Page 190 of Time Stops With You

Anger beams from her eyes and yet I can see the redness from the tears she’s holding back. “I really am sorry that I couldn’t hold up my end of the deal, Cullen. But if it helps any, I hate you right now more than I ever have before.”

I struggle to stay upright. There’s so much I want to say. But I don’t have any words. And the truth is, words don’t matter.

I’m dying.

Soon.

Nardi storms up the stairs while I squeeze my eyes shut and clutch my chest. I’m not sure if it’s the emotions making me hurt or the pain pills losing effect, but I can feel the strength leaving my body.

“Whoa,” a voice says.

I look up and find Big T standing in front of me. He’s got a gym bag over one arm and a grocery bag in the other.

“Man, you good?” Big T asks. “Need me to call an ambulance or something?”

I shake my head.

“Look, I want you to drop dead more than anybody, but Nardi won’t be happy if her fiancé kicks the bucket.”

He has no idea.

“Let me drive you to the hospital.”

“I’m not going to the hospital,” I grind out.

“Go home then. Or I can call Nardi down here.”

“No, don’t call her.” I point to the office. “I’ll be fine if I get in there.”

Big T tries to help me walk, but I shake him off and limp to the office on my own while the giant man hovers behind me.

After I press my finger to the scanner and the door opens, I turn to Big T and reluctantly thank him.

“I didn’t do it for you. I did it for Nardi,” he mumbles, looking away.

He means that.

In that moment, I realize that Nardi won’t be sad for long. There will be plenty of men eager to soothe her broken heart after I’m gone.

The thought should comfort me.

Instead, I grit my teeth and push the door.

“Hey,” Big T says.

I twist my head a little, refusing to turn fully around.

“I heard you own this building.”

My shoulders tense, and I don’t respond.

“I heard it was you who lowered the rent and put in that elevator so people don’t have to take those bogus stairs.”

“What’s your point?” I snap.

“Did you do all that for Nardi?”

I look away.

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