Her gaze hardens. “You want to take my dying mother as a PR moment?”
Groaning, I slap my hand to my head. “Jesus Christ, no. Can you just let me help?”
“Why? I’m not your burden to bear.”
“Newsflash, you are. But this isn’t a burden.” Rising, I lean over her, placing my hands on either side of her head as I force her to hear my words. “Let me take care of you.”
Something akin to panic flashes in the depths of her eyes, but it’s there and gone before I can assess the emotion. “Fine, you want to take care of me?” she asks.
“Yes.”
Her chin rises. “Let’s see how long it takes you to leave.”
Now we’re getting to the underbelly of why she won’t let anyone help her. Layla doesn’t count. I have a feeling she has taken my approach many times and has had to force her hand to get this beautifully stubborn woman to accept help.
I revel at the hitch in her breath as I whisper, “You’re on,Blaze.” I straighten, taking in the way her eyes heat at the nickname. “Something tells me that you’ll be the one to walk away, not me.” Before she can answer, I’m pulling out my phone with my schedule. “Your mom is supposed to be let out tomorrow morning, but your doctors want to keep you for another night of observation due to the level of dehydration you came in with.”
Bella stares at me like I’ve grown a second head. “How did you get my mother’s medical information?”
I smirk. “I have my ways.”
“What are you, Satan?”
“I prefer archangel or fairy godmother, but if you want to call me your devil then I’m happy to oblige.”
A burst of shocked laughter flies from her mouth and the sound—the sound is like cominghome.
“I’ll help your mom when she’s discharged. It’s an off day for me so I’ll stay with her until you come home.”
“No.”
My head slowly rises at that. “You don’t have a choice in the matter. You’re stuck in a hospital bed.”
Her eyes narrow as she folds her arms over her chest. “I don’t like you right now.”
“I think you like me plenty, but don’t make your mom suffer because you’re stubborn. I doubt she wants to stay another minute in here, let alone another night.”
She chews on her bottom lip. “Fine, but can I at least come with you to introduce you two? She won’t be happy with this arrangement.”
I clutch my chest in mock horror. “I can’t believe you’re doubting me. Parents love me,” I say with a big smile.
“They like you because they think you’re a harmless puppy.”
“Is that a compliment?”
She stares at me blankly.
My smirk only grows. “I’m taking it as a compliment.”
Bella doesn’t take me to her mom until seven in the morning. I tried to let her sleep, but it seems I wasn’t the only one who couldn’t.
“It’s not going to be as bad as you think,” I say as Bella remains standing at the entrance of the oncology ward.
“I should be the one giving you a pep talk,” she says flatly.
I snort. “If you don’t go in, then I will.”
She’s quiet, as still as a statue, but the moment I lift my foot to walk forward she sighs heavily before rolling back her shoulders. “Let’s get this over with.”
