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I thank Aunt Aspen and end the call, turning back to look through the glass doors at Ameline, peacefully sleeping. A sudden idea strikes me—what if I ask her to stay with me during the break? I could look after her, be there for her. Just imagining having her near, under the same roof, sends a thrill through me.
I let out a deep breath and sink onto the couch, my ears attuned for any unusual sounds coming from Ameline. There’s a certain comfort in just knowing she’s nearby, resting. Sitting here, keeping an ear out for her, feels right somehow. I’m just here for her, ready to help if she needs me.
* * *
The next morning, I wake up around five. Ameline remains peacefully asleep. I slip back to my place to jog, shower, and gather some breakfast supplies before returning. When I enter her quiet apartment, Ameline is still sleeping. She looks untroubled, all traces of last night’s agony smoothed from her delicate features. Unable to resist, I walk to her and gently brush back a lock of her hair. Her lashes flutter slightly but don’t open.
I’m tempted to kiss her, but I refrain. This is certainly not the time for that.
I quietly make my way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast—fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, strong coffee. As I’m cooking, I sense eyes on me and turn to see Ameline awake, watching from the bed.
“Good morning, Ame,” I say softly.
She shifts slightly, a soft “Hey” escaping her lips.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better,” she responds, managing a faint but lovely smile. “Did you stay the whole night?”
I nod. “I wanted to ensure you were alright.” I walk to her and help prop her up with some pillows. “Are you hungry at all? I made us some breakfast.”
Her stomach growls. She chuckles before saying, “Starving, actually.”
I fetch the food, and we eat together in bed. The sight of color returning to her cheeks fills me with relief. But too soon I’m hit by an overwhelming desire to kiss her, to feel her lips against mine, something I’ve imagined more times than I care to admit. But I hold back, knowing this isn’t the moment to act upon my feelings. I waited so long already, what’s a few more days, right?
Yep, I can definitely wait longer.
“Do you think you can come with me to visit Mom?” she suddenly asks.
I take a deep breath, knowing I have to dissuade her from doing it. “You really should take it easy today and let your body recover. Why don’t you come back to my place instead, so I can keep an eye on you?”
She looks uncertain, shaking her head.
“Ame, you said it last night. This episode has happened before,” I state trying to sound gentle yet firm. “What if next time you hit your head, or worse?”
“I’m okay,” she insists.
“Come on, Ame, humor me,” I insist. “You need someone to look after you right now.” I explain what Aunt Aspen and I discussed yesterday, adding, “It might be nothing, but we’ll get you set up with a top neurologist ASAP.”
She bites her lip, considering. “Shouldn’t I check with my regular doctor first though?”
“Probably, which means you need someone to look after you in the meantime. The best choice is a soon-to-be doctor like myself.” I give her a playful, yet hopeful smile.
She seems to weigh her options for a moment before finally nodding in agreement. “Okay, if you think it’s best.”
The moment she agrees, I feel like I won something. A chance to be close to her, but it’s definitely not the moment to tell her how I feel. Having her close, even just for a day, feels like a gift.
* * *
At my house, I give her a quick tour of all the mostly unused space.
“It’s too big for just one person who’s always at school,” she comments, looking around curiously.
“Four bedrooms,” I explain, not saying that compared to my cousins’ places, this is cute and quaint. “If you recall, my family’s big, and I like having space for everyone. There’s also my music studio in the basement.”
She rolls her eyes as if my explanation is still not enough. I let it go and lead her to one of the guest bedrooms, a cozy space with a plush queen bed and a bay window that offers a view of the backyard. “This is your room. Feel free to use anything you want. Extra towels are in the closet, the bathroom has everything you need. My cousin Piper makes sure the place is ready for visitors.”
She sits lightly on the edge of the bed, her gaze taking in the room. “It’s perfect, Gabe. Thank you for all you’ve done,” she says with a small voice that makes me want to hug her and tell her that everything will be fine. Everything.
