After dozing off in the car, Elijah woke to the clatter coming from his kitchen.
For a fleeting moment, an absurd thought crossed his mind—was Alexei cooking?
The sight of takeout containers scattered across the counter made him exhale in relief. At least he wouldn't have to visit the hospital for food poisoning tonight.
As if the quiet tension from the church had never existed, Alexei turned and flashed him a bright, boyish smile.
"Awake? Let's eat. I ordered a few of your favorites."
Over the last few weeks, Alexei had learned a few things. Elijah preferred light flavors and had a soft spot for sweets.
So, he'd made sure to bring pastries with delicate, milky cream. He would've added a chocolate cake, too, if not for Nicholas's warning.
"Eli can't have too many sweets. He's got stomach issues. No matter what, don't let him overdo it."
So the pastries went into the refrigerator, saved for tomorrow.
