“We do. We just hadn’t made any definite plans.”
“How about this? Always assume that whatever is going on, you’re going to be doing it with me.” There’s something in his tone. He sounds hurt and something else I can’t name.
I glance over at him. “I can do that,” I say gently. From the look on his face, that something else is anger. However, my words seem to soothe the bear inside him, and he gives me a slight nod and a hint of a smile at my acceptance.
“What can I do?”
“I just need to pack everything up. I’m not making garlic bread. I grabbed a box of garlic toast. They can just pop what they need in the toaster while they’re heating up their food.” I reach into the freezer, grab the box, and place it on the counter.
I’m on my way to the pantry to gather everything else I bought to go with it when he says, “This is really nice of you, Tink. Let me know what I owe you, and I’ll pay you back.”
I stop, turning to look at him. “You don’t owe me anything. I signed up for this. I wanted to help them. I can only imagine how tired they are with a new baby and adjusting to being parents.”
He nods. “I’m damn lucky to have you in my life, Alyssa,” he says.
I feel a lump start to form in my throat. “I’m the lucky one, Sterling. Your family has always treated me like I belong. As an only child, I never would have been able to witness what a big, loud, boisterous family is like otherwise. They’ve accepted that I’m one of you.”
“You are family.” His voice is thick.
I nod and turn back to the task at hand. I need to change the conversation, or I’m going to do something we both might regret. That’s the issue. I don’t know if he would regret it or not. I know everything there is to know about Sterling Kincaid. Our lives are so intertwined it’s hard to tell what’s my memory and what’s his. However, for the first time in my life, I can’t read him. I can’t anticipate his actions or response, and that has my stomach in knots.
I grab everything else I need and head back to the small island in my kitchen with my arms full.
“What’s all of that?” Sterling asks, rushing to help me unload.
“Hot sauce, parmesan cheese, soft batch cookies, Milano cookies, Twizzlers, and Skittles.”
He chuckles. “You went overboard, Tink. Please let me pay you for all of this.”
“Nope. I wanted to do this. The extras are just in case they need a sugar rush to stay up. I know they have to be sleep-deprived.”
“You’ve thought of everything,” he says.
“I tried to.” Grabbing a reusable grocery bag, I load all the items inside. “I used one of those disposable pans for the spaghetti. That way, they don’t have to worry about getting a dish back to me. That’s the last thing they need to worry about right now.”
“You’re good at this meal train stuff,” he praises.
“Not really.” I laugh. “I’m just trying to make their lives easier during this transitional phase.” I look in the bag and go over my mental checklist. “That’s it. I just need to run out to my car to grab something. I’ll be right back.” I don’t give him time to ask questions before I rush out of the house.
I brought the top of a paper box from work to transport the spaghetti. Well, at the time, I didn't know it would be spaghetti, but I knew that the lid would come in handy, so I snagged it instead of taking it to the dumpster.
“What’s that for?” Sterling asks when I come back into the kitchen.
“Just watch and see.” I grab the bath towel that I had already laid out from the island and place it in the bottom of the box. I make the middle flat and let it bunch up on both sides for a better fit for the pan.
Then, I grab the pot holders and carefully lift the pan from the stove, and place it in the center of the box.
“Huh.” Sterling nods, looking impressed. “What gave you that idea?” he asks.
“My mom used to do this. Well, I’m sure she still does if she’s taking something that doesn’t have an easy transport carrier.”
“I’m impressed.”
“Thank you.” I pretend to bow, and his laughter fills the kitchen. It’s deep and rich, and familiar.
He picks up the grocery bag and the box lid. “I’m driving. You have what you need?” he asks.
“Phone.” I turn around and survey the kitchen and find it sitting next to the stove.