Page 45 of Alec’s Dream

“Your mom is very smart,” Alec told her. “She’s also right. When you give someone your word you shouldn’t break it.”

“Your word?” Rory’s face scrunched the same cute way Macy’s did and Alec’s smile grew.

“Your word is your promise.”

“I think I’m gonna be sick.”

Without thinking, Alec scooped up Rory and started for the hall bathroom. They’d barely made it to the toilet before she gagged, then she relieved her stomach of its contents.

“You’re okay, sweetheart, get all the sick out.” Alec had one arm wrapped around her waist so she wouldn’t fall forward and the other held back her long hair.

“Oh, no. Rory baby,” Macy gasped from the doorway.

“I’ve got her, why don’t you get a washcloth?” Alec adjusted his hold while Rory continued to heave.

“I can—”

“Washcloth, Macy.”

Behind him, he heard the opening and closing of the cabinet door and the sink turn on. Voices from the living room drifted into the tiny bathroom but not loud enough for him to decipher what they were saying.

“You done, sweetheart? Your mama has a cool washcloth for you.”

“Done,” Rory croaked and Alec gently pulled them to their feet. Once he had Rory settled, he reached and flushed the toilet.

“Let’s go get you into your jammies,” Macy suggested.

“Sorry,” Rory mumbled sounding miserable.

“Nothing to be sorry about, munchkin. Does your tummy feel better?”

Macy’s arm wrapped around her daughter’s shoulder as Rory gave her mom her weight and nodded.

“Good.” Then Alec looked at Macy. “Do you have crackers and ginger ale?”

“No. I’ll go to the store after… when everyone…” Macy trailed off and Alec felt his muscles tighten and did his best to control the snarl from tearing from his throat.

Macy looked horrible.

“You need me to go to the—”

“No. I’m fine. I need to take care of Rory.”

She wasn’t fine, but standing in a small bathroom with her sick child wrapped around her was not the time to argue.

“Thanks for your help,” Macy continued. “I hope you’ll understand if I don’t see you out.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Alec—”

“Go take care of Aurora. I’m gonna talk to Jonny.”

“I’d rather you didn’t.”

Damn, she was infuriating. Even after someone had attacked her in her home in front of her child she was still trying to deny she needed his help, his protection.

Fuck that.