Page 16 of Fragile Love (Fragile 3)
She looked for the words, and finally shook her head. “Nah, I think I should talk about it later, maybe.”
“Why not now?”
“I don’t think now is a good time.”
“Give me one good reason why now isn’t a good time.”
She frowned. “There’s not, I guess.”
“Okay, so what is it?”
“I was just wondering if, maybe, uh...” She took a breath. “You might not like this idea, but I was thinking that it’s perfect and it would make me happy to see it, but I was thinking that maybe you can help Andrew with his physical therapy.”
Cayden’s heart stopped mid-beat. Are you kidding? his mind yelled. He punched that voice down and tried to think about how much Lillian would appreciate it. She literally just said she wants you to be involved with the family, Cayden, he told himself. You finally managed to get her back after everything that happened. Saying no to this is not starting this second round with a good vibe.
He did his best not to show any expression on his face that would hint about his reluctance. “Well, Lil, you know I would, but physical therapy is nothing like what I do. It’s a whole other ball game, really. I’m a personal trainer. I’ve got a degree in kinesiology and athletic training. Not much focus on physio. I mean, there are some aspects that are the same, but I don’t think—”
“Of course, he would still go to therapy, Cayden. I know you’re not a PT. I was only thinking that you could help him with his exercises that he’s supposed to do at home.”
“Anybody can do those, Lil. He could even do them alone.”
“I know,” she said roughly, getting frustrated. “I was thinking that since you know a lot about muscles and building strength and all, maybe you can help shed some light on the exercises in a way that I couldn’t if I were to help him or if he were to do them alone. But, listen, never mind. I know you’re busy.”
“I will,” he said quickly, seeing her getting caught in the downward spiral again.
She looked up. “You will?”
He nodded.
“Really?”
“Yeah, I will. I’ll help him. Who knows, maybe I’ll discover that physical therapy is the most incredible thing ever and it’ll become my new passion.” Trying to play it off as nonchalant, he shrugged again. “I never thought about it, to be honest.”
Lillian threw her arms around him. “Cayden, I thought you would say no. Thank you so, so much.” She planted a big kiss on his mouth, and a nurse quickly passing by smiled to herself at the sight. Red-faced, Lillian hopped away from Cayden.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “We’ll both help Andrew, and things will be all right. He’ll get better in no time with the two of us at his side.”
The joy on Lillian’s face made her glow in the white fluorescent lights of the hospital. Together, they went back into Andrew’s room to wait for his parents. Even in the presence of Lillian’s overwhelming happiness, Cayden couldn’t shake the reluctance inside him that scratched at his bones. This whole Andrew situation was the exact opposite of what he had envisioned for his and Lillian’s time together, and now he was basically inviting the guy to interrupt their relationship—again.
It will mean a lot to her, he thought, but it didn’t help him feel better. If you want to keep her, you have got to do this. You’ve got to show her that you’re serious about her, and part of that includes her family.
He sighed, but she didn’t notice. He looked at her face, which looked infinitely less burdened by stress than it had yesterday.
I really hope this will all work out all right.
“HEY.”
Everything was dark. Some
thing poked his shoulder. He didn’t move.
“Hey,” the voice said again. Instead of a poke, this time it was a firmer press of what felt like a finger or two. He groaned, still stuck in the blackness.
“Hello?” The voice was louder this time, and it was clearly done with playing nice. A whole hand pushed his arm, forcing him onto his back. “Are you alive?”
He was completely unable to open his eyes, but he was slowly waking up enough to know who the voice belonged to. Right before she started poking him, he had been immersed in a dream about a workout with Katharina that was playing with his perception of reality.
“I’m stuck,” he managed to get out.
