Page 27 of Reluctant to Love

13

Eleanor

“Ihave to take a quick shower,” I say. No matter what promises Roderick makes, there’s still a chance he’ll break them, and one round of mind-blowing reunion sex isn’t going to completely change my mind.

“You don’t have to go,” he urges me, placing a hand on my arm to keep me from bolting toward the bathroom.

“Yes, I do. I told my mom I wouldn’t be long.”

He drops his head and runs a hand through his loose locks. “Fine. Can I come to the hospital in the morning?”

“I’ll let you know,” I answer softly. I spot my suitcase in the corner of the room. “Thanks for bringing that up.”

I can’t go back to the hospital with the scent of sex all over me. My mom has the nose of a bloodhound and will know I was up to no good.

I break free of his hold to search for clean clothes before heading into the bathroom for a quick shower. The sound of the metallic clanging of the shower hooks sliding against the bar shouldn’t have surprised me.

“We’ve been separated for four years; do you think I’m just going to let you go without taking every opportunity to run my hands all over you?” He kisses my bare shoulder and his hands glide around my middle. He pulls me back against his front and nuzzles my neck. My hands cover his and I lean against him, enjoying his comforting warmth.

“I don’t have time for round two,” I chastise him.

“I’m not talking about that, sweets. I don’t want to see you run away.”

I scoff. “I’m not running away, Roderick. I have a sick daughter that needs me.”

“Wehave a sick daughter.” His fingers dig into my hips as he spins me carefully. “Izzy is my daughter too.”

“It’s been ‘me’ for so long. You need to let me get used to the idea of ‘we’.”

He bends his head, letting it rest against my forehead. “I’m sorry if I’m pushy. I know what I want; it’s you and that beautiful little girl and I’ll move heaven and earth to have you both.”

I reach up to cup his cheeks, burying my fingers in his coarse beard. How often did I wish for him to appear? To come and rescue me while Izzy was up at all hours of the night, screaming until her little face turned bright red. How often did I imagine myself falling against him after a long night with Izzy? And now he’s right in front of me, so willing to just step in without a moment’s hesitation.

Has fate finally decided to reward me? For once, is the universe on my side?

“Okay. You can come to the hospital in the morning, but you better bring breakfast. And Izzy likes balloons.”

Somehow, we both manage to finish showering although it was quite difficult between the lingering kisses and the heated touches. We finally step out of the shower only when we are both water-logged.

I wrap a thin, white cotton towel around my body and dig through my suitcase for a comb. I run it through my hair and tie it up before quickly getting dressed. When I check my phone, I notice it’s later than I expected.

“I’ll call you in the morning,” Roderick says with a kiss before I leave.

I rush across the street and hurry into the hospital. When I arrive on Izzy’s floor, I spot my mother sitting just inside her room, leaning over Izzy’s bed with her head down. I tip-toe inside the room and drop my bag quietly on the floor before walking over to my mom. With a gentle hand on her back, I wake her up.

“You can go home,” I whisper. “Thank you for staying.”

“Did you get things worked out with the Leo?”

“How did you know Roderick is a Leo?”

“He just has that look about him, you know?” She slowly pushes her chair back and kisses me on the cheek. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

I take her spot in the hard, uncomfortable vinyl chair and sit beside Izzy, watching her silently, wondering how she’ll react to Roderick’s presence. She’s never asked about her father but that doesn’t mean somewhere in her tiny mind, she hasn’t thought about one.

The door to Izzy’s room creaks open and I half expect Roderick to appear but it’s the night nurse. She gives me a slight smile as she check’s Izzy’s temperature and vitals.

“The couch pulls out to a bed,” the nurse quietly informs me. “I’ll bring you a blanket and some pillows.”

I glance at the couch situated in one corner of the room. It still looks rock hard, but it’ll be better than the chair. “Thank you,” I tell her.

She returns a few minutes later and helps me unfold the bed. It’s nothing more than a thick foam mattress that rests on the floor but beggars can’t be choosers.

“Her fever is starting to come down,” the nurse tells me. When I don’t respond, she adds, “That’s good. It means she’s responding to treatment and hopefully, can go home tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” I repeat myself. She nods her head and then leaves.

I sigh as I relax into the firm mattress of the pull-out bed.Home. Izzy and I have been living my mom; we don’t have a home of our own. It’s been at the top of my to-do list for a very long time but the cost of living only seems to increase the moment I’m ready to move out. There is so much I want to provide for my daughter but haven’t. Roderick’s reappearance is a game-changer in more than one way.

With a sigh, I close my eyes and hope Roderick isn’t hiding any more secrets from me. I desperately want to trust him whole-heartedly; I want to greedily accept everything he’s promised. Not for me but for the little red head sleeping peacefully in the hospital bed.