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“Shit,” Elijah mutter under his breath, trying to fit in the first pair of jeans he had taken out of his drawer. He jumps, squeezing the rolls of his legs into his jeans but his attempts were an obvious failure. Nevertheless, he persists once more then lost the drive at the sound of a tear coming from somewhere. With a sigh, he undresses himself and take another pair of jeans from the drawer and, this time, it fits.

Matteo decided to roll around the bed at the moment, huddled on his duvet and took a nap from the duration of Elijah’s wardrobe malfunction. His hair had dried, although, not from the towel he uses but the long-wasted minutes in trying to find a shirt that felt right on his skin. The jeans, as well, were a problem, however, the socks snug his feet fine.

He had a moment of realization. Elijah had made decision that caused him to hesitate from moving forward. He wasn’t thinking straight back then and with an opportunity opens up at the time of desperation.

How could he even resist?

It wasn’t like he had no other choice either but the option didn’t warrant any sort of payment in return for the service. And he could never refuse something free. Well, excluding the soulmate tied on his pinky.

“Shit,” Elijah said again, tired. He sat down on the edge of the bed, slouching with his face tight and heavy from his dilemma. He also doesn’t have a ride to the hospital and commuting publicly was an option he doesn’t want Matteo to endure. That, and it’s a health and safety hazard.

He can call Oak for a ride but the man would be busy with the shop and Iris can’t drive. So is Lisa. Adam would his final choice and he hadn’t asked the man yet.

“Yet,” Elijah repeats under his breath, already dialing Adam’s number. He grimaced, embarrassed to ask for help from someone he wasn’t friendly with but he couldn’t be picky with his options now.

He pressed his phone close to his ear, listening into the ringing before a voice can be heard from the other side.

“Hello?” It was Adam, obviously. The man’s voice raised in pitch, probably emulating a sense of curiosity and shock from the sudden phone call. “Elijah, what’s wrong?” There was a tint of a soft tone from Adam’s words and Elijah bit his tongue, maintaining the composure he needs to show off to the man.

“I need a ride,” Elijah begins, “Matteo’s fever hasn’t mellowed down and I have already set an appointment to a pediatrician. If it’s alright with you, can you give us a ride there?”

Discomfort at the request, Elijah added, “Please.” It was his first time to reach out to the man and, out of all things, it was something he couldn’t have control over. He hates it but he lowers his pride, knowing that his place at the moment was a concerned father than a depressed and slightly jealous ex-husband.

“O-of course!” Adam agreed and exclaimed his reaction. “I’ll be there in a few minutes. It’s a good thing I’m on break right now.”

“I don’t know your schedule so I kinda hesitated whether to call you or not,” Elijah tells Adam.

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Adam reassures him, “I’d be glad to help you and Matteo, Elijah.”

“Yeah,” Elijah responded without hesitation, nodding at the honesty presented by Adam. It hurts to see a different side of the man. To know that the enemy was multifaceted with their own strengths and weaknesses, that their flaws have been balance with their kindness. It would’ve been easier hating an asshole but Adam, even during and after the annulment, have been nothing but helpful. Albeit, sometimes in ways that leaves Matteo uncomfortable due to his straightforward attempts of a friendship between the two.

It leaves Elijah concluding that he was the asshole all this time but he shook his head, denying his own actions with the salt his ex-wife had sprinkled on his wounds towards their marriage.

“Thanks,” Elijah continued and ends the conversation immediately.

He looks at his son from behind then lied down next to him. He’ll have to wake Matteo up eventually but, for now, he leaves his son be to conserve energy. But when will he tell his little boy of the man that shares his papa’s string? Since, they’ll meet sooner than what Elijah had initially planned.

Which is never.