Page 38 of Forever Mine

He follows me around the car. “Call me if you need anything.”

I get in the car, start it, and turn the radio off. “I’ll call you. Thanks, brother.”

The drive home is quiet, and I keep looking over at Nat, who is now curled up in a ball with her arm covering her eyes.

I pull straight into the garage and then go around to help her out. Without question, I pull her into my arms. “I can walk,” she mutters.

“I can carry you, too.”

It’s awkward getting the door open with her in my arms, but I’m not going to put her down. I get through the door and then take her straight upstairs. I set her on her feet just long enough to pull the covers back, and then I help her into bed.

I remove her shoes, then her socks, and then I peel her leggings down her body before pulling the cover over her.

I run into the bathroom and open the medicine cabinet. I knock over bottles until I find the one I need. I grab a cup and fill it up with water and make my way back to the bedroom. I set the water and bottle down on the nightstand and then lean over Natalie. “Baby, I need you to sit up and take this for me, okay?”

She moans, and I hate the sound. I know she’s in pain, but the pills help her. She has to take them.

“Nat, here, baby. I’ll help you.”

I put my hands under her and lift her up, grabbing my pillow and putting it under her too. She sits up a little higher, clenching her eyes shut the entire time. I grab the bottle and take a pill out and then grab the water. “Take the pill. Then you can rest.”

She does as I ask, and after she takes a second drink of water, I help her back down. I’m about to get up when she grabs my arm. “Beau.”

“I’m just going to turn off the light, grab an ice pack for your head, and then I’m going to lie down with you, okay?”

“K,” she mumbles.

I run down to the kitchen and grab the ice pack before running back upstairs.

I go to turn off the bedroom light, and then I make my way to my side of the bed in the dark. I strip down to my underwear and then climb in on my side.

I’m facing her, and once my eyes adjust, I can see her chest expand with each breath she takes. Gently, I lay the ice pack across her forehead.

“Beau.”

I reach for her, putting my hand in hers and threading our fingers together. “I’m right here, baby.”

“I’m so embarrassed. It’s probably good you never wanted me to go out to dinner with you and your family. Poor Ollie, I bet I embarrassed him in front of his friends. It just came on so fast and so hard.”

She sounds almost panicked, and I stroke her arm to try and soothe her. “Ollie wasn’t embarrassed at all. He was worried about you, but I told him he did a good job. My phone has been blowing up since I got you home. I know our family is worried about you.”

She reaches out, slapping the air between us. “Call Ollie and tell him I’m fine. He was so upset.”

I grab my phone off the nightstand and call Ford. He answers on the first ring. “How’s Natalie?”

I speak softly into the phone. “She’s fine. She’s already taken her medicine, and she’s in bed. She’s worried about Ollie, though.”

“Ollie is fine. Tell her not to worry about anything. We’re all good, and she needs to get better.”

I glance over at Natalie and nod my head. “I’ll tell her. Thank you, brother. Talk to you tomorrow.”

I put my hand on Nat’s. “Ollie’s fine. They’re all just worried about you.”

“I’m fine,” she says. The medicine works quickly normally, but I lie here quietly because maybe going to sleep will help her feel better faster. I hate it when she gets like this. I would do anything to take away the pain.

Minutes have passed by before she says anything. “I don’t like that Marlene.”

I reach my other hand out and stroke my hand softly up and down her arm. “Is that what brought the migraine on?”

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