Page 63 of Finding Our Reality

Ridge whistles. “I have to warn you, man. Her piss-and-vinegar attitude is even more profound when she’s sick.”

I bite my lip, holding back my smile. “Good. That’s what I like to hear.”

“You know she was never like that when we were growing up. She held everything in. Never showed her emotions. Well, never showed them to anyone but us and Carrie. She always agreed with everything, never ruffled anyone’s feathers. Like some kind of perfect little porcelain doll. Me and Holt used to joke that she was like a balloon, filling up and filling up. We said one day she would just explode. Pop. All of that changed, though, when she met you. She started speaking her mind. Finally stood up to her parents. It was freakin’ amazing.”

She changed me too. For the better.

He taps the watch on his wrist, checking the time. “I still see it some, though. The stiff back, the fake smile, the passive-aggressive politeness. Holt told me to call her out on it. Point it out whenever I see it. But it’s hard to do sometimes. Sometimes, she deserves to be a bitch.” He takes a step toward me, puffing out his broad chest. The smile falls from his face. “After everything she’s been through, you know? Most women aren’t as strong as Ella.”

Are you shitting me? Is he challenging me? Calling me out? “What are you talking about, Ridge? If you have something to say, just say it.”

Taking a deep breath, he takes a step back, shaking the tension from his neck. “Nothing to say. I always liked you, Crutch. I never saw two people better fitted for each other than you and Ella. I’m just saying that none of us wanna see her hurt again.”

“I have no intention of hurting her.” Deciding to bring honesty into the conversation, I add what we’re both already thinking. “Again, I mean. I have no intention of ever hurting her again.”

He judges the look on my face before smiling. “Good. I have to head out. I have a date.”

I glance around. The only vehicles in the driveway are mine and Lulu’s two cars—her old SUV and the newer one she drove up from Mobile. “Where’d you park?”

Ridge starts walking across the front yard. “I parked in the garage over on the Big House. Oh, by the way, she refused to eat. There’s a can of chicken soup on the counter if you can force her.”

I watch as he disappears into the curtain of the night sky. The relief that floods over me when I walk back to the door is almost humorous. Almost. I can’t believe she let me think Ridge was anew man in her life. It’s bad enough to know she has the random one-night stands from the bar.

Well, it’s more than bad. But I can’t think about that right now.

I knock several times, chuckling when I hear her grunting and fussing on the other side of the door.

“Damn it, Ridge. How hard is it to remember a house key! You’re a grown-ass man, for goodness’ sake.” She jerks the door open with so much force I worry she may rip it off the hinges. Her jaw drops when she sees me standing in front of her.

The sight of her nearly brings me to my knees.

Her face is makeup free, and her messy hair is piled high on her head. She looks even younger without her makeup on. Flawless skin, flawless face. Her cheeks are rosy with the flush of a fever. Her nose is bright red and raw from blowing it, and her lips are swollen and dry. Even sick, she’s the epitome of beauty.

My voice catches in my throat when I see what she’s wearing. The T-shirt is faded, having been washed and dried a thousand times, but there’s no mistaking the emblem on the left breast of the blue shirt.Harlan’s Garage and Automotive.

She’s wearingmyshirt. It’s shorter now than it used to be, barely covering her ass and panties.

And she’s not wearing any pants or shorts.

“What the hell, Lulu. You just go walking around the house without any clothes on? Ridge was just here. Did you let him see your ass?”

Her mouth closes, and she grinds her teeth. “I wasn’t walking around the house. I was covered up. With a blanket. On my nice, comfortable couch. Until some jackass pounded on my front door. And no, Ridge doesn’t check out my butt. Don’t be gross.”

“Me? You’re the one who let me think Ridge was some guy you were dating.”

She tries to hide her smile, but does a very poor job with it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I told you it was just a friend.”

I lick my lips, trailing my eyes across her long, lean legs. “Oh, you know exactly what I’m talking about.”

She shivers underneath the intensity of my gaze. Either that, or her fever is rising, giving her the chills.

She sniffles and then coughs. “Why are you here?”

“To take care of you. Will told me you were sick.”

“I’m fine. I can take care of myself.”

“I know you can. I’m here because Iwannatake care of you, not because Ineedto take care of you.” That’s not really true. I need her, just like I need air to breathe.

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