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“Be right back,” he said.
He wasn’t gone long, though I’d lost track of time in general. I worried how much of the game he’d missed. But selfishly, I was glad he’d come home early.
When he returned, he unscrewed the cap from a bottle of Ultim8 Hydr8 and held it out to me. “Here. Drink this. Slowly,” he added. “The electrolytes will help. I don’t want you to get dehydrated.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. Even water sounded…bleh.
I shook my head quickly and regretted it immediately. “No.” I held a hand to my throat, which was raw from throwing up.
He held it to my lips. “Slow sips. Take your time.”
I pouted, but I knew he wouldn’t relent.
“Come on,mi cielo,”he pleaded, and I opened my mouth. He tilted the bottle ever so slowly, allowing me to drink at my pace. “That’s it,” he added in a gentle voice.
I slumped against the wall. This was exhausting and mortifying. And yet Knox acted as if it was no big deal. As if leaving a game early to hold my hair back while I puked my guts out was the only place he wanted to be. The only thing that really mattered to him.
I’d never felt less sexy or more loved.
“Do you want to stay in here a little longer, or are you ready to go back to bed?” he asked.
“I don’t want to move,” I said, afraid if I did, I’d throw up again.
“That’s fine.” He rubbed my back. “We can stay here as long as you need.”
I laid my head in his lap, and he stroked my hair. At some point, I remembered him carrying me to the bed. Setting me down gently before joining me.
It felt like I was dreaming. But when he whispered, “Sweet dreams,mi cielo. I love you,” as he pressed a kiss to my temple, I knew it was true.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
Iwatched Kendall as she slept, concentrating on the sound of her breathing. It grew measured and even, and it was only then that I started to relax a little. Only when she was in my arms, sleeping peacefully, that I could breathe again.
I hated seeing her like this. I hated worrying about her. I hated myself for falling for her, and yet, I wouldn’t change it for the world. She wasmi cielo, my heaven on earth. And I couldn’t bear the thought of living without her.
Before Kendall, I’d been merely existing. Now, I felt as if I was truly alive. And watching her endure food poisoning had nearly killed me.
From the nightstand, my phone flashed with an incoming message, and I sighed. I wanted to ignore it, but I couldn’t any longer. So, carefully as I could, I picked it up and swiped it open to review what I’d missed.
A few texts from the team press manager. A call from Jude. News stories flooding my screen about the team’s win, followed by questions about my absence despite Jude’s eloquent statement to the press after the game.
What did it say about me that I was willing to leave my team—my only son—to be with Kendall?
I could count the number of games I’d missed on one hand. I’d watched the game on my flight home, but nothing compared to experiencing it live. And even though I’d known my early departure would spark questions, I couldn’t stay away from Kendall. Not when she’d needed me.
Jude: Are you okay? Brenda said you had to leave then told me I was doing the press conference.
I set down my phone and dragged my hand through my hair. I’d have to answer Jude and deal with the rest of it at some point. But right now, all I wanted was to hold Kendall.
But the longer my phone sat there, Jude’s message still unanswered, the guiltier I felt. So I picked up the phone and texted him.
I’m good. And you did great, son.
Son.
I didn’t feel like much of a father. Not when I’d left the game early to go home toher—the woman who held my heart in her hands. My son’s ex.
I watched Kendall’s sleeping form, her chest rising and falling with every breath. She was okay. She was going to be okay. I let out a slow, measured breath, trying to calm myself so I wouldn’t wake her.
