His body stills. “I’m not,” he says after a moment, voice lower. “Go back to sleep.”
I do.
When I wake again, it’s morning.
Pale light filters through the curtains. My body feels wrung out, but I do feel different. Better, maybe.
I turn my head slowly and freeze when I notice I’m not alone. Lorenzo is asleep in a chair beside my bed.
His head is tipped back slightly, jaw slack in a way I haven’t seen in years.
My chest tightens.
A thought springs to life in my head.
In another life, this could have been normal. Sick days and shared beds and someone staying up all night because that’s what you do when you love someone.
As if he can hear my thoughts, Lorenzo stirs.
His eyes open slowly and land on me instantly. “Good, you’re still alive.” His words don’t match his actions, and I know he’s full of shit when he says them. But I’ll play along.
“Disappointed?”
“Deeply . . .” He rubs a hand down his face. “I had plans.”
I smile. Regardless of our words, we are both full of it.
“You stayed,” I say quietly.
“I did.” He stands and rolls his shoulders. “You did ask.”
“True, but that didn’t mean you had to sleep there.” I point at the chair.
“Where else was I supposed to sleep?”
My cheeks warm as it hits me that the only other place he could have slept is next to me.
“Drink this.” His words cut through my thoughts as he gives me a glass of water. “And don’t move.”
“You know I don’t like to follow orders.”
“Yeah, I know, Little Bird. That’s why if you do, I’ll just chain you to the bed.” He smirks.
“Don’t threaten a girl with a good time.”
That makes him laugh. “Glad to see the fever broke and you have your personality back.”
I open my mouth to respond, but can’t think of anything to say, so I finally say what’s in my chest, which makes it hard to understand why he’s still here.
“I thought you hated me,” I say softly.
He looks at me then. Really looks.
“I don’t,” he answers without hesitation, before he turns to go.
“Lorenzo,” I say. He pauses without facing me. “Thank you,” I add, quieter. “For . . . last night.”
He nods but still leaves.
