Bram’s pleased expression melted away. Roe looked like he was fighting not to smile.
“Looks like she got you there, Bram,” said a female voice just before Vivian popped her head out from behind Bram and stepped beside him. She gave me a genuine smile. “We’re sorry to interrupt. Bram told me it was getting easier for you to swallow and walk around. I’m making a pasta dish tonight that shouldn’t give you any trouble to eat. I was wondering if you would like to join us for dinner in the dining room instead of eating in your room. Only if you’re comfortable and ready, ofcourse. Please don’t feel like you have to.” She glanced at Roe. “You’re welcome to join us, too, Roe.”
“No, he’s not?—”
Vivian elbowed Bram’s side, making him grunt before he could finish speaking.
“Thank you for the offer, but my dad’s off tonight and I promised to have dinner with him,” Roe said. That meant he wouldn’t be hanging out with me for much longer.
I did like the idea of leaving the room for a while. Mac wouldn’t get home until late tonight. So it would just be Bram, Vivian, and me. I could handle that. “I’ll come to dinner.”
Vivian smiled brightly. “Wonderful!” She grabbed Bram’s arm. “Come on. Let’s leave them alone.”
Bram didn’t look happy about it, but followed his wife out of the room.
“I see where Mac gets her bubbliness from,” I said in a low voice.
Roe nodded. “She and Bram are complete opposites.”
“How long have they been together?”
Roe took a moment to think about it. “They’ve been married for three years and dated a little over a year prior, I think. Reid would know better than I would.”
I’d just have to go by what Roe thought. I doubted Reid was going to talk to me anytime soon.
Roe had left, and from the smells traveling all the way to the guest room, I knew dinner would be ready soon. I picked up some of my hair. It was tangled. The last time it had been brushed had been the night prior. Mac had helped me after I had taken a shower.
Wanting to look somewhat presentable, I got up and went into the bathroom. The brush Mac had bought me with Bram’s money was on the counter next to the sink. I scooped it up and started with my ends. As soon as those were done, I knew I’d have to tackle the top and back.
Bracing for the pain, I reached up. I ran the brush from my part down once, then a second time before I had to drop my arm. The pain was still bad enough to lock air in my lungs. I gripped the edge of the bathroom counter with my eyes closed and waited for the pain to ease. When it finally did, I didn’t bother opening my eyes when I reached up to brush another section of hair. I let out a grunt the moment my arm got high enough to reach the top of my head. As I ran the bristles down through my hair, they got caught on a knot. Before my frustration could take over, a hand took the brush from me and began working it through the knot gently.
My eyes flew open, expecting to find Bram or Vivian behind me. Instead, I saw Reid. His whiskey eyes met mine in the mirror for a moment. Then he focused on my hair as he continued to run the brush through the rest of it. His fingers grazed the back of my neck and then my shoulder as he worked. Each time, I had to fight not to react.
He didn’t speak and neither did I.
When he was done, he reached by me to set the brush back on the counter. “Dinner is ready.”
As I turned to face him, he walked out of the bathroom. I took a second to push down my irritation. He was so fucking confusing.
I found Bram and Reid already in the dining room, sitting at opposite ends of the six-seater table, which was set for four. In the center was a platter of grilled chicken, a large bowl of salad, and a basket of bread. They both noticed me at the same time. Before either of them could say anything to me, Vivian walkedinto the dining room with a big serving dish of pasta in her hands.
She smiled brightly. “Welcome. I have you sitting next to Bram, but if you’re more comfortable next to Reid, everything can easily be moved.” After setting the pasta down on the table, she took a seat at Bram’s left.
I went up to the chair on Bram’s right. “Here is fine.” I reached to grab the back of the chair and Bram shot up.
“The chairs are heavy,” he said as he pulled it out for me. He waited as I stiffly took a seat and then pushed me in.
“Thank you,” I said.
When he returned to his seat, he grabbed my plate. He held it out to Vivian, who scooped some short, cylinder-shaped pasta onto it.
“This is lemon and ricotta rigatoni. Do you like ricotta? I should have asked earlier. I know it can be hit or miss with people,” Vivian rambled, sounding nervous.
“Deep breaths, Mom,” Reid said as he reached for the salad.
She ignored him. “I also made chicken. If you think you can swallow it, we can cut it up into small bites.”
“No chicken, please,” I said a little too quickly. “Just the pasta is fine.”
