Virtuous(33)

He cocks his head and raises a brow, two things I’ve seen him do before when he is amused. “How did they know?”

“Leah told everyone. I didn’t say a word. I promise you.”

“I wouldn’t have cared if you did.”

“Oh. Well, I didn’t.”

“Anyway, your friend…”

“Aileen Gifford.”

“What’s the prognosis?”

“I’m not really sure. It’s stage three, and she’s been in treatment since before the school year started. I don’t ask too many questions, but I like her. We’ve become friends.”

“How about we go pay her a visit?” He helps me off the motorcycle. Or I should say he basically lifts me off and sets me on my feet in a move so unexpected and oddly thrilling that my knees nearly buckle under me. “You okay?”

“Yeah, sure.” Other than a racing heart and sweating palms, I’m just fine. “You know she’s going to freak out, right?”

“Believe it or not, that’s happened before.”

“Still, I don’t want to drag you into an ambush without proper warning.”

“Do I need to be worried that she’ll jump me?”

“If she does, I’ll protect you.”

“Then I hope she does.”

Is he flirting with me? After two days of total silence following what I considered a rather amazing date? I’m sure my definition of amazing and his are vastly different. That thought depresses me profoundly, so I try to push it aside as we head up the stairs to the wall of buttons for each apartment. I press the one for 3C and wait for an answer.

When the buzzer sounds, I say, “Hi, it’s Natalie.”

“Come on up.” The buzzer sounds again, and we enter through the main door.

As I trudge up the stairs, I’m acutely aware of Flynn behind me. I can almost feel his eyes on me, watching my every move in that all-consuming way of his.

On the third-floor landing, he stops me with his hand to my arm. I feel the heat of his touch through two layers of clothing, but before I can wonder how that’s possible, he releases me. “How do we want to play this?”

“What do you mean?”

“Am I just going to be standing there when she answers the door?”

“Good point. How about I say I brought a friend to meet her and then you come into view?”

“I can do that.”

I begin to feel really excited for what we’re about to do for someone who so deserves a little pleasure. With one last glance at Flynn to make sure he’s in place, I knock on the door.

Aileen answers, and I’m immediately taken aback by how diminished she is from the last time I saw her. A funky scarf covers her head, her eyes are sunken into her face, and she’s lost weight she didn’t have to lose. I give her a hug. “So good to see you.”

“You, too. Come in.”

“I hope you don’t mind, but I brought a friend who wants to meet you.”

Her hand goes immediately to the scarf, and I’m heartbroken to realize I’ve made her feel self-conscious about her appearance.

“You look great,” I whisper as I signal to Flynn.

When he steps into view, Aileen’s eyes nearly pop out of her head, and her hand over her mouth suppresses her shriek. “Oh my God. Shut up. No way.”

Behind her, Logan and his sister, Madison, giggle madly at her reaction.

“You must be Aileen.” Flynn extends his hand to her. “It’s great to meet you.”

“Stop it,” she says even as she shakes his hand, still in near-swoon mode. “What in the name of hell is Flynn Godfrey doing on my doorstep?”

“It was all Logan’s doing.” I love the way the little boy beams with pleasure at what he’s done for his mother.

“Logan? You knew about this?”

“Yep,” he says proudly. “You should invite them in, Mom.”

“Oh God, of course. Please. Come in.”

As we follow Aileen into the apartment, I share a smile with Flynn, who seems genuinely pleased. I’m sure he’s done stuff like this a million times, and maybe it’s nothing to him, but it’s everything to Aileen and her children.

“Have a seat,” she says when we gather in her cozy living room. “Can I get you anything?”

“Not a thing,” Flynn says, glancing at me.