“It’s on me.”
Bryce’s determination was becoming more and more apparent. A warm feeling took residence in my chest because he was being stubborn about his concern for me, even after this display he’d just witnessed.
“Okay,” I finally gave in. “Fine.”
Genevieve gently said, “Why don’t you sit up front, just in case it was car sickness? That tends to help.”
I nodded, tears stinging my eyes with a mix of gratitude and embarrassment. Bryce was so nice, and he surrounded himself with such caring people. He couldn’t be playing games with me, could he? His feelings seemed so genuine. Maybe I needed to stop being so suspicious of him, because he truly didn’t have to do all this for me. But he was anyway.
Soon, we approached The Tower and went in through his private entrance and up the elevator with just the two of us inside. He spoke on the phone to someone, setting up an appointment with his doctor.
“Where do I have to go?” I asked.
Bryce looked confused. “He’s coming here.”
My eyebrows rose, and I was about to comment how strange it was to have a doctor come to me, but the elevator doors opened. Maya was there waiting for us with a concerned look on her face. She held out a paper cup for him and passed me a glass of some bubbling drink.
“Ginger ale,” she explained softly. “Let’s get you set up in Bryce’s office. You’ll be most comfortable there.”
I nodded, following along. The two of them got me set up on the couch in Bryce’s office. Maya even gave me a plush, fuzzy blanket to settle over my lap while I waited.
Bryce sat opposite me, asking, “Is there anything else you need?”
I stared at him in shock. “Anything else? You both have been more than generous.”
He smiled. “My dad was big on taking care of us when we were sick, and Maya’s dad is a doctor. Neither of us know how to be any other way.”
I chuckled. “My mom said if I was really sick, I could sleep in my room. No skipping school to watch cartoons and eat chicken soup.”
“No getting past her, huh? My brothers and I may have taken advantage of my dad’s kindness from time to time,” he admitted with a sheepish smile. “Dr. Martins should be here in ten minutes. And don’t tell him that his name reminds you of the shoe brand. I’ve made the joke and hedoesn’tthink it’s funny.”
“Good to know,” I said with a laugh.
“Make yourself at home until he arrives, okay?”
My lips twisted to a guilty smile. “This is really nice of you, Bryce.”
“I just want to make sure you’re okay.” The earnestness in his voice cut through me. “If you’re up for it, I’d love to have some breakfast with you when the appointment’s done. Get a little something on your stomach.”
Deep down, I knew my boss had things covered while I was here. She told me as much when I texted her to tell her I’d gotten sick and she responded by highly encouraging me to take the day off. But I still felt guilty as I said, “Breakfast sounds nice.” Even though money was no object to Bryce, I needed those hours to get by.
22.Bryce
When Dr. Martins arrived,I stepped out of my office to give Jada some privacy. Maya leaned against her standing desk and looked me over with her eyes that always saw too much. “Have you asked her yet?”
I glanced over my shoulder even though I couldn’t see her through the frosted glass. “No, I haven’t asked her,” I said quietly. A devastating feeling tore through my chest. “There’s no right way to ask a perfect stranger to marry you, not without making her feel like you were using her all along.”
Maya tilted her head to the side, letting a curtain of straight caramel hair fall over her shoulder. “I mean... You could...” She furrowed her eyebrows. “Oh, I know–” She frowned. “Nope, no good way.”
I gave her a dark look. “Don’t play with me, Maya.”
She gave me a sad smile. “You’re a good guy, Bryce. I’m sure you’ll find the right words when the time comes.”
Her faith in me seemed misplaced, but I didn’t say so. “It was scary this morning in the car. Seeing her get sick like that all of a sudden.”
“I’m glad I wasn’t there. I’m such a sympathy puker.”
“Sympathypuker?” I asked.
