Page 45 of Forgot to Tell You Something

“He has Lewy body dementia, so there’s no positive outcome. But,” Tally pauses, a tear rolling down her cheek, “I think he still remembered me? The neurologists can’t say what the fall will do to any remaining cognitive function. I meant to go there two nights ago, but I didn’t. I was selfish.”

“Why didn’t you say anything? I would have gone with you.”

She shrugs, wiping a stray tear. “People are weird about dementia, or illness in general. I didn’t want to saddle you with that. Too much reality for the first couple of weeks.”

“Not for me, especially not when it’s for you.”

Tally sighs, and I see her erecting the emotional wall again, brick by brick. “If I’d known you were a doctor...actually, I knew. There were too many signs. I just didn’t want to believe it. I guess some people aren’t meant to have the fairy tale ending.”

“I want to give you the fairy tale ending. I’m planning on it, actually. I’m planning so many things for us, but it only works if you’re there.”

She averts her gaze, nibbling her bottom lip as she pulls at a thread from the throw pillow.

“I signed the paperwork for the condo,” I offer, trailing my fingers down her arm. “The one you like, with the rooftop garden for Hecate. The one with an extra bedroom, just in case.”

Funny thing. My ex, Charlotte, is all about the material pleasures. That condo, and the idea that I bought it with her in mind, would have sent her into squeals of delight. But for Tally, it’s not even remotely impressive. I wounded her soul, and an oceanfront view will not change that fact.

Maybe honesty will. “I want to tell you everything, Tally.”

“There’s more?” she inquires, fumbling to get the noodles into her mouth. Tally is the least graceful woman in the world with chopsticks. God, I love her.

“No, but I’d like you to know me. All of me. You’ll see that I’m not that guy, that I’d sooner walk through fire than hurt you.”

“You’d better get to stepping, then”—she grits out—“because you did more than hurt me.”

“Can we talk about it? Let me tell you my reasons. Please, Darlin.”

“Not tonight. I’m too tired.” She rolls her shoulders, wincing in pain. “I thought the shower would help.”

“Let me give you a massage.” Her mouth opens to argue, but I silence her. “Don’t say no. This is therapeutic. You’re in pain, you need to rest, and I can help.”

“Can you write me for some Valium?”

I chuckle. “I can, but I’m not going to.”

She snaps her fingers. “What good is a doctor if he won’t write you scripts?” As usual, her delivery is dry and sarcastic, but I see the small smile playing along her mouth.

“I have complementary techniques I can employ. I guarantee it will relax you.”

She shakes her head. “No, we better not. My pussy has no control when it comes to you.”

As if on cue, Hecate jumps into my lap, demanding attention.

“Either one,” she jokes, her smile the first genuine one I’ve seen today.

I put her to bed an hour later, after she passed out watching old reruns on television. My body aches to curl up next to her and hold her the entire night, but I can’t push too hard.

Not right now.

Right now, she needs my support. I scribble a note, recalling how Tally mentioned my doctor’s scrawl. She knew. Almost the entire time, she had me pegged. If only I had the guts to come clean then, maybe I’d be sleeping next to the woman I love, instead of leaving her for a cold hotel room.

Sleep, my beautiful Darlin. I’m going to make this right. I love you, Tally—every single, delectable inch of you.

I leave the note on her nightstand, pressing a final kiss to her head before letting myself out. I have a long night ahead of me.

10

Tally

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