Page 64 of Blackmail
His hand trails lightly over my arm. “Well, what kind of boyfriend am I if I don’t take care of you while you’re sick?”
Dammit. He’s not allowed to say things like that.
I don’t answer him because I can’t. Sleep is pulling me under. Not even the thunder and lightning outside can drag me back. I don’t have the energy to keep talking. There’s a smile on my lips, though. I can feel the muscles tugging in my cheeks.
It hurts. All of this is going to hurt. Because all of this is temporary, and I’m going to miss it like crazy. I’m still here, and I already do.
His lips brush my temple as I’m drifting off. I guess pretending could be nice for a little while.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
SEBASTIAN
Tony: Where are you?
Bas: That’s no business of yours.
Tony: Well, just so you know, I will be staying at the condo for a couple of days.
Now I’m cursing myself for not getting my key back from Tony. Not getting the locks changed. I was too angry the night he left to keep a level head.
Bas: What the hell are you doing there?
Tony: Look, I wanted to talk to you, and I thought you’d be here. We are still married, aren’t we?
Bas: Only because you refuse to sign the divorce agreement.
Tony: How can we agree to divorce if we haven’t tried to talk things out?
Bas: We’ve said everything we need to. We both know this is only about money for you.
Tony: I thought we were friends.
So did I. Until I found out he’d been spending more money than he could afford on hiring escorts and that he refused to sign off on a divorce because he refused to get off the gravy train that was our marriage.
I was young and stupid when I decided to marry Tony. I won’t be that stupid again.
I take a moment to study Simon’s sleeping form on the bed, realizing I trust him more than I ever trusted Tony. Simon seems to be the one who doesn’t entirely trust me in return. It feels as if every step I take forward results in Simon taking two steps back, and I wish he wouldn’t swipe like a feral cat at the one person who’s actually trying to help him.
A quiet knock on the door and a quiet groan from the bed. Simon has slept the better part of the day and evening. He hardly woke up when I carried him up to the room. Thank goodness for mobile check-in, or I’d have had some explaining to do at the front desk.
I wait while room service wheels in our food. A hearty salad for me and soup for Simon, whenever he wakes up. Truthfully, I’ve worried that I should’ve left him in the hospital. I could have agreed to cover the bill. I was too selfish for that, though. I wanted to be with him. I wanted an excuse to stay in a hotel room, just the two of us.
I watch him sleep while I eat, convincing myself it isn’t creepy. When he’s awake, he’s like the world’s sexiest porcupine. Adorable but covered in protective barbs.
In his line of work, I suppose he has to be. After the things he let slip about his family, I wonder if he’s extra cautious. And who the hell is Elijah?
I wanted to ask, but I held my tongue. There’s so much I want to know about him, but the situation requires patience.
Tony: You have to talk to me sometime.
The message sours my stomach. Tony has sidestepped every attempt I’ve made to get him to do the right thing. Was he always this way and I didn’t notice, or did I not see it when he changed? It’s a blow either way, the smug way he thinks he’s got me backed into a corner.
Bas: We’ll talk in court. Since you refuse to sign the paperwork.
Tony: Don’t be like this.
