“I do.” He swallows. “In fact, I think I should build up a bank of credit while I still can. This little nightgown hasn’t had nearly enough appreciation. An error I intend to rectify immediately.”
His fingers skate up my side, and I scoot backwards with a breathless laugh that turns into a shriek as he lunges forward, following me.
That turns into a moan as we both pretend to forget what’s waiting for us.
Just for tonight.
19
Ben
“You should have let me carry that.” Emmy scolds me as I set down her suitcase. I can’t hide my panting, the sheen of sweat on my brow. "We should have waited for the elevator."
“I can carry a fucking case,” I snap. The words leave my mouth before I can pull them back, and Emmy’s hand recoils from above my arm as I turn. She was closer than I realized.
Shit—
“God, I’m sorry.” I’m already reaching for her, but she steps back.Fuck.
She forces a smile before she turns away from me, moving into my kitchen. “It’s fine. Are you hungry?”
I open my mouth. The apology hovers on my lips, but she disappears out of sight before I can battle through the frustration in my own head. “No.”
Frowning, I slip out onto the balcony of my apartment and grip the railing, staring out across the water. I picked thisapartment for this view. But all I can see is the expression on her face as she backed away from me.
I snapped at her.
AtEmmy.
At my Emmy.
My head drops.
“The hospice nurse will be here in an hour.” Her voice is soft. Cautious. “To talk us through what happens next.”
And I hate myself. “Okay.”
I don’t turn around. She sighs, and then I feel her arms wrapping around me. “Ben.”
“I was an asshole.”
And worse, it’s still there. Rage thrums beneath my veins, blood pulsing in a rush in my ears.
Not for her.Neverfor her.
But rage, nonetheless.
“They said this might happen,” she whispers. “Mood swings.”
“Is that what this is?” I ask bitterly.
Her arms slip away at the ice in my own words. “I’m warming up some soup—,”
It’s all I can take, most days. “I don’t want any damnsoup!”
My hands are shaking. I push past her and stalk back inside, moving to the sideboard we picked out together and pulling open drawers.
Emmy follows me. “What are you looking for?”
