Chapter 40
NATHAN
Me
How are you feeling today, baby? x
Arianna
Much the same. x
Me
When are you coming home? x
Arianna
As soon as I am snot free. I don’t want you catching my bug, you’re in court all this week and next, and your work is important.
Me
I like how much you care about me and my health, but I need you back under my roof and in my bed. x
Arianna
I think I’ll be better in a few days. x
Me
Let me come visit. Please? x
Arianna
I told you, I’m quarantining. x
Me
Well, if you need anything, just let me know, and I can think of about a hundred ways to make you feel better. *winking-face emoji* x
Arianna
I’m sure you can. Thank you for my flowers yesterday. They are beautiful. x
Me
Not as beautiful as you. I have to go back into court, verdicts in. x
I consider my next line, wanting to tell her how much I love her, but I know it’s a dick move. I want to be looking into her eyes when I say it so she knows how much I mean it.
We haven’t said those words to each other, but I know she loves me. I feel it, feel her pouring love into my body with every touch of her fingertips on my skin.
And the way she looks at me like I’m her whole fucking world feels fucking incredible.
She loves me, and I love her, it’s simple.
Arianna
Good luck but I know you’ve got this. x
Me
Always the winner. Speak later. x
I close my messages app, switch my cell phone off then stretch out my neck, the tension there evident. My muscles have been throbbing since Arianna left the office the other day and had Joseph pass on a message that she was feeling sick.
All I’ve done since then is worry about her every minute of every hour.
She’s been quiet. Too quiet. Distant, almost. Which is unlike her because she shares everything with me, even down to what brand of shampoo she’s trying out to see if it will help with the volume.
I have no idea what the fuck that means, but it made her happy, and yet, for the last few days she’s just not around. And I know she’s sick, but she’s barely replied to any of my messages, or picked up when I called, insisting that her throat hurt too much to talk.
Fuck it. I don’t care how sick she is, my court case is over after today and if I get sick then we can spend the next week bundled up in each other’s arms in her little apartment together.
Decision made.
I’m visiting her the minute I win this case and I’m out of court.
Knowing I’m going to see her in a few hours, my heart races and I already feel better.
Then I’ll tell her how I really feel.
I never knew love could feel this good.
Get ready, baby, I’m coming for you.