Page 46 of Any Kind of Life

Paige sobbed against Juliet’s forehead, rocking them back and forth on the floor. “Where the fuck were you, Henry? You’re supposed to protect her!”

“I…she told me to take a few hours off. She said she would be here most of the day, and she was with Cara. I only left a couple of hours ago.” Henry lifted Paige’s phone and took over on the call. “Yes, I can let you into the building. Yes, that’s the correct street.”

Paige zoned out of anything going on around her, kissing Juliet’s eyelids. Maybe if she held her tighter, she would wake up. Maybe if she felt Paige’s warmth, her heartbeat, it would give her some kind of reason to hang on.

“B-baby.”

Paige lifted her head and stared at Juliet.

Had she imagined that, or had Juliet spoken?

“Juliet, open your eyes for me.” Paige stroked her face again, willing Juliet to just feel her touch and know she was safe. “Come on, babe. Let me see those eyes.”

Juliet’s lips parted, her eyes slowly opening.

Paige knew just how serious this was, but she still grinned when she saw those dark eyes. “Hi. It’s about time you woke up.”

“I’m cold. And I can’t feel my legs.”

Paige clenched her jaw to keep her from crying. She couldn’t show Juliet how scared she was. It wouldn’t help any of this. “Henry, give me your coat. And your sweater.”

Henry stripped off and covered Juliet up. Paige looked up at him; he had tears in his eyes, too. “Hey, Jules.”

“W-what are you d-doing here? Told you t-to go home.” Juliet shook in Paige’s arms, her teeth chattering.

“You know me, Jules. Can’t sit around for too long.”

“H-H.” She managed barely a smile. “Y-you look after her, o-okay? E-every minute of t-the day, y-you look after her f-for me.”

“I’ll look after you both.” Henry crouched down beside Paige, taking Juliet’s hand. “The paramedics are two minutes away. You just keep talking to Paige, and we’ll have you at the hospital in no time.”

Juliet’s eyelids fluttered closed again, panicking Paige. “Babe!”

“Mm?”

Paige brought her lips to Juliet’s ear. “I need you to live, okay? I need you to come home to me. To our bed. I just want to hold you and know that you’ll be okay.”

“D-do the world tour, P-Paige.”

Paige scrunched her eyes shut, a painful lump lodged in her throat. “I can’t. I’ll be busy with you.”

“P-please. Do it.” She reached out and gripped Paige’s arm. Juliet looked Paige square in the eye, tears slipping down her face. “Baby, I-I think I’m dying.”

“You’re not. I won’t let you.” Paige kept rocking Juliet in her lap, stroking her hair. “Can you open your eyes for me for just one minute? Please?”

Juliet did so, only just managing Paige’s request.

“You’re so beautiful.” She gently leaned down and kissed Juliet. “And I need to ask you something really important before we go to the hospital and you start to recover.” Because Juliet would. She had to. This couldn’t be the end for them. Their life was only just beginning together.

“T-the apartment is y-yours,” Juliet said, her body no longer shaking. It was just…limp in Paige’s arms. “I-I changed my w-will a few months ago. E-everything i-is y-yours.”

“No, babe. No, that’s not what I want to ask.” Paige smiled down at Juliet, those beautiful eyes barely able to remain open. “Marry me, Juliet.”

Juliet managed a smile. “I’d marry you over a-and over if I had the chance.”

“Just the once will be enough. Please, marry me.”

Juliet offered a single nod. “K-kay.”

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