I reach across the car and take her hand, winding our fingers together. “But I didn’t want to miss out on any time with you.”
She laughs. It’s her surprised, sweet laugh, the one I can never get enough of. “It sounds funny when you say things like that because we literally see each other all the time. But at the same time, I get it because I feel the same way about you.” Romilly says it so matter-of-factly, as if her words don’t set my soul on fire. As if every admission from her that she loves me doesn’t make me want to write embarrassing poems and do a backflip in public.
Romilly rests most of the drive, and when we get back to Meadow Hills, I park in her driveway. I help her out of the car, placing one hand on her lower back to guide her. It’s not that she needs it—she can walk just fine. But I’ll find any excuses I can to touch her.
The idea that she’sminenow feels unfathomable.
“I’m going to take a long nap,” she murmurs, glancing up at me through those long lashes.
“But you have a concussion. You’re supposed to take short naps, remember?”
She sighs. “That’s right.”
“I’ll call you every thirty minutes or so to make sure you’re alright. But mark my words…If I don’t hear from you even once, I’m coming right back.”
“Fine.” She blushes, but smiles.
I kiss her soft mouth and then move to her forehead when it becomes too much. Romilly leans into me, letting me fully envelop her in my arms. It feels so good to hold her like this, but I don’t want to keep her from resting, so I let her go and get in the car. I fully intend to let her sleep, but as soon as I start driving, worry creeps through me. I tap her contact photo on the screen in my car.
“Already?” she answers.
“Already.”
A laugh. “That’s fine. I’m not ready to go to bed yet, anyway. I still need to feed Jasper.”
“Good. But even when you are ready, I fully expect you to stay on the line and fall asleep to the sound of my voice.”
“Well, that’s even better than lullabies. You’re spoiling me.” Then she gasps like she’s distracted by something else. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“I just checked my email and Elena Fererra wants to come interview The Paw Spa next week.”
I raise my eyebrows. “You’ve got this. We’re going to knock the socks off her.”
I can practically feel her blushing through the phone. “Thank you. And I know you won your fight, but I was hoping you’d at least be there that day.”
“Of course. I told you I’ll always be here to help you when you need it,” I tell her. Though I can’t deny, it felt like a giant weight off my shoulders when two sponsors reached out after I won my fight—one energy drink company and an athletic clothing brand. Still, I haven’t even started packing my stuff at the lake house to move into my new apartment—which I got approved for, thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Westfall’s connection to the landlord.
“Thank you.” She yawns. “I can barely keep my eyes open.”
I talk to her for a little while longer, muttering stories to her that I make up as I go about dragon slayers and princesses who bake fresh sourdough bread. I make Jasper the main character of one story, and by the time I decide I’m quite proud of where it’s going, I realize she’s fallen asleep.
When I hang up the phone, I go inside. The lake is visible through the kitchen windows, rippling under the wind like a flag hung full mast. Heading up the stairs, I find Ingrid in her room. She’s in the middle of packing her things, and even though we discussed her going back home, the sight of her leaving still causes an ache in my chest.
“I’m, uh, going to miss you, Innie.”
She lovingly rolls her eyes over her shoulder at me. “Oh, don’t start getting all mushy on me.”
“Sorry, you’re right. Get on out of here, will you?”
She zips her suitcase and faces me with a grin. “Are you sure you aren’t going to starve without me?”
“I make no promises.”
She smiles, but it fades away after a moment. “It’s going to be odd without you back home. Mum and Dad are going to torment me.”
“If they do, come visit me. I’ll be in my own place, and you can break all the rules you want in the home of Sebastian Black.”
