Page 35 of Beautiful Crazy

“Hey Babe, you okay?”

“Emmett, I’m so sorry,” she whimpers. “But I can’t go out tonight. My uterus is trying to kill me, and I feel like complete shit.”

My shoulders fall and my head tilts as I open my arms for her. She steps into my hug and wraps her arms around me. “Aww, Em, I’m sorry you’re hurting. We don’t need to go out at all. Don’t you worry one bit about it.”

“But I planned this whole night for us to go have fun and I wanted you to be happy doing something you wanted to do.”

You are something, or someone, I want to do, Babe.

She’s in pain, Asshole. Cut it out with those thoughts.

“Emily, where we go or what we do is of no consequence to me. Besides, you’re in pain and I know during the winter months, a woman’s period can last longer and be more painful than during warmer seasons.”

She looks up at me, her chin resting on my chest. “That’s right. How did you know that?”

“I’m pretty sure you must’ve mentioned it to me before because I promise I don’t spend my time Googling random facts about menstruation. But anyway, wherever you are tonight is where I want to be, Em, alright?” I kiss the top of her head. “I just want to spend time with my best friend, and we can do that from right here.”

She steps back and looks up at me. “But you’ll miss the game. You were so excited for the hockey game. And…you smell really nice.”

I hold her face in my hands. “Em, I can watch any game on tv. How about this. What if I order all the junk food and chocolate you could possibly want, and we sit on the couch and watch tv for the night.”

“Complete with Midol milkshakes?”

I chuckle at her suggestion. “How about a double chocolate milkshake and a few Midol to swallow down with it? I can DoorDash whatever you want to eat. Why don’t you find a comfy spot on the couch? I’ll even grab your heating pad for you. And once food comes, you can snuggle up as close as you want and smell me all night long.”

Seriously. As close as you want.

She finally smiles and lets off a quiet laugh. “I think that sounds wonderful.”

“Do you need anything from the store? Light flow, super flow, the ones with wings?”

That’s right. I’m a fuckin’ pro at all things feminine hygiene.

All real men should be.

“No, I think I’m good for now, but thank you so much for the offer.” She reaches up and kisses my cheek. “I’m so lucky to have someone like you.”

You can have me all you want, Babe.

Just say the word.

“I’ll always be here for you, Emily. You get comfortable. One double chocolate Midol milkshake coming up.”

___

“Come on Rodnick! That was a sloppy shot! You’re wasting the power play!”

Emily comes back from the bathroom and grabs the blanket she was wrapped up in. “Did he score?”

“No. He missed completely. That’s so unlike him. He wasn’t even that far away, but the other team’s goalie is on fire tonight.” I look over just in time to see Emily yawn and shiver a little as she sits back down on the couch.

“Hey, get over here. I’ll keep you warm.”

“Nah, I don’t want to bother you.”

“What?”

Bother me?

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