Grabbing a sandwich and water, I pay for them, but when Aunt Delasks if I’d like to sit down here and eat, I shake my head. “Need to get back to him.”
Aunt Del nods in understanding, her eyes soft as she watches me.
“You’re good for him, you know.”
I swallow thickly and then glance down at her. She has no idea how much his presence in my life has changed me. For the better.
“He’s good for me.”
Her eyes warm. “After his mom… Well, I always hoped he’d find someone who’d love him. Never thought it would be another man, but”—she waves her hand in the air—“that doesn’t matter, does it? He’s happier with you than he’s ever been with anyone else. The way he speaks about you.”
I look down and take a small bite of my sandwich. My mouth is dry, and when I swallow, it sits in my stomach like lead.
“Will he be released soon?” I ask, trying to change the subject because I don’t want to blubber.
“Tomorrow. Will you be taking him home? Or should I plan on him staying with me?”
“With me,” I blurt and then take another bite of my sandwich.
“Good man.”
She pats my shoulder, and then, before we go back into Caleb’s room, she stops me.
“I don’t mean to pry, but has Caleb told you about his mother?”
My breath hitches, knowing that this isn’t something good, not with the way her voice changes slightly when she mentions it.
“I know she passed, but I don’t know the details.”
Aunt Del looks sad for a moment, shadows passing through her eyes.
“It was cancer. Came on suddenly and took her quickly. The anniversary of her death is right before Thanksgiving. November twenty-third.”
“God,” I mutter, and she nods.
“She wanted to make it to the holidays but couldn’t hold on. If…I just want to make sure that if you can’t be there for him at that time, please convince him to come home. I know it’s hard for him. Itwillbe hard for him. I don’t know how he’ll cope with italone.”
“I’ll be there for him,” I say. “And we’ll be there for Thanksgiving.”
Aunt Del seems satisfied with my response because she hugs me tightly, and then we walk into the room. Much to my relief, Caleb is still sleeping, and Aunt Del says, “I’ll leave you my things just in case you need them, and I’ll get a ride home with Luke. As his fiancé, you should be the one he wakes up to.”
“Okay,” I reply and watch as she grabs her purse and tablet and then disappears outside.
“Whit?” Caleb mutters, his hand grasping the sheets, and I leave my sandwich on the table and climb into bed with him. My hunger is forgotten.
All I see is him.
He immediately settles as I sink in next to him. He pulls me into him with a grunt. My heart rests against his chest, and I rub my fingers across his neck, feeling that pulse strong beneath my fingers.
What am I doing?
Why can’t I stop?
All I know is this will not end well.
CHAPTER TEN
The first thing I think about when I think of hospitals is the lights. They’re always too bright and too white, almost blinding. Then it’s the scratchy blankets against my skin, how they were never warm enough, but how glad I was to have one.
