Page 79 of Revive Me

Thank God, I already asked Fran to help today, because I can already tell we’re going to need her. Determination or not, Roman’s body is struggling.

When I call an early finish, I don’t know who’s more exhausted, me or Roman. I give Fran a grateful smile behind his back before she leaves us to finish her own work.

“How you doing?” I ask Roman once he’s settled back in his wheelchair.

He lets out a heavy exhale. “Fine.”

I hand him a cup of water. “I know you’re a little touch-sensitive today, but if something hurts that I can fix with a massage, we can always finish with that.”

He shakes his head and downs the small cup in two gulps. “I’m okay. But thanks.” Once he tosses the plastic in the trash, he glances toward the hallway and adds, “I’m going to go use the bathroom.”

Knowing we both need to call it, I wave him off. “Go. We’re done for today. I’m going to finish up my notes, so just yell when you’re ready to leave.”

He hurries out of the room quicker than I expect him to. But I’m too tired to speculate, so I pull my laptop over and start in on my session notes right there in the middle of the gym.

“I’m leaving,” Roman calls out ten minutes later. I didn’t even hear him come back into the gym. “See you Saturday?”

I nod my confirmation as I close my laptop. “Yup. But wait up, I’m going to walk out with you.”

It distantly registers that Roman stiffens at that. I don’t realize why until I make my way into the break room to grab my jacket and bag and notice something on the table that wasn’t there before.

It’s a small pastry box. I can see the extra-large cookie inside it even from here. And on top of it is a Post-it note with a rough scribble of my name.

Surprise freezes me in place, but curiosity moves me forward. The box’s design looks familiar. But there’s no way?—

“Roman.” In awe, I lift the box and spin back toward the gym. “Did you… Did you do this?”

He doesn’t answer, doesn’t meet my eyes. He’s embarrassed. He didn’t want to be caught with his gift; that’s why he was trying to rush out of here.

“How did you do this?” I breathe out.

He gives me a stiff shrug. “I had it delivered. It’s not a big deal.”

“Yes, but…when?Why?”

He still won’t meet my eyes. “You seemed like you needed it. Like I said, it’s just a cookie, Liliana. All I did was click a few buttons on my phone.”

Maybe, but…he noticed. Hecared. On a day when he’s clearly struggling himself, he cared enough to see someone else’s pain—and do something about it. And he would’ve done it silently if I hadn’t called him out on it.

“It’s from my favorite bakery,” I whisper as I open the box. When the heavenly smell of it hits my nostrils, my head jerks up to find Roman’s eyes. “How did you know?”

Thank God, he doesn’t look away. “I remembered,” he says simply.

Emotions crash over me, ones that I try to shove down when it comes to Roman. The main one being affection.

My eyes fill with tears. I want to hug him. I want to return the favor. I want…something.

“Liliana,” Roman growls, his deep voice bringing me back to this moment. “No crying. It’s not a big deal.”

I can’t help it: his comment makes everything bubble over, and I let out a wet laugh.

“You’re so delusional,” I tell him lovingly. “You have no idea how thoughtful you are. I mean, no one else even noticedI was having a bad day. And you not only noticed, you took the time and money to do something that you knew would make me feel better.”

His eyes soften, and he says quietly, “Of course I noticed.”

There’s zero hesitation in his words. Combined with the intense way our eyes have locked, suddenly I’m sucking in a sharp breath.

But then he asks, “Doyou need to talk about it?”

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