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Toro hunchedover the hospital bed, gripping his mother’s hand. Willing her to wake up. He kept waiting for her eyes to open. The doctors said it should happen soon, but that had been hours ago and still nothing.
He had a crick in his neck and an ache in his lower back. His throat was dry, and his eyes gritty.
There was a tap on his shoulder and then the powerful aroma of coffee hit his nose, rumbling his empty stomach before the cup appeared in front of him.
He wasn’t alone.
Shestayed with him through it all.
He didn’t know what time it was, whether it was day or night. He barely took his eyes off his mother to check. He’d vaguely heard the door opening and closing earlier, indicating Seraphina had left.
Now, she was back, offering coffee.
“Julián.”
He ignored her low voice calling his name, telling him he needed to rest. Or at least get out and get some fresh air, stretch his legs. He ignored all of it. If he spoke to her, he might unload everything roiling around inside him, his tears or his wrath. He couldn’t predict which one would come forth and he couldn’t afford either situation.
“Your mother wouldn’t want this.”
He jerked his head up, swinging his gaze to meet hers. “What do you know about my mother and what she would want?” His voice cracked from infrequent use and he swallowed to wet his dry throat. “You should leave.”
Seraphina nodded. “I should, but I won’t. You can throw me out if you want me gone that badly.”
He stared at her as resentment reared its ugly head. She looked so fucking calm, so pristine, even wearing the same clothes she’d first arrived in. God knew how long it’d been since then. She stood there with two coffees in her hands, looking as if nothing could touch her, so unruffled. He wanted to scream at the unfairness of her being there, at the way she’d abandoned him.
She stared back as if waiting for him to say or do something. Like she wanted him to. He wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction. But he got to his feet. Maybe a walk would help calm him down. Some fresh air too.
Anything to get away from the stifling air surrounding them. She was too much, way too much for him to handle with kid gloves right now.
He kissed his mother’s forehead, brushing a hand over her gray-streaked hair, and murmured he’d be back soon, then walked out of the room. Of course, Seraphina followed. The hospital wing was quiet at that moment and the sound of her heels on the smooth floor was fucking triggering, taking him back to a time he wasn’t ready to revisit.
He scrubbed a hand over his face and pushed open the door on the first exit he came to, taking the stairs all the way down to the ground floor. It wasn’t that far to go since his mother’s room was on the third floor. The moment he stepped outside, the bright morning sun blinded him and he shaded his eyes, leaning up against the wall, one foot planted behind him as he breathed deeply.
Seraphina appeared a moment later and silently handed him a coffee, standing in the doorway to keep the door from closing. He accepted what she offered with a grunt, eyes sliding shut at the first sip.
Bliss… until she spoke.
“I know I hurt you—”
He opened his eyes “Listen, I don’t want to talk about us. Not now.”
“Will you ever want to talk about us?”
He met her gaze squarely. “What is there to talk about? You left me.” He shrugged, even though his throat got so tight it was difficult to force the words out. “That said enough.”
“No, it didn’t.”
He inhaled, then blew out the breath slowly. “Why are you here, Seraphina? Really?”
“You’re hurting and I wanted to be there for you.” Her gaze never wavered from his.
“I was also hurting when I woke up alone in your bed to find you’d abandoned me, but you didn’t care then.”
She shifted her stance. “I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be with my son.”
“So again, I’m asking, why are you here and not with him?” He’d just said he didn’t want to talk about them, but apparently, they were doing that shit anyway?
