of her eggroll. She’d spent the better part of the week pretending she was just helping him move, but even something that simple came with a sense of sadness.

An essence of finality.

“Are you sad about leaving this place?” she asked, and Danny looked up at her before he smirked.

“You’re cute.”

“Why is that cute? I’m being serious.”

“I know. That’s why it’s cute. And no, I’m not sad about leaving this place. It’s just an apartment,” he said, taking a bite of his eggroll.

“Yeah, but…it’s been your home for six years.”