2. Henry

CHAPTER TWO

henry

I don’t quite know what to make of this total stranger with bright happy eyes and an even brighter smile, but he seems pretty hellbent on being my friend. He’s nice. Almost too nice.

His tennis shoes are clean and white—a name brand, like his shorts and even his tank top. Dressed to work in the gym. He’s so damn friendly, but if you look at him before he smiles or opens his mouth, you might be intimidated by him.

It’s clear he works out when he’s at the gym. He’s not overly bulky but definitely has muscle added to his tall frame. His hair is dark and tousled and kind of wavy. But those bright-blue eyes shine with kindness, and it instantly takes any intimidation away.

And then he smiles.

It’s almost frightening how disarming that smile can be.

“I don’t need friends.”

“Everyone needs friends,” he says effortlessly. I look down at Hazel as she sleeps on my chest. My heart aches, thinking about the past week and how much I’ve let her down since she came into the world.

Really, before that.

I can’t trust my damn instincts. That’s the only thing I’ve learned in my twenty-five years.

So this time, when my mind told me to run far away from this way-too-kind stranger, I decided what the hell. Maybe I should take him up on his offer of a warm, safe apartment—at least for the night.

I mean, this Felix may be slightly unhinged, but I think I can handle him. And Hazel deserves a quiet night, where we don’t sleep next to strangers in a line of cots at the shelter. I need to find a damn job and make some cash, then get us a place. But I have no one I can trust to watch her.

“Okay, you’re probably tired and ready to crash.”

Felix stands up from his spot on the couch, and I figure this is probably where I’m supposed to supply something about myself or tell him he’s fine and he can stay longer. But I’m on edge.

I don’t feel like talking or socializing. I’m eager to have one damn night where I don’t have to worry about anything.

It’s been so damn long.

Felix doesn’t seem fazed by my silence at all though. Instead, he walks to the kitchen area and opens the fridge. “Hmm. It’s empty, but I can bring some groceries over tomorrow.”

“No,” I say instantly, because what?Who is this guy?

I mean, other than the twenty-four-year-old, gay man who’s apparently super close to his family and works at a gym. Who offers up information like he did the first time they meet someone?

“Yes.” He ignores me and opens up some of the cabinets. “Okay, so there’s cereal but no milk. Although dry cereal is kind of good sometimes.”

“We’ll be fine,” I say as I stand up, cradling Hazel in my arms and walking closer to Felix.

“I know you will. We’re best friends now, and I take care of my friends.” He winks at me, and I look a little horrified, I’m sure.

“We aren’t friends.”

He playfully pouts at that, his bright red lips pushed out as he shakes his head at me. “Don’t break my heart already, Henry.” He’s teasing, and damn it, I smile.

“I just mean . . . you don’t have to take care of me. I can take care of myself.”

I wish that were true. My chest burns with shame, knowing it’s not true. That I can’t take care of myself, and Hazel isn’t really in good hands with me. We don’t even have a place anymore. I have a twenty dollar bill in my wallet, and that’s it. How the hell am I going to buy formula and diapers and everything else I need?

I jolt when a hand touches my shoulder, and Hazel stirs annoyedly in my arms but settles fast as I look at Felix and his kind expression. “Sorry.” He drops his hand. “I didn’t mean to startle you, but you’re thinking way too hard.”

I open my mouth to argue, but he just shakes his head, stopping me.

“I’ll be back in the morning. Do you need anything at all? Formula? Diapers? Clothes?” He looks at the baby in my arms. “How old is she?”

My first instinct is not to answer. But there’s something about Felix. He seems so open and free. Trustworthy. I sigh, so sick of myself. I’ve already established my instincts are shit. “We don’t need anything, and she’s five months old. Almost six.”

He smiles. “She’s beautiful.”

God, she is. She’s perfect. The only good thing in my shitshow of a life.

I don’t reply, and he doesn’t push me anymore. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning with some groceries. Please be here.” My brow furrows at his request, and he smiles sadly. “I know it’s not easy accepting help. But I promise you, you’ll only find goodness here. No more bad.”

How does he know the bad I’ve seen?

I don’t ask that. I opt to stay silent as he waves goodbye and heads out the door, asking me to lock it behind him. I do, then sit back down on the comfortable couch, holding onto Hazel for dear life.

If it were just me, I’d have walked away and not given this stranger or this gym and apartment another thought.

But it’s not just me anymore.

Everything I do is for Hazel. And if I can give her a decent place to stay, at least for a little while, that’s exactly what I need to do.

Even if my pride is killing me right now, reminding me of what a failure I am.

It’s all for Hazel.