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Frustrated with myself, I sit up abruptly in the bed. It’s 8:03 a.m. Sebastian’s side of the bed is empty. Last night, he’d laid down next to me for a bit, but then rose to leave, intending to keep his word about sleeping on the couch. But I grabbed his arm and pulled him back to me. Let him wrap himself around me as I drifted to sleep.
In the morning, I felt him stirring around in the bedroom as he got ready for work. Felt his lips tenderly kiss my brow before he left. I had pretended to be asleep, not ready to kiss him goodbye as if all was well.
I see a note he left on the pillow along with a brand-new cell phone since I destroyed mine in my rage.
Fresh croissants and coffee in the kitchen. I’ll be home by lunch.(Heart Kiss)Bash.
No mention of last night, no additional apologies. He means to move on like nothing ever happened. Though, I have a strong suspicion that he left first thing this morning to deal with the situation on his terms. Suddenly, I’m afraid for both Bash and whoever he’s about to clash with.
I climb out of bed and head for the bathroom. I notice that my toiletries and bath robe are all back in their places as if last night’s blow up never occurred. For a second, I get a queasy feeling as if it were just a terrible dream. But my puffy, red eyes bear witness to the very real tears I cried when I thought my heart was being ripped out.
The image of a heart pumping in an open chest cavity fills my vision. I’d rather be performing a one-handed quadruple by-pass surgery than go through last night again. Funny how accustomed I’ve become to looking at what most people would consider gore.
Is that why I don’t shy away from Sebastian’s questionable business dealings? How did I become so jaded and cynical about how most wealthy people amass their fortunes. Or is it simply we make all kinds of excuses to justify the acts of the ones we love?
I turn on the shower and try to wash all these troublesome thoughts away. Afterward, I get dressed and go look in on my patient.
“How’re you feeling this morning?" I ask Nick.
He’s sitting up in his bed and appears to be in fresh bed clothes. Sebastian must have tended to him before he left this morning. His face brightens at the sight of me.
“Getting stronger every day,” he replies as he tries to prop himself up a little more.
“That’s music to my ears, Nick,” I say as I walk over and fill his glass with water from the pitcher. “Let’s have a look and confirm your prognosis.”
He unbuttons his pajama top. “How are you this morning?”
I force a smile. “The doctor is doing fine. A good one never lets personal matters affect their work life.”
“Oh, I thought doctors were human too.”
I smirk but keep my attention on examining the wounds. The bandages have a little brownish dried blood, but no fresh blood or pus.
“You’re healing well, Nick. Keep up the good work and you’ll be back on your feet in no time.”
“He really loves you, Madison.”
I shake my head. “Please don’t worry about us. You just focus on getting better.”
“I have never seen Bash get this way over anyone. But our ways, they are different.”
I give him a curious look.
“The betrothal, it means nothing. He’ll never let that cow into his bed,” his accent is getting thicker the more passionate he becomes. “His heart is only for you. But it will cause great trouble if he breaks the engagement.”
And now I clearly see Sebastian’s dilemma. Tell me about the betrothal and risk me walking out on him, break the betrothal before I ever learned about it and all hell breaks loose.
“He’s put himself into an impossible situation,” I say thinking out loud. “He never should have started with me.”
Nick inclines his head with a wry smile. “Who can tell the heart what to feel?”
I sit in the chair next to the bed.
“He told me that he fell for you during his hospital stay,” he nods at me. “You came to see him every day. You were falling for him too, yes?”
“Oh, great,” I say throwing my hands up. “So, this is my fault.”
“Yes, for being so smart, funny and beautiful.”
