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“I—” she opened her mouth and I knew from the glint in her eyes she was going to tell me she didn’t need anyone to take care of her.
“I know,” I said. “Just let me take care of you. Not because you can’t, but because I want to.”
She nodded and closed her eyes. A tear fell down her cheek and I wiped it away with my thumb. Lowering my head, I gently pressed my lips to her cheek and tasted the saltiness of her sadness. It broke my heart. I wanted to take it all away, so I kissed her, hoping that I could show her how much I cared.
When she raised her head, I moved my mouth to her neck and below her ear. I couldn’t stop. I missed her so much and wanted to apologize, but knew now was not the time for my absolution. Right now, it was all about her.
I slipped my hand over hers and drew her toward the elevators. “I’m going to take you to my house where you can rest.”
I should have been relieved that she didn’t argue with me. Instead, her lack of fight frightened me more.
Grace
The white walls in the hospital hallway blurred into one and I stumbled, thinking I would crash into it. Luke held my hand and put his arm around me when I faltered the second time.
I closed my eyes and let him lead me. I was no use on my own anyhow.
The cool night breeze whipped my hair while the humid summer air warmed my skin from the cold, sterile temperature inside the hospital.
“Wait here,” Luke said and leaned me up against the hospital wall. I closed my eyes and didn’t open them, not even when the engine of a car rumbled in front of me.
Cupping my shoulder, Luke walked me to his car, and I dropped inside like a sack of potatoes, smacking the back of my head against the headrest. I groaned inwardly, having barely enough energy to muster up any sound.
The next thing I knew, the cool night breeze spilled into the car and Luke’s arms snaked their way underneath my thighs and back. He carried me up a few steps and inside. I made out only the fact that we were inside a home, then I immediately closed my eyes again.
Luke’s biceps bunched underneath my arm and his heart hammered next to my cheek. I felt safe, warm, and cared for. The latter was a feeling I hadn’t felt since I was a child.
He laid me on a soft bed and removed my sneakers. He peeled my black socks off of me, one at a time, then ran his hands up my sweater to unhook my bra. His strong fingers on my bareback made my eyes flutter for a moment, but then his hands were gone and my eyes closed.
I heard some rustling and Luke’s voice, but I couldn’t make out the words. My world had turned black, and I felt as though I were falling into an abyss.
26
Grace
The scent of bacon pulled me from my sleep. I turned my face into my pillow and felt wetness next to my mouth.
I looked around the room, disoriented. Where am I? What happened?
I couldn’t recall anything.
I patted down the spot, and when that was useless, I simply turned the pillow over.
Spotting myself in the mirror, I combed through my hair, hoping to smooth out most of the wayward strands. I walked over to an open door, looking for the bathroom, and was relieved to see a tiled floor. When I lifted my eyes, my mouth fell open.
Holy Shit.
The bathroom was the size of my entire apartment, maybe bigger. There were two sinks, two shower heads, and two toilets. No, wait, that one didn’t have a toilet seat. As I got closer, I realized it was a bidet. My foggy brain started piecing it together. This was Luke’s bathroom.
Turning back to the white marble countertop, I turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on my face. I found a fluffy white towel on a shelf to my left. Five more were underneath it.
Spotting some blue liquid inside a plain glass bottle, I unscrewed the cap and smelled it. Definitely mouthwash. I swished some in my mouth, gurgled for a few minutes, and spit it out. Some blue spots splashed onto the countertop, and I wiped them up with the towel.
Padding across the bedroom, I opened the door to the hallway and immediately wished I had my phone. I should call Luke and ask for directions to his kitchen.
A sizzling sound made its way upstairs and I followed it. The light gray staircase with the black iron railing led to an even bigger foyer than the hallway upstairs. Soaring ceilings and tall windows made me feel like some princess locked up in a castle. I couldn’t believe this was Luke’s home.
More sizzling caught my ear, and I turned to the left toward another hallway. Turning the corner, I squinted as the floor-to-ceiling windows welcomed the rising sun outside. I couldn’t decide which was more breathtaking. The view of the sunrise behind the trees or Luke standing shirtless in front of the stove. His muscled shoulders bunched as he flipped a pancake on the skillet, and his triceps flexed when he shook the pan to his left.
