Page 126 of An Engagement for Erica

He wasn’t going to take offense to it. Talking or thinking wasn’t making it any better though.

He dashed to the kitchen and grabbed a can of soda and then the ice pack, got a washcloth in the bathroom and laid the pack on that and put it on her neck and then covered her up.

“Urgh,” she said. “It’s cold.”

“It’s supposed to be. Sip this if you can.”

He gave her the can and she took a big sip, then he fixed the ice pack on her again. “Thanks.”

“Close your eyes. I’ll come check on you in a bit.”

“I’m sorry,” she said softly.

He kissed her on the forehead. “Don’t be.”

He went to the kitchen and sat down to finish eating. He might as well since he was hungry. He should have made her eat first earlier. Maybe that would have helped.

Instead, he let her take charge of trying to comfort him and put her own health and needs aside.

He found that the food wasn’t going down well though.

So much had happened this week and none of it seemed to matter as much as the woman he loved lying on his bed in pain.

She’d said she hadn’t had one migraine since her incident, but they also weaned her off meds and he wondered if that played a part in it too.

It wasn’t for him to analyze it though. She’d have to figure that out with her doctors. Or her father.

He’d make sure she told her father what happened.

No more of her keeping things locked in.

He put the rest of their dinner away—she might be hungry later—then cleaned up the kitchen and grabbed his laptop.

Might as well get some work done.

Hours later, after checking in on her a few times and seeing she was sleeping, he decided to get ready for bed too.

It was past ten and she’d been sleeping for almost four hours.

He didn’t know if he should wake her or not and just let it go.

When he climbed into bed, after getting ready with the lights off, she moved closer and snuggled against him.

He put his arm around her and held her tight, falling asleep that way until morning.

When he felt the bed moving, he opened his eyes and noticed the bathroom light on.

“Erica?” he asked.

“Yes,” she said. “I’m going to the bathroom.”

“Are you okay?”

He heard a bit of laughter and took that as a yes.

She came out a minute after the toilet flushed and climbed into bed.

“My mouth is so dry, but my headache is gone.”

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