Page 53 of Ripped

I snort, even as warmth spreads through me. “It’s canned soup. I just heated it up.”

Donnie takes a sip and lets out a quiet sigh. The look of calm contentment on his face makes me want to scoop him up and hold him in my lap. I’m so incredibly lucky that he was at Mars that night. Who knows where I’d be right now if he hadn’t been there to catch me when I fell?

I bring my own bowl of soup to the bed and sit at his feet. He lifts his spoon to his lips again and my eyes latch onto the pale band of skin around his ring finger. I gasp silently and stare. He’s taken off his wedding ring. When did he do that?

“How, uh…” I force myself to take a sip of soup and slow myself down. “How was lunch and stuff yesterday?”

Donnie looks at his hand too, and he doesn’t answer right away. When he lifts his gaze to mine, I’m hit by the depth of emotion in his eyes. There’s still a hint of grief and sadness—the little piece of Roger that he’ll always carry around with him. But there’s so much peace, so much joy, and so much affection. It’s all aimed at me.

“It went well.”

I drag in a breath, taking in all the feelings Donnie’s directing toward me. They fill me up, seeping into all my nooks and crannies, until I feel like I’m going to explode with happiness.

“Tell me?”

“Phyllis and Leonard want to meet you.”

My eyes bulge. “You told them about me?”

Donnie nods slowly, then stills. “I told Roger about you too. I mean… at the cemetery.”

I swallow down my emotions so I can speak. “And?”

Donnie smiles again, with all that peace and joy and affection. “I think he would have liked you.”

Oh god, my heart is so full. “I think I would’ve liked him too.”

Donnie rubs his thumb across his bare ring finger. It’s the same gesture he did when he played with the ring. “It was time.”

I nod.

When he reaches his hand to me, I take it and bring it to my lips. I hold it there. If you’re listening, Roger, I promise to take care of him. You can trust him with me.

We finish eating and I make sure Donnie’s all tucked into bed, with his phone close by in case he needs to reach me. I take the tray back downstairs and head out to the grocery store. If we want to eat anything besides takeout for the next couple days, I need stuff I actually know how to cook.

It’s sunny when I step outside. The sky is blue and spotted with those fluffy white clouds. It’s one of those days when everything is perfect and nothing can go wrong. When strangers smile as we pass each other on the sidewalk, and puppies run up to me for head scritches.

I pull my phone out as I walk and dial the number for Mars. Sawyer answers.

“Hey Sawyer, it’s Connor.” Sawyer and I have chatted more every time I’ve been at Mars. He’s a cool guy, getting his bachelor’s degree part-time while he works at the gym.

“Hey, Connor! What’s up? How’s it going?”

Things are going freaking great. I’m in love with Donnie and he took his wedding ring off and I might be the happiest I’ve ever been in my entire life. I don’t say any of that.

“Actually, I’m calling because Donnie’s caught a cold or the flu or something.”

“Oh, shit. Is he okay?”

“I think so. He just needs to rest. So he’s not gonna make it to his classes for the next couple days.”

“Yeah, yeah, cool. No prob. I’ll let Beau and Gavin know. We can find someone to cover for him.”

I can hear Sawyer shuffling things around on the other end of the line. “Thanks. I’ll have Donnie reach out when he’s feeling better.”

“Awesome! I hope he gets better soon!”

I hang up and send a message to Rick.

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