Page 90 of Pistols and Plush Toys

“There are so many…” Elliot frowned in confusion. “I didn’t—I didn’t buy this much.”

Then Meredith was beside him, flashing him an easy smile. “No, you didn’t. Gerard and I took the liberty of buying some of the things you passed on. Consider it a ‘thank you for taking care of Nikolai’ gift.”

“Looks like you did very good shopping,” Nikolai said in approval.

“Is that stuff from thekitchenstore?” Elliot asked as Nikolai reached for the marked bags, nearly twice as many as there should’ve been.

“Gerard got you knives,” Meredith explained.

“W-what?” Elliot gaped.

“He had to,” Meredith said with a shrug. “He said to tell you that you deserve to have your own knives, and he picked out the best ones, according to you.”

“Did he?” Nikolai asked.

“He was pretty excited about it,” Meredith laughed.

Elliot looked between the two of them at a loss. He had no idea how many knives Gerard had gotten him, but evenoneof those knives would easily be the most expensive thing Elliot had ever owned, much less something like a set.

“Is good Gerard goes with you to get knives,” Nikolai said, hoisting up three bags in each hand in a display of easy strength.“He is knowing about weapons, not so much about cooking. Maybe you teach him something. Also, so far you’re not stab me even little bit, so is fine.”

Meredith laughed as Elliot stared at him, then at all the bags. Alex was already loaded up with some of the clothing bags, and had the box Elliot’s new laptop had come in in his other hand.

“Come, we bring inside,” Nikolai said, and Elliot scrabbled to grab the few bags left. Meredith closed up the trunk behind them.

They stopped by the kitchen first, to drop off everything from the cooking store, though Alex continued on through the house, presumably to set his burden down in Elliot’s room.

“I think this is where I’ll say goodbye,” Meredith said, giving Elliot a smile. “Have fun arranging your kitchen. And I know you just bought that pasta maker and the ice cream maker—but let me know if you need anything else, or any other new appliances.”

“Oh, n-no!” Elliot said quickly, because they’d already bought him more than enough. “This is fine. Nikolai already has everything.”

“Still,” Meredith said. “This is your domain now, so if youdothink of anything, let me know.”

“Ice cream maker?” Nikolai asked, perking up.

Meredith’s snort of a laugh was inelegant and charming. “Of course that’s what you focus on.”

“Ice cream is good thing to focus on,” Nikolai said, tilting his chin stubbornly.

“Anyway,” Meredith said pointedly, turning back to Elliot. “It was nice to finally meet you. I’ll send you the employment contract just as soon as I’m back at my computer.”

“Okay, um, yes, thank you!” Elliot smiled at her. “A-and it was nice to meet you too. Thank you for—for everything.”

“It was my pleasure,” she said. “Night, Nikolai.”

“Night Meredith,” Nikolai said. “Thank you.”

And then she was gone.

“I’m take the rest to your room,” Nikolai said. “They are clothing?”

“Wait—” Elliot went to grab the bags, but Nikolai had already scooped them up. All Elliot could do was follow, cheeks hot, as they walked through the house to his room.

Alex had indeed left the other bags there on Elliot’s bed.

There was so much stuff.

“You get many good thing. I’m glad,” Nikolai said as he placed the bags he was carrying on Elliot’s bed. “You have long day, so rest and I’m order dinner. Okay?”

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