To any hospital employee that might have seen Neil Melendez and Audrey Lim drive away that night, it would have looked like one old friend taking care of another. If they looked closer, they would have seen them both smiling widely but would have thought nothing of it apart from relief. Relief that Audrey had survived a life threatening virus that had claimed others in that very hospital.
They didn't speak until they stopped at the first red light. Audrey was finding her hands extremely interesting and Neil was focused fully on the road in front.
"Do you want to stop for dinner?" Neil asked, looking over at her.
"I do, but I don't" she smiled. "Hospital food is all fresh and healthy. I'd kill for some takeout."
"We can get takeout. Where too?"
"I could murder a pizza?" Audrey suggested.
"I know just the place" he smiled as the light turned green and they pulled away.
X
Pulling into the parking lot outside a row of small storefronts he pointed over at their destination.
"Best pizza in San Jose, I promise" he smiled trying to defend its modest looking frontage. "What do you want?" he asked moving to undo his seatbelt.
"I want to go" she replied. "I've been in bed for days, I just want to be on my feet."
"And you're still meant to be resting" he countered. "Want me to come with?'
"I can pick up a pizza Neil" she replied with a hint of sarcasm. "Besides, we won't be doing well at keeping this low key if we're seen out together" she reminded him.
He shook his head in amusement but didn't disagree.
"Go knock yourself out" he smiled settling back into his seat and turning on the radio.
He smiled as he watched her walk away across the parking lot. They were going to have to figure out the logistics of this secret relationship, but maybe they could start on that this evening over pizza.
He sat and daydreamed, not noticing how much time had passed and almost jumped out of his seat when she tapped the window.
He reached over and opened the door for her to lower herself in, balancing the precious cargo carefully.
"Smells good" he smiled, taking a deep breath.
"It does" she agreed with a big smile. "Hope it tastes as good" she said sternly. "Or there'll be trouble for you."
"I can take it" he replied with a laugh starting the car and pulling away.
X
Ten minutes later they pulled up at the kerb outside Audrey's apartment. Unbuckling quickly, he got out and was opening Audrey's door before she could balance the pizza box safely to do it herself.
He held the door as she got up and she leaned in and kissed his cheek as she passed.
"Thank you kind sir" she teased walking ahead to her front door. He popped the trunk to get her bag and followed.
Catching up with her in just a few steps he stopped right behind her, almost breathing down her collar.
"All okay?" he asked making her shiver. She hadn't realised quite how close he was standing.
"Ummm, yeah" she whispered. "My key. Pocket. Pizza. Purse" she said, affected by his closeness so much that her brain was not allowing her to form full sentences.
"May I?"
She just nodded and he took a step closer which she didn't think was possible. He slid his hand into her jean pocket and pulled out her door key, leaned around her and put it in the lock.
While doing so, he dropped a small kiss just below her ear and she let out the breath she had been holding making him chuckle.
"You okay there?" he asked innocently.
"Yup" she replied quickly. "Just hungry" she said, hoping he hadn't noticed her behaving like a high schooler. "Come on in."
She kicked off her shoes and walked straight through into the kitchen while he stopped in the hallway. He dropped her overnight bag to one side and waited for her to come back.
He hadn't been inside Audreys apartment for a long time and didn't want to assume that he was being invited to hang out, despite her initial offer to come in.
"Neil" he heard her call as he heard her padding back towards him. "What are you doing?" she asked with a smile, a little happy to see that this wasn't coming naturally for him either.
"I didn't know... um. I don't know" he said, shaking his head.
She walked up to him until they were toe to toe and cupped his face in her hands. She edged a little closer until their noses were almost touching and she noticed he was smiling. She could see the twinkle in his eyes.
"Do you want to stay" she whispered.
"Yes" he replied kissing her gently. "I want to stay."
"Come on then, pizza is getting cold" she smiled, kissing him quickly, taking his hand and leading him to the sofa.
X
After demolishing almost the whole pizza between them, they sat back on the sofa with the box between them, feeling pleasantly full and relaxed.
He glanced over to see her leaning her head right against the back of the sofa with her eyes closed and her hand out to one side resting on the box. Feeling brave, her put his hand out to cover hers and watched as a smile crossed her face, still keeping her eyes closed.
"I know there is no food in that refrigerator, but I'm confident there is beer. Do you want one?" she asked, lifting her head a little too look at him.
"I shouldn't" he replied. "I drove remember."
She lifted her head further with a confused look. "I thought you wanted to stay?" she asked, her voice sounding quite perplexed and a blush rising in her cheeks.
"I thought you meant for pizza" he replied before thinking and was sorry to see the change in her demeanour that came with those words.
"Wait Aud" he said, holding her hand tighter, stopping her from getting up. "Hang on. We've crossed some wires here" he said, trying not to sound as worried as he felt for a moment.
