He let out another meow, then moved deeper into the apartment, looking back at me like he expected me to follow. Which is exactly what I did.
The sun had gone down outside, so there was nothing but the faint glow of the streetlights below filtering through the large windows on the far wall.
I moved through the space, following Yoda through the living room and into the bedroom. There was just enough light coming through the bedroom windows to make out the person-sized lump in the middle of the bed.
I rushed over, bending over the bed and placing my hand on her shoulder. “Holly? Baby?”
She let out a pained whimper that gutted me. “Tanner?”
“Yeah, sweetheart. It’s me. Are you okay?”
She shifted her head on the pillow and cracked one eye partway open. “Wha?—”
“You haven’t been answering your phone,” I whispered. “I was worried when you didn’t show up and I couldn’t reach you.” I reached over and brushed her hair back, noticing the clamminess on her skin. “Are you sick, Sunshine?”
She let out a little moan and slammed that one eye shut again, like she couldn’t stand for it to be open, even that little bit. “Migraine.”
My stomach sank at that single word. “Christ, baby. I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do?” I asked, making sure to keep my voice low so I wouldn’t cause her any more pain.
“Pills. In the medicine cabinet.”
“I got you, baby. Don’t worry.” Determination coursed through my veins. I was going to take care of her. And I wasn’t going to leave her side until she was better.
Holiday
I woke up slowly,my brain feeling sluggish and my body feeling like I’d fallen out of a tree and hit every damn branch on the way down. That was how it usually went after a bad migraine. It usually took me a few days to get back to rights.
I took my time waking up all the way, stretching out my stiff limbs and slowly pushing up to sitting. I had no idea what time it was, but the sun was filtering through my window, the pale purple and pink of the sky indicating it might be early morning.
A sound from outside my bedroom caught my attention and got me moving. Shoving the covers off, I climbed out of bed. My legs wobbled slightly, and I gave myself a moment for my equilibrium to kick in. Once I was steady on my feet, I opened the bedroom door and stepped out to find Tanner in my living room.
He was moving around the space, cleaning up the rest of what I couldn’t the night before. Yoda dogged his steps, letting out those adorable little honks I loved so much.
“No, buddy. I told you, you can’t go in there. We have to let Momma sleep, she’s not feeling good. You can see her when she wakes up.”
Things from the night before were hazy, but seeing him started to clear the picture from the night before. I remembered Tanner coming into my bedroom and finding me curled up. He’d stayed this whole time, taking care of me, alternating between warm and cold compresses for my head. He even massaged my shoulders and the back of my neck to try and ease the tension.
“I’m awake. And you’re cleaning?”
Tanner’s head whipped around. Relief flashed across his expression, followed by a brilliant smile that made my belly feel warm and fuzzy. At the sound of my voice, Yoda came running over, butting up against my leg affectionately, like he was just as relieved as Tanner to see me.
“Hey.” He looked around the space like he hadn’t even realized he’d been doing it. “Oh, yeah. There was some broken glass and stuff. I didn’t want you to cut yourself.”
A pit formed in my stomach, and for the first time since I started this thing with Tanner, I lied. “Oh, yeah. I was a little unsteady when I got home. Bumped into stuff but wasn’t feeling up to cleaning it up.”
He moved to me, gently taking my cheeks in his hands. A crease formed between his brows as he studied me, scanning every inch. “You okay, sweetheart?”
I reached up, wrapping my fingers around his wrists and holding tight. “You stayed,” I said in a whispered voice. My chest suddenly felt too tight, like there wasn’t enough room to contain my swelling heart.
“Of course I stayed.” He said it so easily. Like it was expected, the least he could do. The last time I’d been watched over like this had been when I was still a kid living at home. Tanner didn’t understand how much it meant to me that he’d stayed. That he’d taken care of me. To me, it was everything. “I wanted to help.”
He rested his palm against the side of my neck and swept his thumb right below my bottom lip. That was becoming my favorite caress. I loved when he held me that way. It made me feel special. Like I really meant something. “I hated seeing you in pain.” His gaze grew tender, that beautiful amber warming like they were sunbaked. “I care about you, Sunshine.”
That was the moment I knew I was screwed, because I’d gone and fallen in love with a man I couldn’t keep.
I swallowed down the lump of emotion that swelled up in my throat. “I care for you too,” I replied, using a different four-letter word than the one I truly meant. “Thank you so much for staying and taking care of me.”
He reached up with his other hand and feathered his fingertips along my hairline, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear. Concern flashed over his handsome face. “You okay?”
