Page 32 of Unbearable

I carefully lifted her small frame and carried her to her room, setting her down gently. I fetched towels, blankets, and an extra small trash can, placing them beside her bed. She barely stirred, snuggling back into sleep, clearly exhausted. I settled on the floor next to her, propping myself up with an extra pillow, and managed to doze off myself.

The murmur of voices stirred me from my sleep. Colt’s voice drifted from the kitchen where he was talking to Gracie. As I stood up, the combined effects of sleep deprivation and a night spent on Gracie’s floor hit me hard. Stepping into the living room, I was greeted by Gracie’s bright smile.

“You look much better.”

“Hi, Auntie. I feel much, much, much better. Thank you for helping me.” She hugged me tightly.

“I’m glad you’re feeling better.” I kissed her forehead and noticed it wasn’t warm anymore. I glanced at Colt with a confused look on my face.

“I talked to Dorian, and he had some anti-nausea meds I gave her. That seemed to do the trick. She even asked about school this morning.” Colt chuckled.

“Kids are resilient. She took Tylenol around two, so she should be good for another dose now.”

“I’ll give it to her. Go and get some rest,” Colt said.

“I can stay with her until Dorian gets back.”

“You are exhausted. Gracie woke up soon after I did and has been fine. She even kept down some toast with no issues, but you”—he tilted his head—“need rest.” He pinned me with a glare.

“Fine. Just text me if you need anything.” He hummed in response.

Driving back to Trent’s house, I let the crisp fall air brush against my fingertips as it flowed through the window. The trees had shifted into vibrant hues, shedding their leaves in the gentle breeze. Passing through downtown Woodstone Falls, I absorbed the quaint, rustic charm of the town. Charming local cafés with wooden facades, boutiques displaying artisan leather goods, and vintage general stores lined the streets. The community spirit here was tangible, a stark contrast to the anonymity of Seattle. Freshly planted mums adorned storefronts, memorial benches for the town’s founders dotted the sidewalks, and antique streetlamps cast a welcoming glow.

Entering Trent’s home, I was met with the familiar scent that was classically Trent—a woodsy cedar and spice scent that filled my senses and made it hard to think.

“Hey, I thought Dorian wasn’t back yet. Everything okay?” Trent’s demeanor was clearly worried. I was completely drained and didn’t have the energy to act like the snarky Dotty he had been used to the last couple of weeks.

“Gracie’s sick. She was up throwing up for half the night. Colt took over for me so I could get some sleep. She’s doing much better now. I’m just exhausted.”

“Oh, he was staying there too?” he asked.

“Yeah… he stayed the night. I got another note, so he decided to stay.”

“I’m sorry, Dot. Sounds like it’s been a wild twelve hours for you. I’ll let you rest. I’m headed to the ranch today. We had a couple of cattle get loose because of a broken fence, so I need to fix that and make sure everything is secure. But please text me if you need anything.”

He wrapped me in a hug that I was not expecting. It was our first real contact in years. His embrace felt both nostalgically familiar and intriguingly new. Too exhausted to pull away or overthink the gesture, I allowed myself to melt into him.

After a few moments, he slowly backed away, grinning, and gave my shoulder a squeeze before heading out the door.

I woke up in a panic, drenched in sweat, and groaned. I had known getting sick was a possibility, but I had hoped to avoid it. The body aches and slight nausea confirmed I was indeed too optimistic.

Checking my phone, I found nothing from the last several hours, and I tossed it onto the pillow and passed out again.

Awakening to a wave of nausea, the bitter taste in my mouth sent me sprinting to the bathroom, where I emptied my stomach into the toilet.

A cold sweat broke out on my forehead, and I grabbed a towel from the rack to cover myself, trying to fend off thechills racing through my body. Every last bit in my stomach managed to escape, and after over an hour of relentless vomiting, I finally drifted off, still lying on the bathroom floor.

Strong arms surrounded me as my body was lifted off the cold floor. “Let’s get you to bed,” Trent said, his voice a mix of concern and something unidentifiable. The scent of cedar and spice filled the air around me, and the floor was suddenly warm and soft and not a floor at all, but my bed.

Opening my eyes, he filled my vision. The moonlight streaming in from the window accentuated his stubbled jaw, making him look even more ruggedly handsome.

The sight pulled at my heart in a way I wasn’t ready to acknowledge. Before I knew what was happening, cool metal touched my forehead.

“101,” he said, the concern deepening in his voice. “Here, take this.” He handed me two pills and held a glass of water up for me.

Our eyes locked as I swallowed, his intense gaze sending a shiver down my spine. His eyebrows furrowed as his eyes pinched together, betraying his worry.

“Thank you,” I muttered, trying to ignore the way his presence stirred something inside me.

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