Page 63 of Chasing Sunrise

Chapter Fourteen

Once Kasey got Amandainto his family’s beach cabin, he deftly helped her change into comfortable shorts and a t-shirt before leading her to bed. He did it with the detachment of a nurse.

Since walking out of the club, she was either throwing up or crying uncontrollably. Her sobs sounded like they were coming from somewhere deep inside her. Did she always take the anniversary of her parents’ deaths this hard? Why had she decided to drink tonight? And why the hell did she say her parents’ deaths were her fault?

What’d she been through?

When her weeping finally stopped, she fell asleep on her side, breathing heavily. Unable to stop himself, he brushed her bangs away from her face. She had such a beautiful face. She seemed so strong, but tonight he saw a break in her armor. A painful break.

Leaving the cabin, he stepped onto the deck and dialed Barry. Voicemail answered.

“Got Amanda. I brought her to my family’s beach house in Galveston. Thanks for calling me.”

When he reentered the house, he showered. Afterward, he put his clothes and Amanda’s in the washer. Hungry, knowing his family didn’t keep perishable food at the cabin, he found a package of ramen noodles, cooked them, and ate while quietly watching TV. Around midnight, he snatched a throw blanket from the couch, slipped into bed beside Amanda, and stretched out on top of the covers. She didn’t move. A slight hiss of breath filtering in and out of her nose had replaced her heavy breaths.

He wanted to scoop her up and protect her. Not let anything harm her. Dismissing his desire to hold and comfort her, he kept to his side of the bed. He’d be there if she needed him.

For now, that was enough.

~

Amanda woke, her headpounding in time with rain drumming on the roof. She sat up and looked around, not recognizing anything. The room swirled around her. Her insides shrieked with pain. She moaned, crashed back down to the mattress, and curled into the fetal position. She wouldn’t move again until the Grim Reaper took her. Hopefully, any minute.

“Hi, beautiful,” Kasey softly said.

She kept her eyes closed. “Where am I?”

“My family’s beach cabin in Galveston.” Gratefully, he spoke barely above a whisper. “I didn’t think you wanted Mrs. G to see me carrying you into your house.”

“Good call.” Memories of last night darted through her mind. “Did I throw up on you?”

“It was the best thing for you.” He didn’t sound angry. “You got it out of your system. I’m sure you’re not hungry—”

Her stomach roiled. “I’m not.”

“You should try to eat this toast so you can take something for your headache.”

She didn’t ask how he knew she had a headache. Cautiously, she squinted her eyes open. Kasey held a paper plate in one hand and a glass of water in the other. She remembered how he’d coaxed her into drinking water last night. He’d been so gentle.

Gingerly, she raised her body and leaned against the headboard. The room had a white dresser and nightstands with dark blue curtains over the windows. Pictures of sea shells covered the walls.

He lit a lamp and sat beside her with a plate in his hand. He’d cut the toast into fours, such a sweet detail. She picked up a piece and brought it to her lips.

Kasey stretched his legs out in front of him and crossed them. His toes kept time to music she couldn’t hear. The movement caused the bed to jiggle. Her stomach and head protested. She reached out and put her hand on his thigh in hopes of conveying how much the movement affected her.

He stopped.

“Thank you.” She drank some water and ate more toast. The more she ate, the better she felt. Well, better was a lofty word. At least, her insides seemed to calm.

She lifted the last toast piece, and Kasey said, “Would you like more?”

“No.”

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