Chapter 25

Lila

After the shower, we dried off slowly. Ryder wrapped a towel around my waist first, then one around his own hips. We moved quietly through the house, still naked under the towels, skin warm and flushed. In the kitchen, he pulled on a pair of loose gray sweatpants and a plain black T-shirt. I slipped into one of his oversized T-shirts that fell to mid thigh and kept my panties on underneath. No bra. No need.

He made something simple for dinner-grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup from a can. Nothing fancy, but it smelled like comfort. We sat at the small kitchen table. The light above us was soft and yellow. We ate in comfortable silence most of the time. Every now and then our knees brushed under the table. Every time it happened, my stomach fluttered.

When the plates were empty, he stood and carried them to the sink. I followed, helping rinse. Our shoulders touched His arm brushed mine. The house felt so quiet without Delaney. Just the hum of the fridge and the soft clink of dishes.

It was time to head upstairs. Ryder turned toward the hallway. “Goodnight,” he said with a small smile. He started to wak

away.

I wasn’t ready for him to leave.