Page 32 of Fragile Love (Fragile 3)
Lillian’s heart skipped a beat. It was only a few months ago that Andrew had confessed his feelings for her, but it might as well have been yesterday. He said he wasn’t sure if it was real or not, she reasoned with herself. It might be because I was close to Amelia, too. “Well,” she blew on her soup and stirred it around, “I can understand why they were hesitant.”
“If I think about it hard enough, I can, but you kind of gave the ultimatum, you know. There was nothing they could have done to change your mind.”
Unsure of what to say, she nodded.
“I’m glad I’m here. I guess that’s sort of what I’m trying to say. And I’m really glad you want me here, although I’m not entirely sure how I can thank you for doing this.”
“Don’t worry about it.” She tried to sound gracious, but it came out short. She took a breath. “We’re going to get you fixed up and back to normal. Speaking of which, your first physical therapy appointment is the day after tomorrow. You also have an appointment to get a brand-spankin’-new brace.”
“Brace?”
“Yes. Not a cast. The break on your femur is too low for a cast.”
“How do you know all this?”
“I am the All-Knowing Lillian. Fear me.” She gulped down more soup. “Hey, this is good. Thank you.”
“It would have been better if I could have chopped up an onion and put it in there.” He frowned at his bowl for a second and then started eating. “It’s not bad, I guess.”
“You’ll be able to chop an onion soon. Who knows, maybe it will be part of your therapy.”
“That’s my kind of therapy. Can I grill a steak while I’m at it?”
Lillian chuckled, glad the part of the conversation edging on his feelings was over. I’m probably just too oversensitive. He must not have meant anything by it.
“So, where’s Cayden? Did he get lost looking for that bag?”
“Actually, he already left. I was driving him to the airport.”
“He left already?”
She nodded. “Yeah, one of clients couldn’t wait another day and a half for him.”
“He’s in high demand, huh?”
“Apparently.” The thought of Cayden being so sought after was oddly arousing. He was hers. He wanted her, and she wanted him back. Out of all the hot models in Los Angeles, he had chosen her—a small, fragile person still battling Crohn’s. How is it possible? Is fate on our side?
“You must be thinking about something good.” Andrew’s voice brought her back.
She looked down and saw she had frozen mid-bite. “Maybe,” she replied with a smile. Andrew gave her a sarcastic look. “Okay, fine. Yes.”
“About what?”
“More like about whom.”
A strange, dull shadow came across Andrew’s eyes. Slowly, like his mind went someplace else temporarily, he took a half-minded sip of water. “When will he be back?”
“Friday night.”
“I, uh...” He faded off until the words came to his throat. “Hey, about last time.”
Please don’t.
“I hope you know that making things awkward is the last thing I meant to do.”
Oh, gosh. She had a hard time looking at him. “I know.”
“I just meant—well, I want to see you happy, Lillian. I don’t want to see you heartbroken again.”
