Page 46 of Reckless Vow

She raises her arm and wiggles her index finger. “It’s food poisoning,” she protests, sitting on her haunches.

Pale, distraught and ill, she smiles at me. It’s a weak smile, but I swear this is the first glimpse of a genuine smile I’ve seen since I returned.

It hits me in my chest with a mix of emotions I don’t want to contemplate.

We stare at each other, and despite the circumstances a sense of calm and peace descends on us. I don’t know what caused it, but it feels like we’ve buried the hatchet.

She leans into me with a sigh. “You came.”

Chapter14

Brook

Did he come back for me?

Not that it in any way redeems him for the time when he didn’t come, but tired, nauseated me is relieved he’s here now.

Even though I don’t want him to see me like this. God, I must look like a mess. And still, the way he’s looking at me feels like he cares.

Like I’m not alone.

“Of course I came. Sorry, my phone was off.” He scoops me up. “Let’s get you to bed.”

I put my head on his chest and let him carry me. I’ve been puking my guts out since lunch. I guess eating yesterday’s takeout wasn’t in my best interests.

“I feel like shit.”

“You don’t say.” He sits me on my bed, and I immediately drop to my side.

He disappears into the bathroom and gets me a glass of water. “Take only small sips. I’m going to check Mom’s medicine cabinet to see if I can get you something to hydrate you.”

I close my eyes.

I shiver and squint. The house is silent and the light is dimmer. Did I fall asleep? Baldo carried me to my bed and then went somewhere… but now I’m covered.

Another wave of shivers runs through me, and I whimper, disoriented.

“I’ve got a bucket here for you.” His voice is like medicine, lacing my insides with a security blanket.

For years, every time I got sick, I was all alone. I wasn’t close enough with any of my so-called friends to call them when I fell ill.

My family was across the ocean. And my boyfriends? Well, they certainly didn’t stick around for thefor worse or in sicknessparts of the relationship.

Baldo sits at the foot of the bed. He changed clothes. His biceps are bulging from his long-sleeved black T-shirt.

“Did I fall asleep?”

“You dozed off for ten minutes. Do you need to…?” He gestures to the floor.

I follow his gaze, and sure enough, he did prepare a bucket for me. “No, I think I got it all out. I feel like a steam roller ran over me. I’m sure I look like it.” I groan.

“You always look beautiful to me.” He runs his hand over my ankle. Even through the blanket, it sends shudders through my body.

You always look beautiful to me.I don’t know how to digest his words. And not only because my digestion is seriously impaired now.

“Even when I cut my hair in middle school?”

He snorts. “God, you looked like a wet sparrow.”

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