Page 101 of Now and Forever

“I called to talk to you, and Simona told me what happened. I came back right away. I’m so sorry I wasn’t here, baby.”

Eric scrutinizes me. “Are you all right?”

I shrug my shoulders. “Yes, it hurts, but I’m all right. Don’t worry.”

“What happened?”

I’m tempted to tell him the truth. His nephew is a real piece of work. But I want to address it with Flyn first. I don’t want to make things harder for him with Eric.

“I went out to the garden, slipped, and landed on my chin.”

His eyes are full of doubt.

“You already know how clumsy I am in the snow. But don’t worry, I’m fine. The only bad part is the mark it’ll leave. I hope it’s not too noticeable.”

“How vain.” Eric smiles.

“I have a very handsome boyfriend, and I want to make sure he’s proud of me,” I clarify.

Eric lies down beside me and gives me a hug. I notice how his body trembles.

“I’m always proud of you, baby.” He sinks his head into the crook of my neck. “I just can’t forgive myself for not being here. I can’t bear thinking about what could have happened.”

His dramatic take leaves me speechless. I’m tired and hurt, so I just curl up against him and fall asleep.

29

Eric is sleeping by my side when I wake up a few hours later. It’s the first time I’ve woken up before him. I smile and watch him. He’s so handsome. Seeing him relaxed and asleep is one of the loveliest sights in my life. I want this moment to last forever. For a long time, I just enjoy myself; then he opens his big blue eyes, and they cut right through me.

“Good morning, my love.”

“What time is it?”

Curious, I look back at the clock. “Almost nine o’clock.”

He brushes his hand over my hair and pushes it off my face.

“Are you all right?”

I stretch. “Yes, darling, don’t worry.”

Eric gets up and heads to the bathroom; after stretching out completely, I follow him. But, when I walk into the room and see my reflection in the mirror, I scream.

“Oh my God, I’m a monster!”

My face is a palette of colors. Under my eyes, I have red and green splotches that leave me speechless.

“Oh God! All I did was fall in the snow,” I say.

“You must have taken a really rough fall, baby.”

Oh yeah, I smashed against the wall before falling in the snow. Now I remember it more clearly.

Eric calms me down by murmuring affectionately, and I remember what the doctor told me: just bruises. Aware there’s nothing I can do about it, I look at myself in the mirror again and sigh. I move my head from side to side.

“I look horrible,” I whisper.

Eric kisses my neck. He grabs me from behind and rests his chin on my head.

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