"Stop" he said quite sternly as she pulled against his hand. "Sit, wait a minute."
"Sorry" she started, "I obviously misread the situation."
"I don't think you did" he replied. "I figured you didn't mean 'stay' stay" he said. "I thought you'd just want to go to bed."
"Yes, but with you" she blurted out and clapping her hand to her mouth to stifle the gasp that followed. "I didn't mean it like that" she said quickly, her turn to feel like she'd spoken her words backwards.
Neil couldn't help it and laughed out loud and after a few seconds she couldn't help but join him.
"What are we doing" she asked shaking her head. "We've known each other almost a decade, this shouldn't be weird."
Moving the pizza box to one side, Neil moved closer. Resting his arm along the back of the sofa, he took the opportunity to tuck some of the loose strands of Audrey's hair back behind her ears. She looked down at her hands and started to fidget.
For pretty much the first time since he'd known Audrey, she looked shy. She didn't know what to say to him right now, especially after using most of her romantic quota during their talk earlier that week.
Luckily, Neil was in no such position.
"Look at me" he demanded. "I want to stay. I want nothing more, but I'm not going to go assuming stuff like that. Could have been embarrassing the other way around right?" he said, making her chuckle and nod her head.
"I'll stay then?" he questioned getting another nod. "I'll take that beer then if it's still available" he smiled.
She shuffled forwards to get up from the sofa and paused.
"Only thing is" she started. "I'm not sure I'm up to 'you know' tonight."
It was Neil's turn to blush and he started to stutter a response.
"I... um...I didn't" were the words he managed to get out before talking a deep breath and composing himself.
"That's not why I'm staying Aud" he said with more confidence. "I'm staying in case you need me. I'll be here for whatever you want."
She smiled one of her biggest smiles, leaned over and kissed him lightly before heading through to the kitchen with a little spring in her step.
X
They sat on Audrey's sofa for the rest of the evening watching some mindless shows while chatting, figuring out some boundaries for this new thing they were doing. Even after the coffee she'd made herself while Neil drank her beer, she let out a big yawn.
"Want to go to bed?" he asked with no sign of the awkwardness from earlier.
"I do" she replied looking up at him from her current position, tucked under his arm.
"Off you go then, I'll be there in a bit" he said, getting up from his seat and offering his hands to pull her up. "I'll clear this stuff up and I'll follow you."
She just smiled, turned and walked off into her bedroom.
He was surprised when he heard the shower start up but used the extra time to clear away the bottles and stash the leftovers in the fridge. She was right when she said there was no food in there. Even he was going to struggle to make breakfast out of the meagre supplies.
After washing and wiping the few pieces of crockery they had used, he switched off the lights and headed towards the bedroom door.
Has gave a little knock and listened for a reply which didn't come so he turned the handle and stepped inside. Her bedroom screamed Audrey Lim. There were no frills of fancy pieces, it was just practical. The bed took up most of the space with a few small pieces of furniture right up against the walls.
He was startled from his review by the bathroom door opening and she stood there in her pyjamas, wrapping her hair in a towel.
"Its not much, I'm afraid. But it is comfortable" she said with a small smile and a shrug. "And this..." she said, pointing. "This is my side."
"Got a spare toothbrush?" he asked as he began unbuttoning his shirt. He smoothed it out and folding it flat before placing it on the seat of the nearby chair.
She gave him an amused look.
"What?!" he exclaimed. "I've got to wear that again tomorrow. Not sure I'll fit into anything you'd have spare" he said with a grin.
"Challenge accepted" she laughed before she walked back into the bathroom, returning with a new toothbrush for him.
"Thank you" he said moving to take it and purposely holding her hand tightly over it. He gave a little pull and she stepped forward into his kiss. He felt her relax and her free hand came up to rest at the back of his neck playing gently with the soft hairs.
"You shouldn't do that" he mumbled into her lips. "I like that a lot."
"Sorry" she replied with a smile and stepping back a little for him to pass to the bathroom.
By the time he came back out, she was under the covers. He stood on the opposite side of the bed and unbuckled his belt, before removing his trousers and folding them with the same care he afforded his shirt.
He turned back to see that she was still watching him as he stood there in his under shirt and shorts. She smiled, leaned over and pulled back the corner of the covers nearest him.
"Your side" she said with am amused look.
"I'll do my best to stick to that" he smiled. "No promises" he said getting in next to her, sinking into the soft pillow and closing his eyes with a small groan. "You're right, very comfortable."
He felt the mattress dip and she moved towards him and he smiled to himself. Without saying a word, he lifted his arm and she tucked herself in.
Resting her head against his chest, she smiled at the feeling of his heart beating, strong and steady. It was enough to lull her into a trance as her eyelid started to close. She felt him shift slightly and move to kiss the top of her head.
"Night Aud" he mumbled into her hair.
"Night Neil" she whispered back as sleep took her.