Coming Home(165)

She would not cry again. Not today.

Today she would be strong for him. He needed to see that she was okay. He needed to leave knowing everything back home would be fine.

Leah finished her shower, stepping out onto the bath mat and wrapping herself in a towel before she walked to the mirror and swiped her hand across it, erasing the fog.

“Shit,” she whispered as her face was revealed in the glass. Her eyes were bloodshot and extremely swollen; there was no way this would go unnoticed.

She ran the cold water full blast, grabbing a washcloth and tossing it into the sink. Once it was saturated, she tilted her head back and laid the freezing cloth over her eyes.

After a few minutes, she tossed the rag back into the sink and sifted through her makeup case until she found some eye drops, blinking quickly as they stung her tender eyes.

Once her vision had cleared, she leaned close to the mirror, checking her reflection again.

Better, but still not great.

“Leah?”

Danny’s voice came through the door and she jumped slightly.

“Yeah?”

“You okay?”

She cleared her throat gently. “Yep, just drying off,” she said, keeping her voice as smooth as possible. “I’ll be out in a second.”

Leah grabbed her brush and ran it through her wet hair before securing the towel around her body and taking one last look in the mirror.

It was as good as it was going to get.

She took a deep breath before she turned and opened the door, walking back toward the bedroom.

He was sitting on the edge of the bed with his head down, and when he heard her come into the room, he lifted his head and smiled.

“I didn’t expect you to be up,” he said as he stood and walked toward her. Leah watched his smile fade as he got closer, finally noticing her eyes.

“I know, I look like hell,” she said, forcing a tiny laugh as she rolled her eyes and gestured toward herself. “This is what happens when I don’t get a full night’s sleep.”

“Leah,” he said, and she unraveled her towel, bringing it to her hair as she squeezed it dry.

It was a cheap move, and she knew it, but she was desperate.

His expression smoothed as his eyes dropped to take in her now naked body, and Leah turned and walked toward her dresser, sifting though one of her drawers for a bra and underwear.

“Do you want me to make you banana pancakes for breakfast?” she asked, turning to look back over her shoulder.

“Hmm?” he asked, peeling his eyes from her body and bringing them to her face.

She smiled softly. “I said, do you want me to make you banana pancakes for breakfast?”

“I can just grab something easy. You don’t have to cook.”

Leah fastened her bra behind her back as she walked over to him. “I want to,” she said, going up on her toes and kissing his mouth before she said, “Go take a shower. They’ll be ready by the time you’re done.”

Leah turned from the room then, and as soon as she made it into the kitchen, she gripped the edge of the counter and bowed her head, exhaling a trembling breath.

After a few seconds, she took a deep breath and straightened, gathering the things she’d need to make him breakfast. By the time Danny came into the kitchen, she was setting a plate full of pancakes on the table.

“It smells amazing in here,” he said, kissing her cheek before he took a seat at the table. “Oh, and Leah?”

“Yeah?” she asked as she sat across from him.

“I won’t ask you about this morning. You can get dressed now.”