Not when her entire world might be uprooted soon. I can’t be another nail in her coffin. Besides, I have one more treatment left, and then I’ll be in remission, and these horrendous last few months will be long behind me, with my best friend’s heart and mind left fully intact. My stomach sours with the false bravado of what has become my daily affirmations.
I settle back into the leather seats of the massive truck, more similar to a bulletproof tank than a road-safe vehicle, thanks to Rafael’s possessive arse.
It’s decided.I won’t tell her yet.
We pull up to the three-storey, brick-sided flats, and Elise parks along the street.
“Let me know if you need a ride tonight, and we can pick you up, okay?”
“I'll just ride with Elijah, but I'll let you know. Thanks,” I tell her, unclipping my seatbelt and climbing out of the car. “See you tonight.”
She waves at me through the window, pulling away and turning her radio up so loud I can hear it until she turns at the end of the street.
Elijah won't be home for another hour or so, changing and debriefing with his team. The thought of being alone for an hourwould usually thrill me, but for some reason, there's a pit in my stomach.
Rather than head inside, I make my way down the pavement, stopping inside a craft shop for a pack of metal bookmarks and etching solution. I stop at another shop for a few balloons, then make my way back to our flat, tidying up and setting the balloons on the kitchen island for Elijah. I make him a snack plate and cover it, popping it in the fridge for when he returns home, always ravenous.
Fatigue presses in on me as I settle myself on the sofa, using a small cotton-tipped applicator to apply the etching solution to the bookmark. It reads, “MVP Rookie,” and I decorate the outer edges with symbols of things I've learned Elijah loves. Everything from ducks, ring-shaped lollies, and sushi rolls to books, a rugby ball, and an orca so he has a piece of me too.
The space is small, and the shapes look more like weird blobs, but I'm hoping it's the thought that counts. I leave everything out on the coffee table, unable to get myself up to put the supplies away as exhaustion drags me under.
I wake to the sound of the front door being unlocked and nudged open. Elijah steps inside, leaving the lights off; the moonlight filtering through the balcony doors is all that illuminates the small space.
Watching him through slitted lids, my chest warms at the sight of his grin as his gaze lands on the balloons. He picks up the folded note I left by them, this time in the shape of a rugby ball, reading it as he kicks off his shoes. His smile grows wider, cheeks burning bright, even in the dim light.
“You were incredible out there,” I tell him, breaking through the silence.
“I could've played—” He shakes his head. “You know what? You're right. I played damn well.”
I'm proud of him. So bloody proud. Not just that he played well, but that he recognised when he was slipping into self-deprecation and corrected himself.
He takes a seat beside me, turning on the lamp. My mouth goes dry at the sight of him.
His hair is damp, curling at the ends. Lean muscles stretch beneath the confines of his grey suit, every thread appearing as if it were perfectly tailored just for him. Though I know he wouldn't spend money frivolously on something like clothing.
My gaze flicks to his face, and I suck in a breath, pushing myself up to get a better look at him.
“Elijah—”
“I'm fine,” he assures me.
“S-stay right here. I'll get a first-aid kit.”
I don't leave any room for argument, shuffling off the sofa and dragging my tired arse through the flat, collecting supplies to clean him up. His left eye has a bruise blooming beneath a gash in his eyebrow, and his bottom lip is split.
After washing my hands and setting out my supplies, I step between his spread thighs.
“You really don't need to fuss over me, Adhira. I should've had the team medics fix me up, but I wanted—” He averts his gaze.
“Wanted what, Elijah?”
When he looks up at me, it's through thick lashes.
“I wanted to get home to you.”
My heart splinters.
“I'm okay, Elijah. Your life doesn't have to revolve around my needs. I swear, I'm a big girl. I can?—”
