He stopped what he was doing and came to me. “I’m here.” He rounded the corner and came to the bed, in his boxers, his hair messy from sleeping beside me all night.
“Could you hand me those?” I nodded to the corner.
“You don’t need them. You have me.”
“Well, I need to use the restroom and—”
He lifted me from the bed and carried me into the bathroom before sitting me on the toilet.
“You don’t need to do that every time…”
“I’m a lot stronger than those plastic crutches.” He walked out and shut the door behind himself.
I did my business then balanced on one foot to wash my hands. When I was done, I opened the door.
Heath grabbed me again and set me on the couch. “I just finished making breakfast. We’ll eat and watch a movie.”
I couldn’t believe he really wanted to wait on me hand and foot for the next six weeks.
He placed the food onto plates then brought one to me. It was pancakes and tater tots, my favorite. He also brought a mug of coffee before he sat beside me with his breakfast.
I picked at the food, feeling a lot better having him beside me than being alone. I couldn’t imagine doing this by myself, not because I needed him to take care of me, but because he made me feel better…a lot better.The week passed quickly, even though I didn’t do anything.
Heath stocked my kitchen with groceries, did my laundry, took care of me, and when the bills were due, he paid them.
I argued, but that argument didn’t last long.
He had to work most nights, but since I was asleep anyway, I hardly noticed he was gone. When he came home, he made me breakfast and put me on the couch before he went to sleep in my bedroom.
It became a routine.
We didn’t talk a lot. We didn’t make love either. Even if we’d wanted to, my foot was such a burden in the cast that it wasn’t possible.
When Saturday night arrived, I was hit with another dose of depression.
Because the show went on without me.
My understudy had the spotlight, and if Andre and everyone else fell in love with her, I might not be able to get my job back even if I made a full recovery. I might be booted to the B team…and never climb back to the top.
I sat in front of the TV and stared at the screen blankly, caring more about the time showing on the cable box. I waited for the performance to be over so I could stop thinking about the evening, the way the hot lights used to make me sweat, the way I couldn’t hear anything over the orchestra when I danced on the stage.
Then it was finally over.
Heath glanced at me from his seat beside me, like he’d noticed something was wrong. He grabbed my hand, interlocked our fingers, and held it on his thigh. He stared at me with his piercing blue gaze, like he could read written words in my eyes. “This isn’t forever, baby. I promise.”
I loved that he knew exactly what I was thinking without me having to explain it, that he was understanding of my emotions but also firm in his belief that I would get better, that I would make a full recovery and be as strong as ever.
I would never find another man like him.
No one would ever understand me the way he did.
No one would ever love me the way he did. “I love you…” I knew I shouldn’t say it, shouldn’t put those feelings into the universe when nothing had changed. But I couldn’t help it. Couldn’t hold back the emotion in my heart.
His eyes softened slightly, his fingers squeezing mine. “I know.”A knock sounded on the door.
Heath’s hand was still in mine as we watched the movie. His eyes flicked to the door then to me, silently asking me if I expected anyone.
I shook my head.
He got to his feet and walked to the door, peering through the peephole. When he turned to me, an annoyed expression on his face, it was obvious who it was.
Damien knocked again before he spoke. “Cat, I know you’re home. Open the door.”
Oh no.
Heath grabbed my crutches and helped me onto them before he walked into the bedroom and shut the door. He knew showing his face would just make things worse with Damien, so it was better to disappear than provoke my brother’s wrath. So, he hid his face…like a dirty secret.
That felt so wrong, it made me sick. Heath was the one dropping everything to take care of me, and he had to leave the room when he had every right to stay. I made it to the door and opened it.
Damien stood there in a suit, Anna slightly behind him in a gown.