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Because while she’s been falling for me, I’ve also been falling for her.
I don’t know when or how it happened, but it’s nothing short of the truth. Raquel means more to me than I ever thought possible, and if I don’t tell her how I feel soon, she’ll disappear from my life without a trace.
But my mouth doesn’t open. The words sit heavy on my tongue, my throat terribly dry.
“Would you quit staring at me?” she mumbles.
“Raquel, I…”
“Oh, shit.”
“What?”
Raquel presses her lips into a thin line, looking a bit green in the face. She audibly swallows, her face twisting in discomfort.
“What’s wrong?” I ask. “Are you alright?”
“It’s nothing. It’s—” She gags, a hand flying to her mouth to keep it sealed shut.
Concern ripples through me. “Raquel, what’s—”
She pulls the car over quickly, throwing on the hazard lights as she takes deep, labored breaths behind the wheel. She breaks into a sweat, her cheeks rosy and hot despite how cold it is this morning. I reach out to her, brushing a few loose strands of her hair away from her face to tuck behind her ear.
“Let me drive,” I say.
“I’m fine.”
“Raquel.”
I’m unable to decipher the brief look she gives me. She looks like she has something to say, but instead of speaking, she lets out a heavy sigh.
“Okay,” she whispers.
We get out of the car together, the cold wind whipping over our heads. I hold the passenger side door open for her. She’s so shaky on her feet that I’m worried she might stumble off the side of the highway into the ditch. I’m glad I listen to my instincts because her knees suddenly give out.
I grab her, ignoring my own pain to focus entirely on her. “I’ve got you. It’s okay. Just take it easy, alright.”
“I think I’m going to be sick,” she says around a dry heave. Raquel bends over, hands on her knees as she takes deep, shaky breaks.
I rub my hand up and down her back. “I think we need to stop for the day.”
“Absolutely not,” she grumbles and then gags again.
“You’re in no condition to travel. You need rest.”
“We need to get back to France,” she protests, weakly pushing against my chest.
I don’t budge. I may be injured, but she has no fight—no fire. I don’t know what’s more alarming; how pale she is or how desperately I want to scoop her up in my arms and hide her away from the rest of the world. I just want this madness to stop. She deserves so much and receives so little. I’m quickly realizing that I’d move Heaven and Earth so she can know a moment’s peace.
“We have time,” I assure her.
“No, we don’t. We need to save my father and Odette.”
“Yes, but you can’t do that if you can barely stand.”
I know she’s getting tired because all she can do is wheeze, her eyes screwed shut. I want nothing more than to take it all away, to ease her suffering.
“Let me help you,” I whisper, cupping her face gingerly in my hands. “Please, just… I know I don’t deserve your trust anymore but let me help you. I’ll drive for a while until we find a motel. Lucius and Favreaux can wait one more day.”
