Page 42 of Then There Was You

He walks in and across the apartment to the kitchen, placing the bag on the countertop.

“I got you a few extra things. I also spoke to Cade.”

“Why?”

“Because clearly the Tylenol isn’t working. He said you can take Advil in between the Tylenol. I didn’t know if you had any, so I picked some up.”

I watch in disbelief as he empties the brown bag. Along with the Advil, he pulls out a heating pad, a box of chamomile tea, and bar after bar of chocolate, along with candy and chips.

“I didn’t know what chocolate or candy you liked, so I got a bunch of different stuff. If there’s something I’ve missed, I can go back out.” He gets down a glass and fills it with water before handing it to me along with two Advil. “Take these and go and sit back down. I’ll make you a chamomile tea. I heard it was good for cramps. I’ll bring the heating pad over too.”

“I don’t know what to say,” I whisper. “Thank you.”

Tears fill my eyes, and before I make a complete idiot of myself, I head to the living room and curl up on the sofa. The tears soon fall, though, and I try to wipe them away as quickly as they come. It’s the hormones making me cry, but as well as that, no one has taken care of me like this for years. I’d almost forgotten how good it feels.

“Here you go,” Seb says, placing a steaming cup of chamomile tea on the side table. He plugs the electric heating pad into the nearest outlet and passes it to me. I take it from him and press it to my stomach. “Are you crying?” He sits down next to me and places his hand on my leg, squeezing gently.

“No,” I lie, looking anywhere but at him.

“You are. Come here.” He opens his arms and I bite my bottom lip. “It’s just a hug, Taylor. It looks like you could use one.”

“I could,” I tell him, my voice cracking.

“Come here.”

I hold his gaze as I scoot across the sofa, melting into his embrace. He takes the heating pad and presses it against my lower stomach.

“Is that helping?” he asks.

“A little. It can take a while sometimes.”

I thought it might feel weird for him to hold me after what happened last time we were together, but it doesn’t. It just feels right.

After a few minutes of lying in his arms, I raise my head. “I’m sure you didn’t come up here to do… this.” He looks down at me. “Why were you looking for me?”

“Oh shit! I’d forgotten why I’d come up when I saw you were sick.” He repositions me in his arms and digs in his jeans pocket. “This is for you.” He presses a small black fob into my hand.

I look down in confusion. “What’s this?”

“I was hoping to show you. Do you feel like a walk downstairs and I can explain?”

I screw up my nose. “I’m not really dressed for the bar,” I tell him, gesturing to my sweats and tank.

“We’re not going into the bar, just to the bottom of the stairs.”

“Okay. I’ll grab my sweater.”

I untangle myself from his arms and head to the bedroom. I’m a little torn. I want to see whatever it is he wants to show me, but I also want to stay wrapped in his arms. I’ve no idea if he’ll hold me like that again, but I do know it didn’t last nearly as long as I’d have liked.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

Seb

Iblow out a breath as I wait in the living room while Taylor gets her sweater. When she’d opened the door earlier and nearly collapsed on top of me, my stomach rolled knowing she was sick. I’d been seconds from calling Cade when she assured me she was okay. I didn’t believe her. Her face was pale and I could see from her expression that she was in pain. While a chamomile tea and a bunch of candy won’t take her pain away, I hope it helps a little.

“Okay. I’m ready. I hope we don’t see anyone. I’m a hot mess.”

My eyes sweep over her. She might be wearing sweats and a loose hoodie, her hair piled on the top of her head and not a scrap of makeup on, but she’snota hot mess. She looks beautiful, like she always does.

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