Page 31 of Offside Rules

"I’m seeing the doc after the gym. Probably be back early afternoon."

"For your shoulder?"

"Yeah."

I look up. He’s adjusting the strap to keep it off that side. "You don’t have to tell me when you’ll be back. It’s your apartment."

"You asked last night." He takes out his phone.

Once he’s gone, I turn my playlist back up and get to work. There’s no reason to think about his sweatpants when I have frosting to finish.

By the time the next tray comes out, I’ve put the measuring cups in the drawer beside the mixer and moved my piping bags into the cupboard underneath. It only makes sense to keep them where I’m using them. The empty boxes are stacked beside the fridge, my water bottle is on the counter, and I’ve caught myself singing along twice.

Then my phone lights up with a message from Ellie.

Ellie: Did it pass?

I take a picture of the new tray cooling on the island and send it.

Me: I’m baking.

Her reply comes almost immediately.

Ellie: Look at all that counter space. Tell me you’re marrying him for the kitchen.

Me: I fined him twenty dollars.

Ellie: What did he do?

Me: Forgot his shirt.

Ellie: Tell him that rule is costing you valuable scenery.

I look toward the sink, where his mug is still sitting upside down on the drying mat beside mine. He drove my whole route before he even had breakfast.

He drove my deliveries, I type, then delete it before sending. Ellie would make far too much of that.

Me: He’s fine. He went to the gym.

I have one more call to make before I can pretend this is a normal workday. I turn the playlist down and tap Beau’s name. He answers on the fourth ring. So much for leaving a voicemail and letting him process this before he calls me back.

"Hey. Everything okay?"

"The kitchen passed."

"Ellie’s? I thought hers was already—"

"Not Ellie’s. I’m using the one upstairs while mine gets fixed."

"Okay. Whose?"

I look at the blue tape dividing the island. "Wolf Ziegler’s."

He doesn’t answer. I hold the phone away from my ear to check that the call hasn’t dropped.

"Beau?"

"You’re kidding."