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My cheeks flamed. “You brought my vibrator?”
“Might’ve. You should’ve told me you had one.”
“God, you’re trouble.”
“The best kind of trouble.”
“I so don’t get you,” I said quietly.
“What don’t you get?”
“You’re like the Holy Grail of men. You just…for being a Nomad for so long, I don’t understand how you just naturally fall into being such a thoughtful partner.”
His hazel eyes seemed to brighten as he stared at me. “Brooklyn, I—”
My phone rang, immediately pulling my attention. “Sorry, I have to get that.”
Slash nodded. “I’ll order food, yeah?”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “That sounds perfect.” I pulled my phone out of my purse and saw Jazz’s name. “Hey.”
“Hey.” She sounded exhausted. “They’re keeping Mom overnight to monitor her. They’re letting me sleep on a cot in her room.”
“How is she?”
“Still sedated.” Her tone was bleak, bleeding pain. “She’s strapped down so she can’t hurt herself, or anyone else for that matter.”
“How’s your neighbor?”
“Shaken, but she’s okay.” She paused. “I can’t do this, Brooklyn. I can’t keep doing this. I don’t have enough—she needs real help. Help I can’t give her.”
I didn’t know what it was like to have a sick parent who relied on me for everything. Jazz’s life was at a standstill, because all she did was work and take care of her mother. It wasn’t a life at all. For either of them.
“What are you going to do?” I asked.
“I don’t know. But I can’t—the wedding—”
“Hey, don’t worry about it. Seriously, don’t worry about it. I’ve got enough help. Take care of your mom, but don’t forget to take care ofyou.”
“Thanks,” she said, her voice breaking. “I’ll talk to you later.”
I hung up the phone and set it down on an end table. Slash came out of the bedroom and said, “Food’s ordered.”
Nodding, I sat on the couch and rested my head against the cushion.
“You okay?” He took the spot next to me, and I immediately leaned into him.
“Yeah. I’m fine. It’s Jazz. Her mom’s got early onset Alzheimer’s and it’s taking its toll.”
“Shit way to go,” he murmured. “Slow decline. Not recognizing your home, your family…”
“I got a call,” I said softly. “That my dad was gone. It was like a punch to the gut. I wasn’t prepared for it.”
We were quiet for a long moment and my eyes were drifting shut, but I swore I heard him say, “You’re never prepared for it.”
Chapter42
Frustration swirled in my belly,up my throat, and it took all my bandwidth not to curse the guy out on the phone.
