Sweet Nothings by Kim Law Page A

of him before he got this project over with. But then, he could choose to stay out of town on Thursdays and avoid temptation. He almost laughed. Not likely .
    She shivered at his side and he realized she was freezing in the cold night air.
    Without thinking, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Do you want to come in? I have the heat going.”
    “No thanks,” she murmured as she glanced toward the door, looking as lost as she had when she’d arrived. It was almost as if something inside the house was what made her sad.
    “What’s the matter, Jo?” He squeezed her shoulders. “Tell me. Let me help.”
    She shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
    Since she was pressed against his side, he could feel the tension coming back. Something had happened, and he wanted to fix it. “Do I need to go beat someone up for you?”
    “No!” But the question had the desired effect and her body softened again, easing into him along with her light laughter. Her head tilted in line with his body and pressed into the curve of his arm.
    They sat there like that for several moments and he gave up on her sharing with him. He wouldn’t push it. Cat leaped up onto the railing and Joanie reached out and scratched him behind the ears. Cat seemed to be more interested in Joanie than in Nick, but who could blame him? Nick would be too if their situations were reversed.
    “I think my grandmother might be dying,” her soft voice spoke as if to the cat, but Nick knew it was for him.
    A pain settled in his chest. “Oh sweetness, I’m so sorry.”
    Cat purred and pushed up closer to Joanie as if sensing her hurt.
    “We’re not close anyway. And she’s been sick for a long time.”
    “Still, she’s your family.” He wanted to put both arms around her, but was afraid doing so would send her running. “Is that where you’ve been tonight?”
    She nodded, still focused on the cat.
    “Joanie?” He wanted her to look at him. She’d mentioned before that her relationship with her grandmother wasn’t the best, but clearly seeing her sick had upset her.
    “What?”
    “Are you okay? What can I do to help?”
    “Nothing. I’m fine. It’s probably still months away, anyway.” She leaned down to the cat, breaking contact with Nick’s arm, and rubbed a cheek against the side of Cat’s head. “Maybe years.”
    She stepped away from the railing and away from him, then glanced around as if trying to figure out the best escape route, managing not to make eye contact while doing so.
    Seeing the Dumpster at the end of the porch, she turned and headed in the other direction, passing in front of him, face averted. “I’ll see you again Friday night,” she mumbled. “I’ll be back to start on the bedrooms.”
    Before she could get past him, he snagged her by the arm and stopped her. “Look at me.”
    She didn’t, instead tilting her chin up in the air, her face pointed away from him as if letting him know she was tough and didn’t need his comfort. He lightly squeezed her arm.
    “Look at me, sweetness. I want to help.”
    With terrible slowness, he watched her chest move up and down with a deep gulp of air. She finally turned to him. Tears had streaked down both cheeks and more filled her eyes, waiting for their turn to run free.
    “Come here,” he said, a second before he pulled her to him.
    Once snuggled up against him, he wrapped his arms around her and held her tight while she turned loose and cried. When her own arms snaked around his waist, he almost cried with her. It was not easy watching this woman hurt.
    “I’m sorry I’m getting your shirt wet,” she muttered into his chest.
    Instead of worrying about that, he squeezed her closer, slipping a hand around the back of her head to hold her in place. “That’s what friends are for, isn’t it? To be here when you need us?”
    She nodded against him, and he could tell the tears were already beginning to slow. It hadn’t lasted long, but it had been