Coming Home(155)

He shook his head. “It’s been where I’ve lived for six years. I wouldn’t call it home. There’s a difference to me.”

Leah nodded as she looked down, twirling her fork in her hand; he didn’t need to explain any further—she knew exactly what he meant.

“So, since you were down for a picnic dinner, is it safe to assume you’re down for a living-room camp-out?”

“A living-room camp-out? What are we, six?”

Danny smiled. “Seriously, though, I’m f*cking beat. Do you really feel like making the drive back to your place right now?”

Leah sighed. “No, not really.”

He got up on his knees and began collecting some of the empty containers. “That settles it then. Living-room camp-out.” Danny winked before he stood, taking the garbage into the kitchen.

Leah laughed as she grabbed the rest of the trash and followed him. “Okay, well, in that case, I’m gonna take a shower. You let me know when the campsite is ready.”

He chuckled as she leaned in and kissed his cheek before she made her way toward the bathroom, turning on the shower and setting the water as hot as it could go. The sharp sting of it burned and then soothed, taking the tension out of her muscles as it washed away the grime of the day, and she found herself wanting to stand there under the stream until it washed away the constant ache in her chest as well.

When she finally turned off the water, the air was thick with steam, and as Leah stepped out from behind the curtain, she could just make out one of his shirts, folded on the edge of his sink and waiting for her.

She pulled it over her head, opting to wear nothing underneath so that the soft, worn cotton that smelled like detergent and Danny could touch her skin unobstructed.

After running her fingers through her wet hair to remove the tangles, Leah walked out to the living room, fighting a smile when she saw him.

He was crouched on the floor, setting up two sleeping bags. One was maroon.

And the other was Batman.

“Rock Paper Scissors for the Batman sleeping bag,” she said, and he glanced up at her, his expression serious.

“Fuck that. Batman’s mine.”

Leah laughed, holding her hands up in defeat. “Okay, okay. But only because the camp-out was your idea.”

He stood as she walked into the living room, and Leah watched his eyes travel over her body.

“You look good in my shirt.”

She smiled. “You say that every time I wear one of them.”

“Do I?” he asked, taking a step toward her.

She took a quick step back, holding up her hand and jerking a thumb over her shoulder. “I don’t think so, buddy. Hit the showers first.”

The shock on his face was comical, and Leah tried not to laugh when his dimples appeared.

“You know, you’re lucky you’re cute,” he said, leaning forward and brushing his lips against hers before he made his way past her toward the bathroom. A few seconds later, she heard the shower turn on, and Leah smiled as she climbed into the maroon sleeping bag and lay back, blinking up at the ceiling.

And then she instantly regretted making him take a shower.

It was too easy for her thoughts to run rampant in this desolate room. Keeping busy, making sure she never had an idle moment, making sure she was never by herself for long periods of time, it was her method of survival for the past month. She wouldn’t have survived it any other way.

Keep yourself busy. Keep your body moving. Keep your mind distracted.

But now there was nothing but silence, and time, and her.