Page 29 of Callum
His heart gave another massive thud in his chest. “I can if you want.” The only other choice was the floor, but he’d sleep there for her.
“I want.” She yawned. “And can you turn my phone off? I don’t want to get any more of those messages…”
“What messages?”
“The awful ones that call me a bitch and a whore.”
Something dangerous ticked in his jaw. “Is that what had you turning pale in the car?”
“Mm.” That was all she gave him before she fell into a deep sleep.
* * *
Fiona’s eyespopped open at the roll of her belly. She sucked in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. The room was dark, and so quiet that her and Callum’s breaths were all she could hear.
She closed her eyes and touched a hand to her stomach.Please don’t be sick. Please don’t be sick.
Man, why had she drunk all that wine last night? She knew she didn’t tolerate alcohol well.
On her third inhale, her stomach rolled again, and bile crawled up her throat. She was moving before she could stop herself, shooting out of bed and running to the bathroom. A deep, raspy voice sounded behind her, but she ignored it, throwing the bathroom door closed and dropping to her knees in front of the toilet just in time for the contents of her stomach to empty.
She wanted to groan when she heard the footsteps from the bedroom. There was no part of her that wanted Callum to see her like this.
Do not come in. Do not come in. Do not—
The door opened right as her belly rolled and she was sick again. A second later, fingers threaded through her hair, pulling it back from her face. Then a warm hand rubbed large circles on her back. Those words in her head died at his touch. It was heaven. How did a simple back rub while dying make you feel so much better?
They remained like that for a few more minutes, with her head in the toilet and Callum behind her, comforting. He didn’t say anything, neither of them did. They remained quiet while her belly released everything inside it.
When she was finally feeling almost normal, she flushed the toilet, then leaned back against the wall, letting the cool of the tiles seep into her body. That’s when she realized she was still wearing the dress she’d had on at the rehearsal dinner. Good God, she was a mess.
Callum rose and grabbed a small towel. He ran it under some water before lowering and pressing it to her forehead. The coolness had her eyes shuttering. “Thank you.”
“How are you feeling?”
She peeled her eyes open to find him on his haunches in front of her, concern coloring his eyes a shade darker. Her attention lowered to his bare chest. He only wore pajama pants, which hung dangerously low on his hips, showing those familiar jam-packed abs.
Even sick, she appreciated this man’s work-of-art body. “Better. Teaches me to be a more responsible drinker.”
Callum reached forward and shifted some hair from her face. Every time he did that, she wanted to melt into him. “Maybe I should have filled your glass with water before the waiter got there.”
Her lips curved into a smile. “I might have bitten off your hand. That wine was all that kept my butt in the seat.”
“Why are you here?”
Her brows flickered, surprised by his question. “It’s my sister’s wedding.”
“I know. But they hurt you. Badly. No one would have begrudged you for not coming. I’m sure a lot of people expected it.”
“Exactly why I’m here.” His brows flickered in confusion, so she continued. “I need them both to know that I’m okay. That they haven’t hurt me beyond repair. BecauseI amokay. A little battered and bruised but living a new life that I’m happy with.”
Understanding lightened his eyes.
“I don’t know why,” she continued softly, “but that was really important to me.”
“I get it.”
“Plus, no one knows about the circumstances of my separation with Freddie. Even though my parents would have understood me not coming because he’s my ex, me not being here still would have made them worry.”
