I sat up, legs swinging off the couch and planting on the floor.For a second, I hesitated and listened closely.The sound was unmistakable.I jumped to my feet and hurried to the door.Fuck propriety.Rose needed me.
Easing the door open, I peered my head in.“Rose?”I called out.“You okay?”
“Fine,” she said in a quick burst, a tinge of shock in her tone.
“You don’t sound fine.”
“I’m fine.Please, just—” Her plea got lost to a violent heave.
I pushed the door open and hurried to the bathroom.Rose sat on her knees, arms resting on the toilet seat, head cradled in the crook of her elbow.Her hair had fallen over her face, and I reached out, brushing the strands away from her eyes.
Her lid popped open, and she met my gaze.
“Hi,” I said with a smile.
“You don’t have to—”
“I want to.”I didn’t give her time to argue.I grabbed a clip from the drawer, pulled her hair back, and sat on the floor, rubbing soothing circles on her back.
“I never deserved you.”A tear slid down her cheek, and I caught it with my finger.
“You deserve everything, Rose.I’m the one who can’t give you it all.”
She turned her head, eyes glossy, lips trembling.“You’re giving me more right now than most people ever would.”
“I always have your back, Grasso.”
A breathy laugh escaped her, then she heaved, body contorted over the bowl.I didn’t move.Didn’t as much as flinch.I kept my hand on her back, continuing to soothe, continuing to be there in the only way I knew how.
Once the heaving stopped, Rose pushed from the toilet, her back against the tub.“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it, Rosebud.”
Her eyes slipped shut, lip trembling, before she inhaled deeply, her chest rising and falling.“I need a shower.”
“And afterward, call the doctor.This isn’t just indigestion or heartburn.”
She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.“It’s probably just stress.”
“Possibly, but I’d feel a whole lot better if you got checked out.Just to make sure it’s nothing serious.”
“I’ll call them.Make an appointment.”
I raised an eyebrow at her, knowing damn well she was just saying it to pacify me.
“Iwill.”She laughed, and damn if I didn’t want to bottle that shit up and open it whenever I needed a little piece of joy.
“Good.Do you need anything?Water?Ginger tea?”
“Tea would be great.”
“Go shower, I’ll have it ready when you get out.”
Her teeth slid over her bottom lip, pulling it into her mouth and gnawing on it for a moment.
“You’re a good man, Wy.Too good.And I might not deserve you in my life right now, but I’m grateful all the same.”
“I told you, Grasso.I’m a weed.Try to get rid of me, and I’ll just keep coming back.”I had said that to her in the first week we started dating.
