“Nothing. I’m getting matches so I can light a few candles.”
“Don’t waste them,” he says, leaning against the counters. “We have light from the stove and we’re just going to go to bed soon anyway, right?”
“I suppose that’s true.” I grab the matches and reach for my favorite apple-scented candle. “I can keep one in my room in case Joey wakes up.”
“My phone is almost dead,” he murmurs, pulling it out of his pocket.
“Well, one thing about me, I’m prepared for emergencies. Hang on.” I walk into my bedroom, using the flashlight feature on my phone to guide me. Then I reach into my nightstand and pull out both of my portable chargers, along with their cords. I have several of them and they’re usually charged and ready to go.
Just in case.
Because I’m a single mom.
Because I try not to leave anything to chance when it comes to my son’s safety and comfort.
I walk back to the main room and hand it to West. “There you go. Charge away.”
“Are you sure? Don’t you want to save it for yourself?”
“It’ll charge a phone twice, and I have another one.”
“Thank you.” He plugs in his phone and then looks around. “I’m going to bring in more wood, keep it nearby so if the fire starts to go out, I can add it without going outside when I’m half asleep.”
“Hang on, I have an old mat for that.” I grab it out of the closet and put it on the floor next to the stove. “That way it doesn’t get the floor wet.”
“Perfect.”
I watch as he brings in a few more logs and sets them on the mat. “I’m glad I decided to do this because everything outside is getting wet.”
“Gross.”
“Yeah.”
“I’m going to use the bathroom and brush my teeth. I have an extra toothbrush under the sink. It’s a kids’ brush but it’s new. I get them free every time Joey goes to the dentist.”
“No worries. I have one in my bag. Because of hockey, I always keep a bag with the basics in my truck. In case I run out of something or lose something on a trip, etcetera.”
“Or you wind up stranded with a stranger during a storm.”
He chuckles. “Yeah. That.”
I take care of business in a mostly dark bathroom, grateful there’s still running water and the toilet flushes.
Now that I’ve taken off my makeup and put my hair up, I feel a lot more vulnerable and I’m not sure why. West isn’t a boyfriend or lover, so I can’t quite pinpoint what’s making me self-conscious about the smattering of freckles on my cheeks or my bare skin. I don’t care what he thinks.
Okay, that’s a lie.
Of course, I care.
He’s one of the most attractive men I’ve ever met. Just because neither of us are interested in getting involved, it doesn’t mean I don’t want him to find me attractive.
Right?
The bathroom is cold, so I don’t contemplate anything too long, and walk back out to the living room. West smiles as he brushespast me and goes into the bathroom, closing the door softly behind him.
There’s never been a man in my bathroom, and I’m self-conscious all over again. Is he the kind of guy who’s looking in the cabinets to see what I have? To see my boxes of tampons and panty liners? My cheap shampoo and conditioner? My drug store makeup collection?
I shake off the thoughts.