Katniss was beside him in his Ute, holding his hand, sunglasses obscuring her sexy silver eyes but not the soft, content smile on her face.
It'd been a risk, taking her to the rescue instead of on a more traditional date, but he'd gone with his gut and it had paid off. Madge was a good person and her personality had been a good fit for Katniss; he'd known they'd hit it off. More than that, he reckoned Katniss might be more comfortable doing something that didn't involve them being alone together, at least not right off the bat. Not with how panicked she was last time he'd seen her. Better to ease her back into spending time with him, show her that they could enjoy no-pressure fun with an outing that had her actively involved in doing something good.
She'd called herself prickly, but Peeta knew it wasn't true. She was guarded, yes, but under that hesitation was a huge heart. She was so fiercely compassionate and she cared deeply.
He really liked her.
And she'd agreed to come back to his place.
He'd promised himself he wouldn't pressure her, would keep things light and fun. But he was going to wine and dine her, remind her how damned good they were together. The sultry looks she kept aiming his way suggested she didn't actually need much reminding. Peeta grinned lazily, and she squeezed his hand, maybe reading his mind.
It was going to be one hell of a night.
Peeta held onto that thought right up until he turned down his street. Then his heart sank. Parked in his drive was a familiar car. "Shit," he grumbled under his breath.
He parked on the street; as soon as he stepped from his Ute the doors of his brother's car flew open and little boys tumbled out, along with one bigger and very angry bloke.
"Where've you been? I've been ringing you an hour," Brann barked. Peeta knew it, had been ignoring his mobile. All for naught, it seemed. "I need your help, Brann said. "It's Charlie."
He wanted to lash out, to say that it was time for Brann to figure his shit out. But Charlie was sitting in the front seat of the car, skin grey and waxy, coughing up a mean streak.
Katniss walked around, opened the passenger door and crouched to Charlie's level. "Hi, do you remember me?" she asked softly. It was a testament to how poorly Charlie was feeling that he merely nodded miserably.
Brann looked like he wanted to intervene, Peeta laid a hand on his arm. "She's a doctor," he said quietly, and Brann slumped. It occurred to Peeta how utterly out of touch his brother was with Peeta's life to not know the occupation of the woman he was dating.
Or even her existence.
Katniss appeared to be giving Charlie a cursory exam. Peeta couldn't hear what they were saying, not with Ollie and Paddy running roughshod and screaming like banshees. But after a few minutes, Katniss stood and approached Peeta and his brother. "Dr. Everdeen," she said, offering Brann her hand. "Has Charlie been diagnosed with asthma before?"
"No," Brann said. "Is that what's going on?" He looked like he might be sick.
"We'll need to run some tests to be sure," she said. "The air quality has been terrible, and some kids are just more sensitive to it. Especially the active ones." As if to punctuate her words, Ollie and Paddy went tearing across the lawn behind them. Charlie coughed miserably. "You'll need to take him to the ER, Mr. Mellark," Katniss said, all concerned professionalism. "He needs some oxygen, and some medication to relax his airways. I'll call ahead." She pulled out her mobile and turned away.
Peeta leaned in the car and ruffled Charlie's curls. "Hang in there, mate," he said. To Brann, he continued, "Go. I'll keep the others."
He was disappointed to have to cut his day with Katniss short. He'd been looking forward to seducing her. But this was family.
"Oi, come on you cobbers," he called as Brann backed out of the drive. "Let's go see what we can round up for tea." The boys bolted for the house, and Peeta turned to Katniss. "I am so sorry," he said, but she just smiled, her eyes soft and affectionate.
"You are a good man, Peeta Mellark," Katniss said, then stretched up on her toes to kiss him, just lightly, before towing him into his own house.
She stayed. He didn't ask, it hadn't occurred to him it might be a possibility. She just entertained the boys while he threw together some spag bol. When he glanced into the lounge, Ollie was playing fortnite and explaining something on the screen to Katniss while Paddy perched in her lap.
It hit him like a fist, the domesticity of it, the rightness. He wanted it, and not just for a few hours on a Saturday evening.
His heart stumbled in his chest.
He'd always been the funny one, the class clown, the one that nobody took seriously. He was the guy you called when you wanted to go out for pints or to a footy match, the guy who was always ready to have a good time. And lately, he was the fun uncle who would spend time with the kids while you were out doing important grown up things. He'd been pigeonholed into that role so long, he didn't know how to be anyone else. He wasn't sure who he really was anymore.
She made him want things. Things he'd thought were only for other people.
And she was leaving.