Page 70 of Under Ground

After scooping some food onto the fork, I take a bite and let out a moan in time with my stomach grumbling. “This is amazing. Is it seriously out of a packet?”

He laughs. “It is. It’s one of those things that’s always been a comfort food when I’ve not been well, so I thought maybe you’d appreciate it. I also called my mom on the way here and asked her for some ideas on what to make my two sick girls.”

Placing my fork back in the bowl, I study him. “You told your mother about us?”

He nods. “We’re pretty close. She’s the wild child in our relationship, though. I was lucky to reach her because she’s backpacking through Europe.”

“Backpacking?”

Alex chuckles. “I can’t wait for you to meet her. She’s pretty unique.”

At that, I swallow hard. He really is serious about us being back together. And it’d be the easiest thing in the world to sink into his arms.

Maybe we never should have been apart in the first place.

It’s so hard to think when my head’s still thumping.

I wolf down the food, and he takes the bowl from me.

“You’re so good to me,” I say.

“I love you.” He stands, smoothing down the blanket. “Is there anything else you need before you go to sleep?”

I shake my head. “All I needed walked in the door a few hours ago.”

His smile is faint, and he reaches out to cup my cheek, running his thumb down to my lip. “I’ve missed you.”

“I missed you too. I’m sorry you ended up here this way, though.”

“I’m not.” He plants a kiss on my nose. “I’ve been trying to come up with excuses to come and see you.”

“I’m sorry, Alex.”

He shakes his head. “You should never have been treated the way you were. I’ve been thinking a lot about how to protect you from that.”

I swallow hard. “I keep thinking about that, but I think it’s part and parcel of your life now. You have fans. Some of them are going to think—“

“The only thing they need to focus on is my work. You and Casey are off-limits.”

“But—“

He places a finger on my lips. “When you and Casey are well again, I want you to come to the States with me.”

My heart rate accelerates, beating out of my chest. “What?”

“I’ve been talking to Reece. He and Josh have the same concerns about their families. We can work with them to make sure you’re well protected.”

Tears well, and this time it’s not because my temperature is soaring. Alex loves me, and even though I already knew that, he’s doing this for me.

Still, moving to another country is a huge choice. It means uprooting my little girl and taking her away from the only life she’s ever known.

“That’s a big decision to make.”

He runs his tongue over his lower lip. “I know. But I’m about to take this next step in my career, and I don’t want to do it without you.”

“Delaney Carter called me.”

His eyebrows rise. “She did?”

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