Page 238 of Safe With You

I closed the door behind him.

“You could’ve told me you were coming.”

“I could’ve.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because then you would’ve told me I didn’t have to bring you anything.”

“I would’ve.”

“I know.”

He carried the bag toward my kitchen like that settled it.

I followed him.

He set the bag on the counter and started pulling containers from it. I watched him for a second.

There was nothing remarkable about what he was doing. He brought dinner. That was it. He was somewhere, thought about me, and decided to bring me food.

Lucas used to do things for me too.

The thought came first, and I hated that it did. There had been good years with Lucas. I wasn’t trying to erase those.

But somewhere along the way, every good thing started feeling like something I might eventually have to repay.

Ellis turned around.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.”

His eyes stayed on mine. “You sure?”

I nodded. “Just thinking.”

“Dangerous.”

I blinked, then laughed. “See? I was about to tell you something.”

“My bad.”

“No. Too late now.”

He reached for one of the containers. “Then I guess I’ll eat your food.”

“Move.”

I stepped around him and grabbed it before he could. His laugh followed me toward the table.

I sat down, and Ellis took the chair across from me.

“What did you bring?”

“Open it.”

I lifted the lid and stopped.