A Little Bit Married

Broth and Pictures

Gray slowly put the small amount of things we had into a brown paper bag. He had grabbed a simple dress for me to wear, and I sat on the edge of the bed, watching him finish up, the zip of the dress open.

"Are you okay?" He asked, looking up to me as he finished up, then walked over to where I was sitting.

I nodded, smiling a little weak. "I am a little weak. If I wasn't so tired, I would probably go the old route and prepare some broth."

He gave a small laugh as he gently zipped me up, then walked away, grabbing the bag. "Broth?"

I nodded. "Yeah. You know. Some meat. Spicem warmth. Homemade. I know they sell it at restaurants, but nothing beats homemade stew."

He chuckled. "And what do I need to make homemade broth?"

"I would prefer broth with vegetables right now, so I can add noodles to it, and we can use chicken, onioms, garlics, some aromatics. You know."

A knock came on the door, and a nurse walked in, a small smile on her lips. She handed a few papers to Gray who immediately signed them, and she nodded at me before walking away.

"Do I have these things at home?" He asked, gently pulling me into his arms.

I immediately succumbed, letting him pull me into his arms and lifting me bridal style. He held the bag in his fingers and, without a word, started to walk to the door.

"The last time I cooked for you, you had everything imaginable in that pantry. Your pantry is probably as big as my house."

He chuckled as we walked out of the hospital. "Your former house. Your pantry. Our pantry. You are forgetting again that you live with me."

I laughed, nodding. "I forgot I live with you."

He tucked me into the front seat, then put the brown bag in the back seat and walked around to me. He got in, then leaned over me, strapping the seatbelt around me, before he slowly leaned away.

He might have seen the blush in my cheeks because he gave a small snicker and gently flicked the tip of my nose.

"Stop having dirty thoughts about me."

"Hey!" I said, attacking him.

The seatbelt held me back, however, and he broke into a laugh as he pushed the ignition button.

"The seatbelt isn't just for accidents, then."

I rolled my eyes, and he broke into a laugh as we backed out of the hospital driveway. It was a beautiful summer afternoon, and the sky was as bright as possible, the slow wind sorting through my hair as Gray drove through the slightly busy streets.

I had just leaned on the window when he turned into a large shopping mall, and the car came to a slow stop in the closest empty parking spot.

"What are we doing here?"

Gray shrugged, then leaned into his car's dashboard. He pulled out a tiny note and a pen, then turned to me.

"What do I need to make a pot of broth?"

My eyes darted between his hand and his eyes. "Are you serious right now?"

"Yes," he said, leaning a little closer. "You can leep yourself entertained with the TV or watch something on my phone while I go get everything we will need."

"I am almost sure you have them at home."

"I don't want to take any chances."

I smiled, my heart warming up. I collected the pen from him and scribbled down the ingredients, remembering each from the time I used to make broth for Kevin.

Kevin was now such an obscure memory that it felt like I was remembering a passing mirage more than the man I used to love.

I finished writing it down, then leaned away, my eyes meeting Gray's. He collected the list, tore it off the note, and kissed my cheek.

"I will be back."

I nodded and watched him get out of the car. He walked away, and my eyes fixed on his broad back and shoulders, the way that shirt clung to his skin, the sinful things that my mind could bring up in a matter of seconds. He was absolute perfection, and it was absolutely crazy that the Gray Gavin was holding a list for chicken broth just so he could make it for me.

I smiled to myself and leaned on the window, interested in only watching the door till he came out.

My attention soon diverted, however, and I picked up his phone. He had a blank black wallpaper that seemed to fit his outward personality. He had little social media, and I could mostly see things related to work and his office and not much else.

I decided to open his gallery to see if he had taken any photos of himself. As expected, there was none. I stopped, however, when I saw a folder, the only folder of pictures, however, named simply, E.

My curiosity got the better of me, and I opened it, and right there were photos of me. I was asleep in a few, and I had my back turned in a few. Some, however, had me looking away, but there was none of me looking directly at the camera.

He had photos of me in a bath robe, in bed wrapped like a burrito, my hair all over the place. It made me laugh that he was stealthily taking pictures of me, and it made me want to tear up, too.

There was one of me during his birthday party, and I sighed, my chest heaving. I still remember it clearly, and honestly, I wish we could do something like that again. Dress up, and be all over each other in public.

It made me laugh just thinking about it, and I turned the camera, determined to give him a picture of me facing the camera.

I leaned out of the window to get the sunny glow, and after a few tries, I got one that seemed good enough. I didn't have the time to take one I was more in love with, because his unmistakable frame suddenly appeared, and like someone who hadn't already been given permission to use his phone, I quickly dropped it back where it was.

I felt him open the trunk and drop everything inside, then walk around to me, his eyes carrying a glint of pride.

"I ran into a few elderly women who were eager to help me out," he said with a laugh, his fingers pushing through his hair.

I gave him a small knowing smile, and his brows furrowed.

"They were elderly women," he said, raising a brow. "I promise I..."

"You wete taking photos of me," I said, unable to hold back my laugh. "I looked so horrible in all of them."

He raised a brow. "How dare you? Those were the times when I found you most beautiful."

I chuckled. "You are joking."

"I am not," he said, backing out of the driveway. "You are most beautiful when you are just... Evangeline. "

I felt my heart flutter, and I turned away, struggling to catch my breath.