“Took care of him, how?”
“You’re safe, cupcake. That’s all you need to know, okay?”
I could see she had more questions, but thank God she didn’t ask any of them. Instead, she relaxed back into her pillows. “Stay with me?”
Instead of replying, I climbed into the bed with her, which was big enough to hold the both of us and pulled her close to my side.
“I was thinking,” I began, tracing my fingers along her arm as she rested against me, her head tucked beneath my chin. “When you get out of here, you could stay with me.”
Her head lifted slightly, eyes wide. “What?”
“The last thing you need right now is to be alone,” I said simply.
“I get that, but I can’t stay with you, Nathan.” She shook her head, her voice soft but sure. “It’s one thing to sleep at your place for a night or two, but I can’t have you taking care of me. You have the company to run. I’ll be fine. I have Kelsey.”
I caught her hand before she could pull away. “You told me Kelsey has hardly been around since she started filming. You need someone who can be there, not just check in.”
“You have the company to run,” She tried to argue.
“Then I guess it’s a good thing I’m the boss and can do whatever I want.”
“I don’t want to be your responsibility.”
“What did I tell you before, cupcake?,” I murmured. “I take care of what’s mine.”
Her lips parted like she wanted to argue, but I could see the exhaustion creeping in, the way her shoulders sagged beneath the weight of pretending she was fine.
Elise looked down at our joined hands, her thumb brushing over my knuckles. “And if I say no?”
“Then I’ll ask again tomorrow.”
A quiet laugh slipped past her lips despite herself. “You’re persistent."
“I’ve been called worse.”
For a long moment, the only sound was the steady rhythm of the machines and her breathing. Then, finally, she sighed. “Okay. I’ll stay. But only until I can get back on my feet.”
It didn’t take long for her soft breathing to fill the room and when she absentmindedly pressed her face to my chest, I had the strange urge to say three words I’ve never said to any woman, do things like order another blanket to chase away the goosebumps on her arms, and press my lips to the smooth skin of her cheeks. But I didn’t do any of that. Instead, I listened to Elise, letting the lull of her soft breathing lure me into a peaceful night of sleep knowing that the person who hurt her was no longer alive.
***
ELISE
“WHAT DO YOUmean I can’t go home?” I looked up from my stir fry towards Nathan.
“I mean you’re not going home today, Cupcake,” Nathan’s voice was unreasonably calm as we spoke.
It had been three days since I was released from the hospital, and somehow, Nathan had talked me into recovering at his place. Between his stubborn insistence, my friends agreeing with him, and the fact that I didn’t have the energy to argue after being discharged, I ended up here with him.
Now, though, I felt fine. Better than fine. Between my friends rotating shifts to keep me company and Nathan’s constant hovering, not to mention the medication I was taking, I was ready to get back to normal. Creating choreography, filming new content, prepping Rhodium for her upcoming live performance.
We were in his dining room having lunch together when I mentioned I’d start packing to return back to my place when Nathan’s words stopped me.
“But I feel fine,” I argued, setting my fork aside.
“You’re not going home today,” Nathan repeated, his tone firm but laced with affection. “You’re staying put and resting.”
“But Nathan, I—”
