“Quade. Dating someone with a chronic illness is a daily job. Don’t be sniffing behind that girl if you’re not serious.”
“I know, Jess.” My voice dropped lower. “I thought about all of that before I touched her. I wouldn’t play with her like that.”
“Ooh… You really like this girl.”
“I already confirmed that.”
“Nah,” she said, shaking her head. “You like her. Like, you’re serious about her. Like the way you liked music before all the bullshit. The way you used to light up when you had a verse in your head. This is serious.”
“I guess it is.”
“You’ve always been the protector type. Just… protect her heart too. That poor girl has been through enough.”
“You done being Tamron Hall? I’m kind of on the clock.”
“Don’t run off before telling me when I get to meet her.”
“When I’m sure you’re not gonna run her away.”
“Please, if she likes your hard-headed ass, she already built Ford tough.”
We both laughed, and I turned toward the basement door.
“Don’t keep her to yourself too long,” she called over my shoulder. “Any girl that can get you in a button-down is alright with me.”
“Shut up,” I replied as I jogged down the stairs two at a time into my living space. I had a nice setup down here. The basement was half-finished and carpeted. Plus, I had my own bathroom. It wasn’t a lot, but it was mine. I walked past my bedroom and straight to the bathroom, eager as hell to get back to work. I stepped into the bathroom, peeled off last night’s clothes, and turned the water on. Jess’s words were echoing in my head. Pursuing a woman like Noa was serious. She didn’t have time for slow burns and games. She needed a man who’d show up for her and give her the peace she deserved. I wasn’t rich anymore, and I damn sure wasn’t perfect, but I’d spend the rest of my life being her soft space to land.
“Not you painting flowers.”Teagan snickered as I put the finishing touches on the anemones in my painting.
“And is.” I playfully rolled my eyes at my sister and kept on painting as she made her way into the kitchen. I didn’t even have to turn around to know she had that stupid, nosy smirk she’d had all day on her face.
“Your date must’ve gone good.”
“If you must know, it was better than good, actually!” I bit my bottom lip, trying to suppress the smile that was creeping up. Last night was everything and then some. I couldn’t get the thoughts of Quade touching my body while I made circles like a figure eight in his lap.
“You gonna tell me about it? Or are you gonna keep being secretive?” She stepped closer, eyes scanning the soft purple and blue tones I had spread across the canvas. Teagan had been poking at me all morning for the details about last night, but I didn’t want to discuss it in front of Rico and James.
“I’ll tell you later.” I shooed her away.
“Later taking too long.” Teagan pouted as she trotted back into the living room with a glass of water in hand, probably on her way to irritate Rico while he worked. I returned my attention to my canvas and dipped my brush in the purple paint again as I glanced at my flowers on the table. It had been a long time since I’d painted something so light and fluffy. I guess that’s what good dick did to me—had me smiling like a fool and painting simple shit. My hands moved across the canvas as I envisioned Quade’s voice in my ear, the weight of his body against mine last night as we slept. The way he held me, like I was something soft and sacred had me smitten, to say the least.
I swiped my brush over the canvas, smiling like a schoolgirl, but as I went to apply another stroke of paint, my fingers stiffened. Then came my wrist. Then my whole damn arm. It started like it always did, slow and quiet at first like a thief in the night, then immediately, it spread through my entire body, stealing my strength from every muscle and joint.Not now. Please, not now.
“Teagan!” My breath hitched as the paintbrush slipped from my hand and hit the floor.
“Noa?” Teagan replied. She must have sprinted into the kitchen because she was by my side instantly. “What’s wrong?”
“I think it’s a… flare.” I winced in pain just as my body trembled, and the muscles in my back and shoulders locked up.Shit. I cursed myself for not being in my chair. The damn paint stool wobbled beneath me as the pain spread.
“I need to lie down,” I forced out between breaths.
“Okay… Okay, hold on,” Teagan said, her voice rising as she looked around for my chair. Before she could move to get it, Rico was at the door, wheeling it in as if he’d heard us.
“We need to make the transfer,” she told me as she pulled the chair next to the bench. I nodded. The panic in her voice broke my heart. I hated making her panic.
“Q just pulled up,” James said just before the door flew open and Quade came running around into the kitchen throwing his tool belt off. The panic and concern in his eyes let me know that Rico or James must have texted him and let him know what was happening.
“Aye, what’s going on?” he asked, looking between Teagan and me. I couldn’t speak, half because of the pain and half because of the embarrassment. I didn’t want him to see me like this.
