Downfall(35)

I dug pancake mix out of the cabinet, pulled bacon and eggs out of the fridge, and got to work. Noble woke up when she smelled the bacon cooking, so I got her out of bed and let her try to draw shapes with the pancake batter in the skillet. I was giggling over a very misshapen heart when she looked up at me and asked all wide eyed and innocent if we could have breakfast with Solo. Refusing was automatic, defensive, and rushed. But I bit off the no on the tip of my tongue and slowly nodded at my kid. It seemed like my roughly charming neighbor had also worked his way into my daughter’s affections.

I made sure the kitchen wouldn’t catch on fire and took Noble’s hand so we could walk the short distance to Solo’s apartment. I let her knock, the sound not terribly loud considering her tiny fist. It took so long for him to come to the door, we were getting ready to turn around and head back to our own place when he finally pulled it open.

It didn’t look like he’d had the same peaceful slumber I’d enjoyed. There were dark circles under his eyes, he looked pale under his naturally tanned complexion, and his dark eyes were even more fathomless than normal. He had on the same athletic shorts as he did the night before, but today he’d added a tight, black t-shirt. He still made casual clothes look just as good as an expensive suit from any designer brand.

I put a hand on Noble’s curls and offered a lopsided smile. “Did we wake you up?”

He dragged a tattooed hand down his face and blinked his eyes a couple times. I noticed they were bloodshot and tired.

“No… Yes… I must have dozed off.” He shook his head and forced a weak grin when he caught sight of Noble looking up at him with huge, curious eyes. “It was a long night. I got a call not long after you guys left that my mom was having a bad episode. I drove out to spend some time with her. Didn’t get back until a couple hours ago.”

“Oh.” I flinched at having woken him up from his obviously much-needed nap. “I’m so sorry we bothered you. I had a couple extra minutes this morning so we cooked breakfast. Noble wanted to see if you would like to join us. I should’ve just texted so I didn’t wake you up.” I felt terrible. He was always going out of his way to help us out, and it seemed like all we did was steal the precious few moments he had to himself.

He shook his head again as he let out a jaw-popping yawn. “You don’t ever bother me. Give me a few minutes to wake up, promise me a gallon of coffee, and I’ll be right over.” He reached out and bopped Noble on the end of her nose, which had her wrinkle it in response. “I never turn down a meal made by a pretty girl.”

Noble giggled in response and obediently followed along when I guided her back to our apartment. I put coffee on and settled her in her regular spot with her misshapen pancakes in front of her. I dropped a kiss on the top of her head and was walking back to the kitchen to make my own plate when she asked quietly, “What’s wrong with Solo’s mommy?”

That was a hard question to answer for someone so young. It didn’t feel right trying to explain the kind of violence Solo and his mother had faced to a child. I didn’t want to scare her, but I didn’t want her to have a rosy view of the world forever, either. She needed to know how horrible humans could be to one another, but she didn’t need to know today just how horrible they could truly be.

“If he wants us to know, he’ll tell us, okay? Don’t ask him about it. That’s not polite.”

Out of the corner of my eye I saw her pout and stab her pancake with a little more force than necessary. She was worried about the big, tattooed man next door. It was cute, but also a little bit concerning. I didn’t want Noble to get overly attached to Solo. Yes, we were finally settling into this new life, in this new place. But I didn’t know if or when we might have to run again. I couldn’t afford to let her think of this place as home and these people as family when we might have to leave it all behind in the blink of an eye.

There was a rap on the door so I poured a mug of coffee and went to let in the man who rocked my world a few hours ago so he could eat heart-shaped pancakes.

He looked better, more aware, as he took the mug from me with a smile and a wink. His eyes were still red and there were still shadows under them, but he hid his exhaustion well. He smelled clean, and his hair was damp underneath the ever-present ball cap. He stepped close and brushed a coffee-scented kiss across my cheek. “Thanks.”

I cleared my throat and stepped back so he could enter the apartment. “Anytime. Come eat. Noble made the pancakes.” I gave him a pointed look so he knew not to make fun of the wonky design.

His grin widened and he looked over to where Noble was watching him expectantly. “Hearts. Very cute.”

She threw up her hands in delight and smiled a syrupy, sweet smile. I could almost see it steal a piece of his heart. Only distracted for a moment, she turned back to her food, dismissing both of us.

Solo piled his plate high and I watched him as unobtrusively as I could, asking under my breath, “Are you really okay? Can you take the morning off and catch a nap? Your boss seems pretty cool.”

He grunted around a piece of bacon and shook his head. “My boss is the best. He saved my life.” I could tell by his somber expression and tone that he meant every word he said. “I refuse to let him down after everything he’s done for me. Besides, I have to leave work early. I have a… thing… tonight.”