Help Needed

Saturday afternoon in the apartment had started to feel soft around the edges. Not lazy, exactly. Michelle still had things to do. Laundry sat folded in uneven stacks on the chair near the bedroom. Her McDonald's uniform hung from the closet door because she had a short shift later that evening. A grocery list sat half-finished on the counter beside Roy's coffee maker.

But there was a comfort to the place now. A warmth.

Home.

The thought still made her smile every time it crossed her mind.

Curled up sideways on the couch in an oversized T-shirt and shorts, Michelle tucked her feet underneath herself and glanced around the apartment. Roy's apartment. Their apartment. The distinction mattered less every day.

His hoodie hung over the back of the kitchen chair. One of his books sat face-down on the coffee table where he'd abandoned it earlier in the week. Even the faint scent of his cologne still lingered in the air, mixed with coffee and laundry detergent and the lingering spices from the dinner she'd cooked the night before.

A little smile pulled at her mouth. Dinner with Elaine had been... really nice. Better than nice.

The older woman had left only the night before, and already Michelle found herself missing her. Missing her laugh. Missing the way conversations with her seemed to flow so naturally, even when they wandered into strange territory. Missing the easy comfort of sitting across from someone who loved Roy just as much as she did.

Maybe more than friends.

That feeling lingered strangely in Michelle's chest whenever she thought about Elaine. Not romantic exactly. Different from that. Warmer. Gentler. Like family. Like maybe this was what having a sister was supposed to feel like. And honestly? If Roy's apartment had another bedroom, Michelle would've asked Elaine to move in already.

The thought came so naturally it startled her a little. But the more she imagined it, the more right it felt. Elaine wouldn't have to go back to that big empty house alone every night. Roy would get more time with her. Michelle wouldn't feel guilty every time she curled up beside him knowing another woman who loved him was somewhere else wishing she could do the same.

She didn't want to be selfish with him. Roy deserved to feel loved from every direction.

A soft sigh slipped out of her as she reached for her phone again, checking the time automatically. Her shift wasn't for hours yet, but part of her still worried about it. Worried about being late for work. Missing the bus. Being away when Roy got back.

Not that Roy would complain about her not being there. He wasn't like that. But they hadn't really talked about schedules or expectations or money or any of the practical stuff yet. Michelle still intended to keep working. Rent existed. Groceries existed. Life existed. She did still intend on saving up for school, if at all possible. Would Roy mind if she did that? Would he care if she became a full-time student?

But maybe they should sit down sometime and figure out what they both expected living together to actually look like. Would Roy want her home more often? Would he want help with bills? Did he even know her work schedule?

A laugh escaped her quietly.

The man barely ed to bring overnight clothes on dates. Michelle doubted he'd built a detailed spreadsheet about household logistics. Honestly, maybe she needed to start helping him with that sort of thing. Packing little overnight bags. Spare clothes. Toothbrushes. Chargers. Roy was incredible with women. She'd seen firsthand how naturally affectionate and attentive he could be. But the actual organization surrounding multiple girlfriends? Absolute disaster.

And Michelle found that weirdly endearing.

The sound of the apartment door unlocking snapped her attention toward the entrance.

Her heart jumped instantly.

Roy.

Without even thinking, Michelle scrambled off the couch and hurried toward him, crossing the apartment just as the door opened fully. The moment she reached him, her arms wrapped around his waist and her lips found his.

Warm.

Familiar.

Safe.

Roy laughed softly into the kiss, surprised but clearly happy, one hand settling against her back automatically. The apartment immediately felt complete again. When they finally separated, Michelle looked him over properly and immediately fought back a grin.

Oh, he looked rough. Yesterday's clothes. Slightly wrinkled shirt. Hair flattened awkwardly on one side. A tiredness around the eyes that practically screamed overnight date.

Typical.

Michelle shook her head affectionately. Honestly, somebody needed to start packing this man a proper bag before he went out with his girlfriends. And that somebody, she had decided, would be her. Not because he couldn't manage himself, but because she wanted to take care of him. All of him. Even the parts of his life that didn't directly involve her.

Roy gave so much of himself to the people around him. The least Michelle could do was make sure he had clean socks and deodorant.

"Welcome home, Mister Man," she said brightly, taking both his hands in hers and smiling up at him.

Tired eyes softened immediately.

"Thank you, Michelle," Roy replied, squeezing her fingers gently. "Sorry I didn't call. Things got a little carried away."

Michelle laughed.

"Oh no. A beautiful woman distracted you? That's shocking."

A faint flush crept across his cheeks, which only made him cuter. Then something shifted in his expression. Subtle, but enough for Michelle to notice. Thoughtfulness. Weight.

"Actually," Roy said slowly, "I... kind of have to head back out tonight."

Michelle blinked once. Not upset. Just surprised.

"Oh?" she asked softly.

"There's something I need to take care of," he explained. "And I don't really want to leave it hanging too long."

The phrasing sounded oddly serious, but exhaustion clung to him hard enough that Michelle figured he was probably just overwhelmed from juggling so many relationships at once. Poor man. She squeezed his hands again sympathetically.

"Okay," she said gently. "That's alright."

Relief flickered briefly across his face.

"But tomorrow," Roy continued quickly, "I was thinking maybe we could all do something together. You, me, Elaine... maybe Zara too."

Michelle lit up instantly.

"Really?"

The idea sounded wonderful. Dinner maybe. Games. A movie. Just everyone together and happy and close. Then another thought occurred to her.

"What about Ava?"

Roy stared at her blankly for half a second.

"Ava?"

Confusion crossed his face so genuinely Michelle almost questioned herself. Then suddenly clarity hit him all at once.

"Oh. Right. Ava."

Poor thing was exhausted. Michelle smiled sympathetically.

"How could you forget Ava?"

"Yeah, sorry," Roy said quickly. "That's actually what I need to take care of tonight. It's her birthday today."

The affection that flooded Michelle's chest nearly hurt. Of course he was going to see her on her birthday. God, he was such a good boyfriend. Even exhausted and overwhelmed and running around in yesterday's clothes, Roy still cared enough to make time for someone important to him. Michelle honestly couldn't imagine being loved that thoughtfully before him.

A little grin tugged at her lips.

"Okay," she announced, suddenly energized. "Then we need to get you ready."

Roy blinked.

"...Ready?"

"Yes, ready." Michelle released his hands and immediately started steering him farther into the apartment. "You look like you survived a natural disaster. When's the last time you showered? Actually don't answer that, I already know it wasn't recently enough."

A laugh burst out of him as she pushed lightly at his shoulders toward the bedroom.

"And before you say you don't care what you wear," Michelle continued, already mentally sorting through his closet, "you are wrong. Birthday girls deserve effort."

Roy looked at her with something soft and helpless and deeply fond all at once. And honestly?

That expression alone made every bit of worrying and planning and caring feel worth it.