Page 12 of Triplet Babies for the Billionaire
I shake my head, trying to focus, but the weight of my thoughts makes it impossible.
The apartment feels quieter than ever without her here.
Goldie trots over to me, tail wagging, breaking the silence.
I smile, bending down to pet her. "Hey, girl," I say, my voice soft. She nuzzles into my hand, and I stand, walking over to the kitchen to feed her. She’s the hotel’s mascot, and frankly, she’s the only company I’ve really enjoyed since... since Whittney.
It's a blessing that the entire staff loves Goldie and helps take care of her, she has no shortage of walks and attention. And Goldie returns the love ten fold to all of us.
But there’s something about Blossom that feels different.
I sit down on the couch, flipping on the TV to try and distract myself. I watch a few minutes of a football game, but it’s pointless. I can’t concentrate on anything. My mind keeps circling back to her, tous, that kiss, the explosive sex, the way she made me feel.
But then, my thoughts wander, unbidden, to Whittney.
It’s been years, but the pain is still there, like an old scar that never really heals. Whittney was everything I could have asked for: kind, compassionate, fiercely loving. She was the one who held me together when I wanted to fall apart. And then, she was gone.
Cancer took her from me, slowly. It’s a loss I’ll never get over. And yet, here I am, thinking about a woman I shouldn’t be thinking about. A woman who makes me feel things I’m not ready to feel again.
I pull the black worry stone from my pocket, rubbing it between my fingers like I always do when the memories come rushing back. It helps me focus. It keeps me grounded.
But tonight, it doesn’t seem to do the trick.
The ache in my chest is still there.
I close my eyes, letting the silence of the apartment wrap around me. I need to let go of this. But I don’t know how.
Just as I take a deep breath to clear my head, there’s a knock at the door.
I stand up, a little surprised.
No one ever visits unannounced. I walk to the door and open it, finding my sister, Nicole, sitting in her wheelchair, waiting outside.
She looks up at me with a smile. "Hey, big brother," she says, her voice light, teasing.
I can’t help but smile back. “Hey, Nic. How’s it going?”
Nicole has multiple sclerosis, and on good days, she likes to visit me here: check in, make sure I’m doing okay. I know she’s been worried about me ever since Whittney passed, but I try not to let it show.
“Same old, same old. How about you?” she asks as I open the door wide enough for her to roll inside.
I sigh, stepping aside to let her in. "Busy, as always," I say, but my mind drifts back to Blossom, and I can feel that familiar tension rising again.
Nicole looks at me, raising an eyebrow. "You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind. You okay?"
I force a smile, trying to cover up the chaos swirling inside. "Yeah, just work. You know how it is."
Nicole eyes me closely, but she doesn't push. Instead, she gives me a wink and wheels herself into the living room.
Goldie jumps up beside her, wagging her tail, and Nicole reaches down to pet her. “Well, whatever it is, you’ve got to figure it out. Don’t let it eat you alive.”
I nod, but inside, I know I’m already too far gone. There’s something about Blossom I can’t shake.
Something I’m not ready to face yet.
We chat about the game for a bit, the sounds of the commentators filling the space between us. Nicole teases me about how I always back the underdog, while I counter by calling her a fair-weather fan. It’s typical for us, these easy, light conversations.
But as the minutes tick by, I feel a gnawing discomfort in my chest, something I can’t shake.
