I gulped the fresh air and burped—terribly unladylike—but instantly feeling better. The sheets were already off Collette’s bed.
“Just start the washer. I already … uh, sprayed off the worst of it,” he called through the door.
A sound came out of me that I wasn’t proud of.
I heard him chuckle before a splash and sympathetic sounds.
“La la la,” I sang loudly as I made my way to the laundry room, not willing to risk even hearing her gags.
I started the wash and gave Collette and Harrison a few more minutes as I opened her bedroom window and cleared some of the air. I was mostly composed when I cautiously went to the bathroom door.
“How you feelin’ now?” Harrison asked gently.
“Better,” she said.
“Good. I think you got all the evil out of ya.”
“Will you stay with me?” Collette asked around a yawn.
“Of course. I will stay as long as you want me.”
I closed my eyes and leaned against the door. It was such a contrast to Joey. He chose to be here for the worst. He stepped up to help her without even blinking an eye. How could I have ever thought that wasn’t enough?
He carried her out a moment later; she was already sound asleep in his arms.
“Poor thing,” I whispered. I kissed her damp forehead.
“I think the worst is over,” he said.
“I’m sorry you had to take care of that. I thought I could handle it …”
“It’s fine. Trust me, I’ve seen much worse. My best mate used to drink so much that—” Whatever he saw in my features cut his story short. “Anyway. I washed her best I could but didn’t want to get her hair wet.”
“Good idea.” I pushed back her sweat-damp curls, and she sighed in her sleep.
“Thank you,” I said, meeting his gaze. He broke away first.
“I’m going to lay with her for a little while. Just in case,” he said softly.
“Okay. I put a bowl next to the bed.”
“You should get some sleep,” he said, looking at Collette and not at me. The unspoken truth there. It was the first chance I’d had to gauge his reaction to things since our kiss happened. Or rather didn’t happen.
I hadn’t been thinking clearly. I was so distraught, and he was so warm and comforting andhere.But it was a good thing we’d been interrupted. There was no going back if we crossed that line. Collette was the reminder I needed. I couldn’t even think about how I threw myself at him without humiliation flaming up my neck. Best to pretend it never happened.
“Good night,” I said.
“Good night, Frankie. Everything will seem brighter in the morning.”
I hesitated only a minute before I stood on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”
He smiled sleepily at me.
I went to bed for the second time that night, thinking of Harrison. He was so much more than I’d given him credit for. So much kinder and more of a good person than so many I knew.
It had been incredibly selfish and cruel of me to push him away or think he was anything less than sincere in his endeavor to help George and Collette. The man cared. So much. And I had scorned him like a child.
I had to hope it wasn’t too late for me to apologize.
