He was so far gone over her that he was questioning his ten-year and even his fifteen-year plans. Heck, he wanted to throw the plans out the window altogether. He wanted to make Eden his wife and start a family with her. He wanted her by his side forever.
But then reality hit him, like it had earlier this evening, and he remembered he didn't have a house to raise a family in. Not yet anyway. And even though Eden wasn't nearly as uppity as he had first thought, he still worried whether he could support her comfortably considering her upbringing.
Would she turn out like Austin's first wife, who was raised with money but left her parents to marry Austin only to be dissatisfied with their life together, no matter how hard Austin worked to provide for them?
He'd been hoping Eden would still be up when he got home so they could talk more, but no light came from under her door. Hopefully, they would get a chance to talk tomorrow.
He unlocked the door on her side and went to his own room. Lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, he couldn't help recalling Esmeralda's words. For fun, he'd had his fortune told many times in the past, and each time the pretend fortune teller told him he needed to start following his own dreams and stop living for Parker. But he enjoyed the life he was living. He enjoyed serving the people of his community, so it didn't feel like he was living someone else's dreams.
Sure, he could make more money in the computer field, doing programming or cyber security, but those jobs were often solitary, and he was not an introvert. He meant it when he told Oliver that he would become bored with the tedium of a programming job. He needed more interaction and excitement.
The sound of a door banging open and the toilet seat hitting the back of the toilet followed by the sound of gagging and coughing brought him upright in bed.
Is Eden throwing up?
She looked miserable after the fireworks, but he'd figured she'd asked for a raincheck on stargazing because she didn't want to discuss their relationship anymore tonight. She must have been sicker than he thought.
The retching sounds went on for a long time followed by a low moan, then he heard the toilet flushing and water running in the sink.
Climbing from his bed, he knocked softly on the bathroom door. "Eden, are you okay?"
Several long moments passed before the door opened to reveal a pale, miserable-looking Eden.
"Are you alright?"
"Not really, but I feel a little better now." She frowned and pressed a hand to her stomach. "I think."
"Do you think it was something you ate?"
"I don't know. Maybe." She slumped against the counter. "Or maybe it's..."
"What?"
"Never mind. It's dumb to even think it."
"Think what?" Rudy stepped a little closer.
The somber, dejected look on Eden's face made him want to know exactly what she thought.
"Nothing." She motioned to her room. "I'm fine, but I'd like to go back to bed."
"Okay, let me know if you need anything. Ginger ale or something."
"Thanks." She nodded then closed the door behind her.
Rudy went back to bed only to stare at the ceiling again. He hadn't heard of a stomach bug going around, so if it wasn't food poisoning, why was Eden so sick?
He was about to drift off when he again heard the bathroom door bang open followed by the sound of the toilet seat hitting the back of the toilet then more violent gagging and retching.
He was out of his bed in a heartbeat, feeling the need to help Eden. Without waiting for her to open the door after his soft knock, he poked his head into the bathroom.
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
Eden, still bent over the toilet, sniffled and shook her head. She tucked her hair behind her ear before feebly waving him away and heaving again. Her hair fell forward as she braced her hands on the back of the toilet.
Rudy searched the drawers until he found one of her hair elastics. He stepped close to her side. "Here, let me pull your hair back."
"It's okay. I can do it." Her voice sounded as weak as she looked. "In a minute."
