Page 53 of Caught in the Middle

He placed the box on the nightstand for her. “Are you good?” he asked.

She moved to the top of the bed, crawled under the covers, pulled them up to her chest, and placed the box on top of her. “Yup.”

“Alright, I’m going to change real quick.”

“Be my guest,” she cooed while wiggling her eyebrows at him.

He didn’t bother hiding his laughter because he loved the attention she’d been giving him all night, even if he couldn’t indulge any further in it. A man could still appreciate though.

He grabbed ball shorts and a t-shirt and took them to the bathroom, shaking his head through grinning lips as she heckled him for being too modest. By the time he changed and brushed his teeth, he came out of the bathroom to find a sleeping Emma, her head tilted to the side, mouth wide open, and already drooling with one hand still holding a partially eaten cookie.

The word cute came to mind. He grabbed the box and moved it, took the small trash can from under the desk and put it by the bed just in case, then quietly slipped out of the room to go get water bottles from downstairs. He had a feeling she was going to be out all night.

Yet he hurried downstairs because he didn’t like the idea of her waking up and him not being there for her. If there was anything he knew for sure, it was that he wanted Emma to know she could rely on him.

Chapter 20

Everything ached the next morning as Emma rolled off her pillow, aware of her hair sticking to her face where she’d been lying in her drool. She groaned. The room was still dark so it couldn’t be too late.

She felt on the side table for her phone to check the time when Cam’s voice scared her, causing her to drop it on the floor.

“Good morning, sunshine.”

“Why do you sound so chipper?” Her throat felt sore. Probably the shots she remembered tossing back with Lulu.

“I’ve already had breakfast, a hot shower, and took a little stroll earlier this morning. It’s a beautiful day,” he said, his smile clear in his voice.

Emma got the distinct impression he was enjoying this. “What time is it?”

“A quarter ‘til noon.”

She popped up, then regretted the quick movement as her stomach did flips and her head throbbed. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”

“No, why?”

“Our massage is at twelve-thirty.” She let out another groan.

Cam chuckled, heading for the blackout curtains. “I guess you better get moving.” He pulled them open, laughing at the sound of Emma plopping back on the bed and turning to see her with a pillow over her face.

He was pretty sure he could make out some muttered expletives into that pillow. “There’s food on the desk. I figured you’d be hungry when you woke up. I put a yogurt, bagel, and apple in the fridge from breakfast, and I just got back with a chicken pasta and salad from lunch in that brown box. It should still be warm.”

She slid the pillow to the side, using all her willpower to get up and not waste this day away. Why did she think it would be fun to let loose last night? Suddenly all her reasonings felt poorly placed now. Emma went to look for her dropped phone but noticed the two water bottles on the nightstand, a packet of Advil and the trash can on the floor beside it.

She looked up at Cam, and he could’ve sworn it was something like surprise and awe in those eyes. “You did this for me?” she asked in the most incredulous sounding voice he’d heard.

He shrugged like it was no big deal.

She smiled, not thinking it was no big deal at all. It was a huge deal to her. Asher used to get so pissed off whenever she had one too many, which she wondered if he was giving that same attitude to Lauren today or not, not that it was her business. But for Cam to take care of her and think about how she might be feeling this morning, the butterflies that kept making their appearance this week softly rubbed against her heart at the gesture.

She grabbed a water, the medicine for her aching head, and bent down for her phone. She quickly checked to make sure there was nothing of urgency then slid it onto the nightstand and stood up. Jeez, she had to start moving slower.

“I’m going to take a quick shower and get changed so we don’t miss our appointment,” she told him.

He nodded. “Sounds good. But hey, if you don’t feel up to it, I don’t blame you. I’ll cover whatever cost they charge for last-minute cancellations.”

She smiled again. “That’s not necessary,” and as she went to pass him for the bathroom, she reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder momentarily. “Thank you.” Then she went to get ready for the day, fully intent on downing some food after she didn’t smell like a liquor store.

It was a small thing and simple words, yet Cam felt like puffing his chest out or something equally ridiculous at how Emma made him feel. He would’ve done it for anyone. Hell, he’d done it numerous times for his friends back home over the years. That’s what you did for the people you cared about, you took care of them and made sure they were good to go and safe. Yet he got the feeling that maybe Emma wasn’t used to receiving that kind of consideration.

---