Page 51 of Somebody to Save
I couldn’t help my smile. I knew Owen wasn’t great, so it wasn’t like I had steep competition or anything. But I wanted to be good for Addison. I wanted to make her happy.
So, I changed the subject.
“How’d Nana’s doctor’s appointment go? Did you hear anything else from the insurance company yet?” I knew it likely wasn’t the topic she wanted to discuss, but it had been top of my mind. It bothered Addison that the nurse was only visiting three times a week. Not because she had to step up even more—she never complained about it—but because she was struggling to keep up. It was a lot for one person to handle.
Nana seemed okay, though. She was moving around a little better in the few weeks I’d seen her.
Addison’s eyes dropped to her hands, and I saw the anxiety tighten across her shoulders.
“The appointment went well, but we likely won’t hear anything from the insurance company for another week or two, at which time the nurse will only be coming two days a week.”
Her sigh was loaded, and I couldn’t tell if it was a good time to bring up my solution. All I wanted to do was make her life easier, better. Just as she’d done for me.
“And I’m guessing you’ve looked into what it would cost to pay for the nurse out-of-pocket for a few extra days?”
Her eyes bounced to mine. “Yeah, but it’s not manageable. At least not right now. But I’m holding out for the lottery.” She raised her crossed fingers and choked out a dry laugh.
I heard Andrew’s voice in my head, mocking me and calling me “Mr. Fix-it,” but I couldn’t help it. If I could do something, why wouldn’tI?
“What if money wasn’t an object?”
“What?”
Her question was clipped, and I dumped the pasta in the boiling water, stirring it once and leaning back against the counter next to the stove where I could keep an eye on the food and see Addison. Her eyes were narrowed incredulously, like she was wary of my response.
“What if I…helped out?” I wasn’t rich by any means, but I was well-off enough that I could pay for the nurse. Maybe pay for a few nurses. I also had money saved, and the firm was doing well. Even with the fucking missing money.
She immediately shook her head. “I would never ask you to do that.”
“I know. That’s why I’m offering instead.”
“Beckett, you can’t,” she argued.
“I can, and I want to.”
She stayed quiet for several long seconds, but I stood firm with my arms crossed over my chest.
“I can handle it myself,” she said.
Inclining my head, I went back to tending to the pasta. “I know you can. You’ve proven that, and I would never question it.” I walked the pot to the sink across from the island and dumped the pasta into the strainer.
Addison didn’t respond until I crossed back to the stovetop and started putting together the sauce in the same pan as the vegetables.
“You can’t be serious,” she whispered. “That’s not a small amount of money, Beckett.”
Leaving the sauce to simmer, I wiped my hands on the dish towel and dropped it on the counter. Addison tracked me as I rounded the counter and stopped beside her. Grabbing the seat beneath her, I swiveled it until she was facing me.
I gripped her hip with one hand and collared the other loosely around the base of her throat, tilting her chin up with mythumb. When I knew I had her full attention, only then did I continue.
“I’m very,veryserious, baby girl. I understand how much money it is, and yet, I’m still offering. You don’t have to answer me right now, just promise me you’ll think about it.”
I felt her swallow against my hand, but she eventually nodded. “I’ll think about it.”
I hummed in approval and muttered, “Good girl,” against her lips just before I kissed her softly. God, I wanted to deepen it, but dinner was ready, and I knew she was starving.
TWENTY-FIVE
YELLOW
