I stood outside Liz’s bedroom door on the first floor, letting the sounds from the main room surround me. My heart sank as I rubbed at my sternum, trying to relieve the heartburn that was crawling up my throat. I didn’t want to do anything that impeded her recovery, but I also couldn’t let her find out about the arranged marriage from anyone else.
I rapped my knuckles against her door, waiting for her to call out. Her room was her domain, and while I spent plenty of time in it, I never invaded her space.
“Come…in.” Her voice sounded stronger, and I took it as a good sign.
“Want some company?” I asked, sticking my head around the door. I didn’t know how long she’d been awake, but she was lying on her side, facing the door.
“Yes.” She smiled, slowly sitting up. She adjusted the pillows behind her, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. The blanket fell to her waist, revealing the top of her favorite pair of pajamas. Liz was a proper lady, but the dogs always caught me off guard.
I took my club cut off, hanging it on the hook before unlacing my boots. I left them by the door as I climbed onto the bed, sitting next to her.
“Tell me.”
I said nothing, wondering where to even start.
“Bob…by. Say some…thing.”
She used my given name in private, and hearing it from her always made me pause. Sometimes, I had to stop and make sure she was actually talking to me,even though I was the only Robert in the club. I must have taken too long because she pinched my side. It didn’t hurt, but I jumped, bending to avoid her fingers.
“Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be.” I raised my eyebrows at her. “You’re feeling better.”
She shrugged. “Nothing I…can—“
She couldn’t find the words, and I sat patiently, waiting. She’d come around eventually, or her brain would process the same sentiment with words she could pronounce.
”—can do.”
It was my turn to shrug. “How did you know Alex is in town?”
She nodded. “He left…watch.” Liz pointed to herself. “I gave…to him.”
I took a deep breath, holding my hand out to her. She didn’t hesitate to link her fingers with mine, but when a bolt of heat raced up my arm at her touch, I knew better than to read anything into it.
The first time I’d accidentally brushed up against her, the same heat had sizzled in the crack between us. I’d jumped to conclusions, assuming she felt the same. Selfishly, I’d pushed for a little more, only to be met with reality.
Liz hadn’t meant to, but she’d stomped on my heart. She saw me as only “a good friend,” and instead of being angry at her, I’d squashed my expectations. She hadn’t been ready then, but that hadn’t stopped me from making small strides. I often held my hand out for hers, and she never hesitated. It was enough—for now.
“Gerry’s alright downstairs, but he said he thought he was signing new employee paperwork the last time he met with Alex. He’s supposed to be lead counsel here in the States.”
“Peter said…Gerry was…lucky. He…missed…details. Retire.”
“I think he’s so desperate to get back to the top that anytime it’s offered to him, he jumps at the chance. He signed, not reading the fine print carefully. The back page was an arranged marriage contract.” I waited to see if she wouldput the details together.
Her eyes shifted off into the distance. I gave her time to process what I had just said, but I watched her face for her reaction. If I were her, I’d be angry, but so far, she just looked dejected.
“So it’s true,” she said. “I’ll go.”
“What the fuck?” I couldn’t believe I had heard her correctly. “You’re going to go? Go the fuck where?”
“With Alex. Not for…Gerry. Save girls.” She squeezed my fingers but didn’t look at me. “We knew…this was…com…com…ing.”
“Like fuck you are.” I seriously tried to adjust my volume, but she was talking absolute nonsense, and I could barely control the words coming out of my mouth.
“It’s alright.”
“Like fuck it is. Martyrs end up dead.”
“Bob…by.” She squeezed my hand again. The pressure reminded me to tone it down. If I was too loud, someone would come down the hallway to check on her, and I didn’t need the interruption.
