When I walked out of the building, the sky was already dark. The challenge took longer than I'd anticipated, and I knew the only dinner I'd have ready in time was canned soup. It was something I'd picked up last week.
I jogged home, trying to keep a human pace; and before going inside, I hid my coveralls in the garage. Though Gabby knew about them, I wasn't sure Rachel was ready for more man clothes around the house.
Glancing at the clock, I wondered how Gabby's day had gone. No doubt I'd find out in a few minutes. It took me seconds to open the soup and dump it into a pot. As it heated on the stove, I quickly washed up. Though I'd won, the challenger had scored a few solid blows but nothing that wouldn't be healed by morning.
Gabby pulled into the driveway just as I poured the soup into bowls. Her slow steps thumped on the porch while I carried the bowls to the table. I glanced up as she opened the door. Looking exhausted, she dropped her bag on the floor, closed the door, and then shuffled to the table. With a weary sigh, she practically collapsed into the chair.
I sat across from her, watching as she took her first few bites of soup before I started eating too. We ate in silence for a few minutes.
"Are you going to tell me about the coveralls or where you got the money for groceries?"
Though she'd asked, she didn't look up to any serious conversation. She looked like she needed sleep. So I shrugged.
She sighed and pushed her bowl back. "I know I'm supposed to start asking you a bunch of questions, but I'm still too tired. Just don't be doing anything illegal, 'K? It would be hard to visit you in jail."
She got up and put the rest of her soup in a container. Despite my silent objections, she washed her own dishes then left me in the kitchen with my half bowl of soup. I quickly ate, cleaned up, and went to her bedroom. She was already curled under the covers and asleep.
The sound of Rachel's engine stopped me from lying next to her. I stripped, put my clothes away, and settled on the end of the bed, careful of my bruised ribs.