Page 32 of Still The One

I sigh heavily. ‘I know, but besides the last couple of weeks, I haven’t seen Foster in years. We’re divorced! I can’t bring him home with me.’

‘Yet you were good with pretending to be his wife since he got here.’

I moan. ‘Only because I have a heart. But moving him into my place? My tiny, one-bedroom apartment? That is hugely different to visiting him in the hospital.’

‘Can’t be that bad. I’d bet it’s probably got all the same things he’s got here. Why can’t you play home nurse? Clearly you like to help people. Maybe it’ll be fun? You two used to have so muchfun together that you decided to get married after a month. Why not explore that a bit longer?’

‘Because exploring that will probably include wiping his ass – those are wife duties.’

Matty grimaces. ‘Maybe buy a bidet?’

I drop my head back, frustrated but also wondering why I don’t already have a bidet. I’ll look into that.

‘Despite the fact that I once loved him, and those feelings are slightly stirred within, I’m pretty sure I no longer do. So, I don’t think him moving in with me will be all sunshine and rainbows. Do you realize the responsibilities that come with taking care of someone injured the way he is? I’ll have to help him get dressed, prepare his meals, assist him to and from the bathroom, shower, make sure he’s moving enough and doesn’t overdose on his pills or get addicted, and drive him to his doctor’s appointments – all on top of possibly going back to work because my vacation days are going to end very soon.’

‘Or you could pretend you once loved the guy and make sure he gets the best care possible.’

I cross my arms over my chest.

‘I bet he’d pay you,’ he says, taking another bite of his doughnut as if this conversation is as casual as it gets.

I glare. ‘Matty, I don’t have the room or the time.’

‘The fact that you’re standing here says you’ve got the time. Plus, how much room could he take? Just make sure he doesn’t die. Easy-peasy.’

‘Easy-peasy? Ha! What if I miss giving him his meds on time? And shall I give him my bed too?’

‘That’s up to you. I’d suggest the couch but you’re the professional, if you think he needs to be in your bed I don’t think he’d shy away.’

I glare. Hard. But it’s almost like it spurs him on. ‘You’re delusional.’

‘You haven’t said no, so – sounds like we’ve got a deal?’ Matty says before heading back into Foster’s room. As I follow, he whispers into my ear. ‘Why are youreallyhere? For a man you pretend you can’t stand. Maybe think about that.’

I groan to myself, following him into Foster’s room. I shift my gaze toward Foster, captivated by his piercing blue eyes which seem to reflect the depth of his soul. His unwavering stare makes me feel vulnerable, almost as if he can see right through me – like he knows what I’m about to say. A strange sensation takes hold of me, but I can’t quite discern whether it’s the flutter of butterflies or the sting of bees.

‘It’s complicated,’ I say, attempting to soften the blow of me saying ‘no’ to this.

Foster nods. ‘Eve,’ he says, glancing at my hands.

I look down, my fingers intertwined as I spin my ring around my finger. ‘This is a fidget ring. I’m using it exactly as it was intended.’

‘I don’t expect you to take care of me. I’m a grown man. I’ll check into a hotel. Maybe I can sweet-talk a maid into helping me out here and there. Uber Eats can feed me, and I’m sure it’ll be fine.’

My heart slows. I don’t doubt he could sweet-talk a maid into doing whatever he wants, but he sounds so disappointed by the idea of it. His tone doesn’t match the mask of the casual smile he’s wearing either. How would he get the food Uber leaves outside his door? A hotel room issmallerthan my apartment. What if he doesn’t take his meds right and gets worse? What if he bleeds out and dies in his sleep – alone?

‘No,’ I say, surprising even myself. ‘You’re not going to a hotel.’ I sigh heavily, sitting in the chair near Foster’s bed and resting my head against the back. ‘My apartment isn’t far from here. I’m sure we can make it work.’

The smile on Foster’s face makes the swarm of fluttering in my chest feel less lethal than it did earlier. Maybe this will be fun? I mean we did used to have fun together. Matty’s not wrong about that.

I block out the chatter between the three of them now and worry about what my friends will think of me having just volunteered to nurse Foster back to health, in my apartment.

14

EVE CASSIDY

I’ve spent the last morning picking up items from the shopping list Nurse Chelsea gave me. Shower seat, a cane, and my own addition at Matty’s suggestion – a bidet.

Yes, he could have gone to a hotel but my stupid heart spoke for me. Honestly, I’m a little worried about how this is going to go down. Recently it’s been easy to leave the hospital when visiting hours are over and detach myself from the situation, but with him in my apartment, it’s going to be all Foster, all the time.

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