Page 34 of Unbearable
“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice hoarse. As she swallowed, I had to force myself not to stare at the delicate movement of her throat. Everything she did affected me.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, seizing the moment while her animosity toward me seemed to be at bay.
“Better. What time is it?”
“Just after midnight. You’ve been asleep all day.” Even with her hair in a beyond messy bun piled on her head, no makeup, and that sickly flush to her cheeks, she was beautiful.
“Oh, god. You really didn’t have to look after me. I’m okay. Go get some sleep.”
“I want to help,” I said, and the vulnerability of my statement had me backtracking. “You’ve always been a big baby when you are sick. Can’t let you fend for yourself,” I teased. “What do you need? I picked up some tea.”
“Oh, shut it. You are the one who would always get the man-flu.” She sat up and rubbed her eyes. “But tea does sound nice. Maybe if I can stomach it, I can try some toast.” She let out a husky chuckle.
I stood, extending a hand to her. She peered up at methrough her long lashes, and our gazes locked before she reached out her hand and put it in mine. The warmth of her hand in mine triggered a domino effect of chills through my body.
After our first hug in a decade, I remembered exactly why I was trying to stay away from her. All it took was one single hug, and all I could think of was the feel of her waist under my calloused hand. How it might feel to dip my hand under her shirt and feel her bare skin.
I attempted to sober my thoughts as we walked into the kitchen. After grabbing two mugs from the counter, I put the kettle on to boil as she sat at the dining table.
“Thank you.” Her voice was light and airy and fuckingeverything. “For everything—letting me stay here and invade your space, for taking care of me… I guess what I am trying to say is I appreciate it.” Her voice grew strained, and I knew she was slightly uncomfortable giving me her gratitude.
“Anytime. I’d do anything for you.”
“You would?” she asked, her voice now barely audible.
“Of course. Always,” I answered.
The kettle started to sing, and I stood to grab it, pouring the water into the two mugs and placing a tea bag in each.
“Careful, it’s hot,” I said, smelling the peppermint as it steeped.
She smiled, looking down at her tea. “Do you remember Joanie Rivers? Well, I guess she would be Joanie Allen now, since she is married,” she said.
“You mean the Joanie Rivers whose brother I punched because she told everyone you peed your pants in sixth grade?” I asked.
“Yes, that one.” She laughed, and the sound echoed in my head. I wanted to stop everything just to listen to it again and again.
“Yeah, but where the hell did that come from?”
“I ran into her when I first got into town. She was at Woodstone Perks, getting a peppermint tea with Garrett, who apparently is her husband now. He didn’t say a single word to me, but she sure had a lot to say.” She paused, taking a sip of her tea. “She ordered a peppermint tea and always smelled like peppermint growing up.”
“I think she religiously popped breath mints and drank peppermint tea, thinking it would increase her chances of someone kissing her,” I said, and she laughed.
And god, that fucking laugh was intoxicating.
“Well, I couldn’t exactly punchher, and her brother was just as bad, so it worked out. Who goes around spreading stupid rumors like that anyway?” I asked.
“Middle school girls. That’s who. She was one of the lovely ones that decided to make fun of the fact that I didn’t have a mom.” Her eyes lowered to her tea as she swirled the tea bag.
“Her loss. You are a good friend to have. Did you make any good friends in Seattle?” I asked, realizing I knew next to nothing about Dotty’s life now in Seattle, including if she had any friends or even a boyfriend.
“Yeah, my roommate, Noah. We met right after I moved and have been inseparable since. I’d go through all those terrible years of having no friends again, if it led me to her.” She smiled, and I could tell she really meant it. “She’s the best.”
I was unable to hold back a smile of my own, knowing she had someone there for her over the last several years. “I’m really happy for you. It seems like you have it all figured it out.” She let out a hum in response.
“Hey, I know this is kind of out of the blue…” I cleared my throat. “But I have a wedding to go to in a few weeks for one of my military buddies. I RSVP’d for a plus one a few months ago when I was dating Sandra. I don’t really want to go alone and look like a loser. Think you could put up with me for it? I’ll feed you.”
I did RSVP for two, although I didn’t tell anyone who it was for but could easily go by myself. Ishouldgo by myself, but I just couldn’t fucking stay away.
