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He told her about his life, about Miranda – he told her everything except about Daria. She laughed and gasped at times, but every time she did, she looked more tired after.
He stopped an hour later, only because he had seen Iolanthe’s eyelids drift close. She was sleeping.
His eyes met Leah’s. She was seated on the opposite side of the bed, a militant look on her face. A fighter, he thought. She really was the opposite of Iolanthe in every way.
“She’s getting better every day,” Leah told him fiercely.
He wondered if she knew how desperate she sounded. “I’m glad to hear that,” he said quietly. “Whatever you need, just tell me.” He asked for her phone, and he input his private number in it. “I’ll be the one to answer you directly.”
The hope shining in Leah’s eyes only made Nik feel more of a bastard. He could have done this earlier – could have helped this child and not let her handle everything on her own if not for his stubborn unwillingness to become involved with anyone.
After securing his promise to join them for dinner, Leah left the room, and Nik said quietly, “You can stop pretending now.” He had noticed Iolanthe’s breathing pattern change a minute ago.
Her eyes slowly drifted open. “Why am I even surprised you know I was faking it?” Her voice was so faint Nik had to strain to hear her.
When Nik didn’t answer her, she said worriedly, “What is it?”
That she could be concerned, even in the state she was in – how could she never fear doing this, Nik wondered tautly. How could Io always put everyone before her even when other people constantly repaid her with pain?
“I wouldn’t blame you if you hate me right now,” he said grimly. “You should hate me.”
Io only smiled. “Leah used to. She saw me crying over you so many times, you see. But she forgave you when you paid for all this.”
He shook his head. “It’s not enough.” He met her eyes. “I’m sorry, Iolanthe.”
Her face softened even more. “Nik, there’s nothing to be sorry about.” She paused, the words visibly tiring her. “It’s not...your fault you didn’t love me. You tried—-”
Nik was incredulous. “Are you kidding me? I practically threw you out. I—-”
“You did.” Her voice was faint but emphatic. “The whole time you didn’t fire me, you...tried.”
“You’re too damn nice,” was all he said.
Io lifted one hand up, her movement slow and weak. She patted his face. “You’re too hard...on yourself.” Her eyes were bright with tears. “Those were some of the...best days...of my life. You were my...greatest infatuation. I’ll never...regret.” She spoke with such feeling Nik was both humbled by it as well as gutted, realizing it also meant that he had hurt her so damn much when he had cut her out of his life without a single word of explanation.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
She patted his face again. “You found her...right? You wouldn’t have come here...if you hadn’t.” Sadness tinged her smile. “But...you lost her, too?”
Nik shrugged, an expressionless mask falling over his face. “You’re still as talkative as ever.”
“Get...her...back.” She bit her lip. “And...Nik?”
He frowned at the way her voice suddenly trembled. “What’s wrong? Do you want me to call—-”
“Nik.”
He stopped speaking.
“Take care of...Leah...when I’m gone?”
He could see it in her eyes that a part of her was terrified he would say no, terrified that he was still the old Nik and unwilling to let anyone inside his heart.
His voice was as fierce as Leah’s when he answered. “You won’t be gone.”
She choked on a laugh, but it was followed by a violent bout of coughing. When she looked at him again, she had tears running down her face. “Still a bad liar,” she whispered, but she was also smiling.
“And like I said, you still talk too much.”
“Promise me, Nik. Please.”
He nodded. He didn’t want to say it, knew he might as well say he believed she’d die anytime if he did.
Her smile widened. “T-thank you. And I promise...I’ll stick around long enough to meet her.”
