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“Valentina, I’m sorry. Did we wake you?”
“It’s okay. I had to take my meds anyway. What’s going on?”
“Uh,” Rory cups the back of his neck like he does anytime he is nervous. “This is my roommate, Neil. Neil, this is Valentina.”
The tall, dark, and handsome man, who reminds me of Mandy’s Chris, sets the duffel on the floor and extends his hand. His black eyes shine as he looks between Rory and me, and his grin spreads wide on his face. “Nice to meet you,” he says, “Neil Campbell.”
I wince at the movement as I shake his hand. “You too,” I manage to say.
Neil’s face turns to concern. “Are you in pain?” he asks.
I scoff. “Great. Let me guess. Another doctor?”
Neil chuckles and nods. “Yeah, but I’m in the surgery department.”
Rory wastes no time in getting to my side. “Are you in pain?”
I nod. “I didn’t wake up in time for pain meds.”
Rory rushes to the cabinet, searching for them while Neil grabs my hand and leads me to the couch. “This all right?” he asks as he props a cushion behind my back.
“Yes. Thank you.”
Rory offers a glass of water and two pills. I smile and take them. “Rory?”
“Yeah?”
“Why are there bags in my living room?”
“Okay, please don’t get mad.”
“Somehow, that statement alone makes me mad—”
“Well, that’s everything from the car,” Neil says. “I’m going to get going, man.” He claps his hand on Rory’s back and shakes his head as I watch him leave the apartment.
“Spit it out, Dennis,” I say with little patience.
“You need help.”
“I can hire a nurse.”
“I can help while you get the nurse hired, and even then, the nurse won’t be here twenty-four hours a day. You had major surgery. You shouldn’t be alone, at least the first few days.”
Looking between the bags and Rory, realization of what he has done sets in. My eyes widen with horror. No. He can’t. I won’t let him.
“So you moved in with me?”
“Well, um—” He at least has the grace to avert his eyes. “Just temporarily,” he says.
“You didn’t think you’d have to run that by me?”
“You have the extra room—”
It’s barely a whisper as I manage to tame my anger. “Get out.”
“Val—”
“Out, Rory! I don’t want you here for this.”
