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Thirty-One
Aria was dozingwhen Damian stepped into the room with an armful of packages. She opened her eyes, wondering if she was imagining him, a dark god worshipping her withgifts.
“What’s all that?” she asked, pulling herself fromsleep.
“Just a few things to tide you over,” he said, bending to kissher.
He reached into the bag and pulled out an assortment of snacks and drinks, magazines, a book she’d never heard of, nail polish, a plush blanket, a notebook andpen.
Picking up the bag he’d set on the floor, he held it up to her nose. She caught the smell of ginger and tamarind and the faint scent ofpeanuts.
“Is that pad thai?” sheasked.
“It is,” he said. “I was bringing food home for you when… well, when everything happened. I stopped for a freshbatch.”
She started to sit up, her mind still foggy with sleep, and he lay a gentle hand on hershoulder.
“You don’t have to eat it now. I talked to the nurse and she said she’d heat it up when you’re ready for it. I just didn’t want you to get stuck with hospitalfood.”
She smiled. “I’ll be hometomorrow.”
Technically, they would be in Nico and Angel’s home, but she’d learned that her home was always withDamian.
“I know,” he said. “You can bring everything with you when you comehome.”
She wanted to tell him she wouldn’t have time to read magazines and paint her nails then, that she would be busy helping him find Malcolm, but she didn’t want to ruin hisfun.
“I do have one more thing.” He reached into his jacket and removed a plush stuffed wolf. “Thought you could use a friend when I’m notaround.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Where did you findit?”
She’d once told him a story about Mr. Wolf, a stuffed animal she’d had when she was a kid. She’d slept with it every night, had carried it everywhere until it had become dirty and limp. She’d packed it away when she’d become a teenager, but even then, knowing it was lame to still have stuffed animals, she’d felt sorrowful setting it on the top shelf of hercloset.
She hadn’t slept with it again until after the death of herparents.
“Got lucky,” he said, tucking it in the crook of her arm. “I didn’t want you to be lonely while I’mgone.”
“What about you?” sheasked.
He smiled sadly, smoothed the hair back from her forehead. “There’s no cure for my loneliness when I’m not withyou.”
She reached for his hand and touched it to her lips. “Maybe you could bribe the nurses to let youstay.”
A shadow crossed his face. “I’d love nothing more, but we’re still running downGatti.”
“Don’t do anything without me,” shesaid.
He sighed. “If we get a line on Gatti, we’ll have to move right away. We might not get anotherchance.”
She exhaled her frustration, trying to keep herself from lashing out at Damian. It wasn’t his fault she was in the hospital, and she would be home tomorrow. The likelihood of something important happening in the next twelve hours was slimanyway.
Besides, she was getting tired again. She didn’t want to fight with Damian on the one night they would have to sleepapart.
“Okay,” shesaid.
He bent over to kiss her as he caressed herface.
“I’ll miss you,” hesaid.
“I’ll miss youtoo.”
He brought her hand to his mouth, kissed her palm. “I’ll see yousoon.”
“You’ll be here tomorrow morning to drive me home?” sheasked.
“I’ll call the doctor to see what time they’re releasing you,” hesaid.
She nodded, her eyelids heavy. “I loveyou.”
He set her hand down and touched his lips to her forehead. “I love you, too. Nowsleep.”
