Page 125 of Destined To Fall

“Go on.”

“Your company is safe, and Max is going to get professional help—it’s a clause in our contract. That’s all that matters.”

“No, don’t give me that. There’s more. So much more you’re leaving out.”

“Not that needs telling.”

“Vivienne.”

“No.”

I pull away, wanting nothing more than to curl in on myself and rock.

“Hey. I’m sorry.”

“That’s everything. Okay?”

“Okay.”

We’re quiet again, and it’s so heavy. I canalmost seeJeremy’s brain swimming with questions and possible answers, but I can’t tell him. It’ll only make it worse. After a few minutes, Jeremy breaks the silence.

“Are you hungry? I made soup.”

“You cooked?”

I can feel the eye roll behind me.“That’s getting old. You know I can. It’s you who can’t.”

“But is it edible?”

“No, I went to all the trouble of making you something you could eat only to poison you,so you end up back in the hospital.”

“Well, at least I’m dressed for it,” I deadpan, but I’m smiling inside.

“Will you just eat it?”

“Will you spoon-feed me?” He chuckles behind me, and I can totally picture him throwing it at me.“I’ll try.”

He shifts me so I’m nestled between his legs and leans over to grab the bowl on the bedside table, placing the yellowy-green goodness in my hands.

“Wow, itsmells amazing.”

“Shouldstill be warm. It’s cheese, broccoli, and potato.” My favorite.

I get choked up all over again and lose the ability to speak. Jeremy seems to sense this, and I feel his lips brush against my hair, causing me to melt into him.

“Talk to me?”

“About?”

“Anything. You talk, and I’ll eat.”

So he does. About nothing and everything. Work, and the projects he’s on, and the clients he’s wooing. His latest TV addiction—something about a mandarin and a baby yodal—that sounds weird as fuck. His sister and nephew, though he admitsa littlesheepishly that he called her for help.

“I didn’t know what you needed, and I hoped she’d have some clue. Did I tell you she was studying to be a nurse?”

“I…maybe? I’m not sure. I’m still a little fuzzy around the edges.”

“Right, yeah, of course. Do you, uh, want more?” he asks, gesturing to my now-empty bowl as he moves out from behind me.

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