Page 89 of Stay for Me

Valerie had my face in her hands then, hers inches from mine. “Let. Us. Help,” she said, her voice cracking too. “Let us in.”

I nodded, my hand slapping over my mouth to stifle the whimpering cry climbing up my throat.

By the time the girls managed to peel my clothes off me and ease me into the water, Abbie was back. Valerie had pulled the shower curtain closed three fourths of the way, leaving my wrapped ankle exposed, resting of the edge of the tub.

“Okay,” Abbie breathed. “There wasn’t much to choose from.”

I heard Val wince. “Sorry, I haven’t done laundry in a few days.”

My voice was thick when I responded. “Whatever you have is fine, I’m sure.”

“I got some PJ shorts and a t-shirt,” Abbie continued.

“Good,” Harmony added. “Loose clothes are best.”

“Do you need help washing, Di?” Val asked softly through the curtain.

I looked down at myself, knowing if I wasn’t so exhausted from the days events, I would’ve been ashamed of them seeing me naked. “No, that’s alright.”

“Where the heck does Mags keep the soap?” Abbie muttered as I heard her rummaging through his cabinets.

“Oh!” Harmony said. “He keeps all his extra supplies in the closet at the end of the hall.”

“How do you know that?”

“I helped him put it all away after Jigs’ last trip,” Harm answered.So that was who bought his groceries.“Be back.” I heard the bathroom door open and close.

“Do you want to wash your hair?” Val asked.

I wanted to laugh. “Yeah,” I answered. “Can someone bring me a cup?”

“I will,” Abbie said. The door opened and closed again, leaving Val and I alone. I saw her shadow move, getting closer and then lowering as she took a seat on the floor. A second later, the curtain was moved and her arm appeared on the tub ledge, palm upwards and waiting. My lip wobbled as I took it. Our fingers intertwined, and I let out a breath at the same time she did.

More silence.

I was focused on the ripples in the water when she finally spoke, asking the one question I never expected.

“How long have you been in love with him?”

I looked up to the ceiling, leaning against the tile, the pain in my heart more intense than the pain radiating throughout my body. “Over a decade, Val.”

Her hand twitched. “You mean…?”

An unsteady breath left me then, a single tear sliding down the side of my side, down my neck, over my collarbone, heading directly to the organ that damn cowboy owned. “Yeah,” I rasped. “From the moment I saw him.”

“Oh, Diana,” she whispered.

“Believe me, I tried to stop it, but it was too late.”

She was silent.

“I’m pathetic,” I confessed.

“No,” she said, her hand squeezing mine. “Nothing about falling in love is pathetic—nothing about love is pathetic.”

“I—”

“I didn’t want to fall in love with Denver, Diana,” she cut me off, her words shocking me. “He was the last man I ever wanted to be with. He was rude. Honestly, Di, he was an asshole. He treated me so horribly, and of course, he was well within his rights. I was trying to take his home.”

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