Page 104 of Heartfelt Pain
“Bar the fact that we’re both too old for a friends with benefits situation you know it’s more than that anyway.”
“We don’t know that.”
“You’re being stubborn.”
“I’m really not,” I lie.
“We’re going to table this discussion.”
This takes me by surprise.
Roma pulls the covers up, tucking me back in.
“I’m not going to wake up and magically think everything is solved.”
“That’s fine.” He settles into thepillows. “We can discuss it again tomorrow night. And the night after that. And the night after that.”
I roll my eyes. “So what? We’ll string the argument out until I get used to the idea and in the meantime you’re in my bed anyway.”
“We always did have our best arguments in bed right before we fucked.”
“You’re lucky my wrist is still fucked or I’d throttle you.”
His leg nudges mine. “I’m looking forward to it.”
CHAPTER 24
Ren
It’s strange when Roma leaves the next morning. I’m groggy when he kisses my forehead, the pain meds and exhaustion causing me to barely notice when he gets up and uses my shower like it’s his own.
He leaves a banana on the counter and a package of oatmeal with a note instructing me to eat it for breakfast. I eat half of the piece of fruit and chuck the oatmeal back into the pantry.
I’m rewarded a few hours later when a basket full of chocolate and sweets arrives at my door.
Ren: Thank you.
Russet calls me not even two seconds after I send off the text.
“Hi.” There’s an awkward pause. “The gift basket is kind of a mix of ‘I’m sorry about your wrist’ and ‘I’m sorry for being such an ass the other day’.”
“You weren’t being an ass,” I quietly say. I’m in thekitchen, exactly where I stood a week ago when she called to vent about Sailor’s party.
“No one likes getting bitched at in a bathroom during a kids party,” Russ replies. “It came from the heart, but the execution needed a bit of work.”
I snort, but my chest isn’t as tight as it was a few days ago.
“Seriously, how’s your wrist.” There’s real worry in the question. It reminds me of Ben. There’s this urgency and fear, assessing the wound like they can’t quite believe it.
“It’s not as bad as everyone thinks.”
“You cancelled work,” she says.
“That’s what you all wanted.”
“We wanted you to take a vacation in the Bahamas not end up in the hospital!”
Right. So I somehow still managed to end up fulfilling their worst fears.
