No, but I nodded anyway.
He set the textbook on the side table. “Here’s your new chemistry book.”
“Thanks for picking it up for me.”
Roe moved around to the other side of the bed and lay down on his side next to me, propped up on his elbow. “I had to pick it up from the library. Lemon Caswell was there. She asked about you and if I’d give you her number.” He pulled out a folded-up piece of paper. As he handed it to me, he added, “She also wrote down some book suggestions to help pass the time while you are ‘sick.’”
I unfolded the paper and saw her number at the top. Below that were five book titles. I knew they were all romance.
“Those are some interesting books she recommended,” he said.
I glanced his way, finding him smirking. “You looked up the titles, didn’t you?”
“Oh yeah.” His smirk turned into a grin. “I know Wyatt gave you the idea to read romance books, but when I saw thatHer Dark Desireswas the tamest title written down on that list, I realized you weren’t reading wholesome love stories. Did you know that readers described one of the books Lemon recommended to you as ‘monster smut’?”
I almost smiled. “Are you judging?”
“Not at all. I wanted to know what you like to read. I do feel like I fell down a dirty rabbit hole, though.”
The corners of my mouth twitched.
“I read up to chapter ten ofHer Dark Desires. So far, the plot is pure filth.” He sounded shocked and impressed at the same time.
I could have told him that just from the title. “When did you have time to read ten chapters?”
“I downloaded the book on my phone during lunch.”
I was impressed. “Ten chapters in less than an hour. The filth must be good, then.”
He tucked my messy hair behind my ear. I hadn’t styled it or worn makeup since coming here. For once, I didn’t strive for perfection.
“Would you like me to tell you what I know about the story so far or do you want to read it for yourself?” he asked.
I thought about it. “I’d rather catch up with you and then discuss it.”
He grabbed my sketchbook and pencil out of my lap and tossed them on the foot of the bed, out of the way, before he moved to rest his head on my lap. He lay facing my stomach and snaked his arm between my back and the pillows behind me. “Then I’ll hold off on reading any more until your books arrive tomorrow.”
I tossed Lemon’s number over by my sketchbook and ran my fingers through his soft black hair. “What do you mean?”
He nuzzled his nose against my lower stomach through my shirt. “I ordered the books Lemon recommended online for you. They’ll be delivered here tomorrow.”
I dragged my nails up the back of his neck and through his hair, massaging his scalp. “You didn’t have to do that.”
He groaned. “I wanted to. I worry you’re bored and lonely during the day.”
“Bram’s here with me.”
He peeked up at me. “How’s that going?”
I shrugged.
“What about you? How are you doing?”
I shrugged again. “I’ll heal.”
“What about on the inside?”
My hand in his hair went still. I didn’t want to lie to him. At the same time, I didn’t want to worry him, either.
