“I think it’s probably time for you to take your nap, Juliet,” he says, helping her from the chair toward the bed. “I can tell all this company has made you sleepy.”
“What do you think I am, an old lady?” Juliet says, but she slowly sits down on the bed. Glancing at me, she raises hereyebrows. “Now, you’d better make sure my boy brings you back here. You’re the first girl he’s ever introduced me to.”
I try to hide my surprise, but then I remind myself that this woman has Alzheimer’s. She’s not going to remember every single girl Hendrix has brought around over the years. I’m sure he’s brought a lot around. He’s Hendrix Hunt, and women practically throw themselves at him.
“Oh, I’ll be back to visit,” I tell her, knowing it’s probably not true.
I enjoyed meeting her today though. She’s been so sweet and funny too.
Hendrix gets her all tucked in and leans down to hug her.
“Can you please tell Lilly that I want to see her?” she whispers, her voice thick with concern. “I’m worried that something is wrong.”
Even though his back is to me, I can feel the pain radiating from his body. I don’t know much, but I know his sister means a lot to him. And I know he’s wondering where she is, too, I’m sure.
“Lilly is okay. Everything is all right,” he assures her before giving her one last hug, and she stares up at him, still smiling.
She pats his back weakly as he hugs her, and when he pulls back, she looks up at him, studying his face.
“You’re a nice boy—you know that?” She pauses. “Do you work here?”
And just like that … the woman who is like a grandmother to him is gone. His shoulders sag slightly, but he works hard not to show his disappointment. I’m not sure if he’s hiding it from her or both of us to see though. Whichever it is, seeing this side of Hendrix, the one that isn’t tough as nails, it makes me understand him a little bit more.
“No, ma’am. I just came to visit you,” he says sweetly. “You have a great rest, Juliet.”
When he stands, walking toward me, I want nothing more than to pull him in for a big hug. But … I don’t because that isn’t the type of relationship we have. Hell, we barely even know each other. I don’t want to be overbearing. So, instead, I give him a sympathetic smile and wave goodbye to Juliet.
But I decide right then that I’m not going to force him to rush back to campus so that I can make it to class.
I’m sure, for him, seeing her in this nursing home is hard. And hearing her ask for Lilly must have been painful. So, if I can help to make his day a little better, that’s what I’m going to do.
Because for some reason … I suddenly care.
At one of the lowest times of my life, he was there to help me through it. And now, I think it’s time for me to return the favor.
HENDRIX
We get into my truck, and I’m a little nervous to look over at Isla. She just saw a side of me that no one besides Juliet, who won’t remember, and the nurses there have seen. But the biggest deal of the day isn’t that I let her come with me, but that she actually wanted to. Most of the time, I think she may hate me, but not today. Today … she’s looking at me differently.
Finally, I dare to glance her way. “Fuck, I didn’t mean to make you so late to your afternoon class,” I say, looking at the clock. “I’ll get you back as soon as I can though. You should make at least the last bit of class.”
“That’s okay,” she says instantly. “I can log in online tonight and look at the assignments and catch up.” She shrugs bashfully. “We’re already away from campus for the day … might as well make the most of it?”
I lean forward on the wheel, staring at her, clearly intrigued.
“What are you saying, Nineteen?” I drawl. “You wanna spend the day with me?”
Her eyes roll, and for some reason, I fucking love it when she does that while she’s smiling. It’s almost like an impulse thing when she’s around me, like she can’t help herself. We haven’t talked about what happened the other night in the parking lot, but I also haven’t wanted to push her to talk about it if she doesn’t want to. I just hope it happens again …
“Yeah, yeah. Don’t let it go to your head too much,” she teases. “Let’s just drive and see what we find?” She glances out the window, across the parking lot. “If anything, we’ll be able to see some pretty New England foliage.”
A smirk tugs at my lips. “Oh, Isla Hardy is one of those leaf-peeping freaks, huh?” I cock my head to the side. “You probably drive around every October just to look at the leaves, don’t you?”
“So what if I do?” she tosses back playfully. “Oh, and I need food at some point. I’m freaking starving.”
I eye her over for a bit longer, unable to help my grin from growing before I nod.
“I know just the place.” I jerk my chin up toward her seat belt. “Buckle up, babe.”
