“I don’t know. I think she’s on her period.”
I stare at him for two whole seconds, but he just pets my cat nonchalantly. “Don’t tell me you told her that.”
“I wish I didn’t. She got more mad and then cried more. Something is wrong with her.”
“Why didn’t you get me? She’s not on her period, you idiot.” I shake my head at him before turning back to the door.
“How do you know?”
Because she gets a pimple on her cheek when she’s on her period and she had it last week. I booked her a spa and got her chocolate-covered strawberries, pretzels, and marshmallows. It was a bundle, and I obviously needed to get them all for her.
“This is why you’re single.”
“So were you up until twelve hours ago? Thanks to me, by the way.”
I turn to him very slowly, and he’s already standing from my bed and putting distance between us.
“Do not be here when I get back.” I walk out and knock on Sage’s door. I can hear her let out a sigh, and I bite back a smile.She sounds like me.
“Oh–” Her brows slightly furrow, and I’m glad that sigh wasn’t for me.
“Are you okay?”
When she lets out another breath, I know she isn’t, and I just want to hold her as she tells me what’s bothering her so I can make it go away.
“Not really, but it’s fine. I’ll–”
“It’s not fine. Tell me what it is, and I’ll fix it.”
She watches me for a few seconds, and I move an inch to lean forward and kiss her cheek. She’s so pretty. She looks even more beautiful in this moment with her bonnet and her oversized hoodie. My eyes slowly roam her face, and when she starts talking, her dimples appear and I kiss them one more time.
“You can’t fix it. I’m just stressed about the runway show.” She shakes her head before covering her face with her hands. “I tried on one of my dresses today, and it didn'tfit.I actually wanted to die, like-”
“Don’t say that.” I pull her in for a hug, and I feel her go still, but I don’t let go. “I wish you saw yourself the way I see you, Sage.” I pull away just a bit so she can see me. “Don’t ever say that again,” I tell her more sternly.
“That was very sweet, but I didn’t meanactuallydie, Lee. Just metaphorically.”
“Well, I don’t want you to want to metaphorically die, so don't say that. If your dress didn’t fit, then the idiot who made it needs to make sure the measurements are right because I’m sure it had nothing to do with you.”
She looks up at me with a sad smile. “Theydidread the measurements wrong, and Vincent fired them, but I didn’t know that at the time, and his entire team was there, and it washumiliating.” She covers her face again, as if she actually wants to disappear off the face of the earth, and I pull her hands away.
“Yeah, for the idiot who can’t read numbers. Don’t be embarrassed that they couldn’t do their job.”
She turns her head to the side, and I mirror her. “That’s not why I was embarrassed…”
“There’s no other reason you should be.”
She smiles up at me, and I kiss her.
“Have you eaten?”
Her smile disappears, and when she avoids my eyes, I have my answer. “Did you at least eat breakfast at work?” She didn't want to eat the room service I got her but said she'd eat at work. When she doesn’t answer, I have to force myself not to let out a sigh.
“Sage–”
“I justcouldn’t,Lee. I’ve been doingsowell these last few weeks. I swear I have, but I weighed myself, and Igained weight.” Her eyes widen like the thought alone is her biggest fear.
“Dory, that’s because this is the first time you’ve been eating healthy. You’re not going to gain fifty pounds in a month. I’m sure it was probably two pounds.”
