Chapter 160: Imaginary Crumbs

Naomi’s face brightened. "You did?"

"Yes."

"Look at you making emotional progress."

"Let’s not get reckless."

"Oooophhh..."

Dorian looked over. "What?"

"We’re out of chicken."

"So?"

"I’ll go get some early in the morning to make for them when they get here."

Dorian stopped chewing. "No. You are not making anything for them."

Her brows pulled together. "They’ll be so disappointed," she whined.

Dorian pointed his fork at her. "You’ve spent all day working, you’re in pain, and you’re already talking about waking up early tomorrow to cook for grown men who are perfectly capable of feeding themselves."

"But they love my chicken!"

"And I love you. You are not going to stress yourself more than you already have!"

Her hand stopped halfway toward the insulated box.

Dorian went right back to his food.

The sentence had left his mouth without requesting permission from the rest of his brain.

Her heartbeat suddenly felt loud.

Dorian finally noticed she had stopped moving. "What?" He touched his face. "Do I have something on my face?"

Naomi’s brain finally restarted. "Uh... yeah." She grabbed a tissue.

Dorian stood still as she reached for him.

Naomi leaned closer and began wiping at a perfectly clean spot beside his mouth. Her hands were suddenly unsteady.

Dorian, meanwhile, remained completely oblivious.

"Would you check if the logistics company will make it here in time, please?" Naomi asked.

Dorian hopped off the stool, picked up his phone and placed the call, walking a few steps away from the island as he spoke.

Naomi immediately turned toward the sink. She needed a few seconds to get herself together before her face betrayed her completely. Her heart was beating so hard it felt determined to leave her chest. She shut her eyes.

He clearly hadn’t meant it.

That was obvious.

Dorian hadn’t even realized what he had said.

So there was absolutely no reason to make a big deal out of it.

None.

Except fear was already creeping up from the pit of her stomach, clawing its way toward her throat.

Because accidental or not, the words had sounded far too natural coming from him.

Naomi gripped the edge of the sink.

Love would ruin everything they had and she didn’t want to lose this comfort they shared, at least not yet.

She heard Dorian finish the call behind her. Naomi drew in a slow breath and forced her shoulders to relax.

By the time he came around the island, she had convinced herself she looked normal.

Dorian stepped behind her. His hand slid around her waist and moved beneath the hem of her shirt, settling warmly against her stomach. "Still hurts?" he asked as he lowered his head and placed a soft kiss against the crook of her neck.

Her eyes fluttered closed.

That really wasn’t helping.

"Bearable..." she managed.

His palm moved slowly over her stomach. "The guys are already on the street. I’ll go with them. You can stay here."

Naomi immediately turned her head. "No... no..."

"Naomi." His voice was firm enough to make it clear that this was not going to become one of their debates. "You stay."

"What if something goes wrong?"

"I have your number."

"What if they ask me something?"

"I have your number."

"What if—"

"I promise I can make a good impression." Dorian turned her around.

The moment he saw her face, his expression softened.

"Hey." He pulled her into his arms. "I’m sorry you’re in so much pain."

Naomi closed her eyes against his chest.

If only that were the only thing hurting.

She pressed her cheek against his chest and listened to his heartbeat. "It’s just a couple of days."

"I’ll be back soon." Dorian lifted the insulated case and immediately grunted.

"Crap, that’s heavy."

She stepped closer and helped him lower it carefully to the floor, then crouched and pulled out the little rollers attached underneath. "Got it?"

"Yeah." He leaned down, kissed her quickly and started toward the door with the case rolling behind him.

A few minutes later, Naomi heard the Mercedes start outside, followed by the logistics van.

She waited until both vehicles pulled away before moving.

Then she headed upstairs. Once she reached the bedroom, she grabbed her phone, found Tessa’s name and called immediately.

Tessa picked up after a few rings.

"He said he loves me."

That was the first thing Naomi blurted out.

"Ah ah! I knew it!"

Naomi frowned. "What do you mean you knew it?"

"Clearly, you are the only one who can’t see it."

Naomi sat on the edge of the bed. "Tessa—"

"He dotes on you, Naomi."

"That doesn’t mean—"

"It means plenty. How can you not see it? So what did you say?"

Naomi looked down at her lap. "Nothing."

"Are you crazy? Naomi!"

"What was I supposed to say?"

"You said you didn’t want to leave, didn’t you?"

"Yes, but—"

"That was the perfect opportunity for you to say something!"

Naomi fell backward onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. "I don’t think he realized he even said it. It just... came out."

"How does ’I love you’ accidentally come out?"

"I don’t know! It was there in the middle of a conversation. It wasn’t even a serious conversation!" Naomi sat up again, already getting worked up.

"Maybe he was just using it as a pet name?"

"No... he clearly said, and I quote, ’I love you.’"

"There we go."

"But he didn’t react afterward."

"Did you?"

Naomi hesitated. "No."

"Walk me through how it happened. I need more information before I decide whether you have earned this emotional breakdown."

So Naomi gave her a quick summary.

"Well, looks like both of you are burying your feelings so far down that even your subconscious is getting impatient," Tessa said once Naomi finished explaining everything.

"Tessa... this is not a joke."

"Look, Naomi. Is it safe to say you like the man?"

"Yes."

There was no point lying about that.

She liked Dorian far too much. She liked talking to him, annoying him, cooking for him. She liked coming home to him.

"Then tell him you do not want to leave."