The Life That Mattered (Life #1)(40)

“You need to rest for a few days. No work.” Ling sidled up to him on the other side of the bed, taking his hand.

I made a mental note to get on my computer and search up migraines as soon as I got home. If that was all it was, why did he need to rest for a few days?

“I shouldn’t have let you leave the restaurant,” Graham said to Ronin.

Lila hugged Graham’s arm, comforting him. We didn’t get to see vulnerable, guilt-ridden Graham all that often.

“It wasn’t your fault. I honestly didn’t realize how bad I felt until I got home.”

“You saved that man’s life.” Graham shook his head slowly as if he had nothing but admiration for what Ronin did.

Ronin and his parents exchanged a look. I narrowed my eyes at him. When he returned his attention to me, the look vanished.

“I’m a paramedic. It’s my job.” A slight smile turned up his lips.

No more shrugs. No more weak smiles. Everyone needed to stop pretending what happened was no big deal.

“Surely they gave you something for the migraine,” I said.

“No. It uh … went away just as quickly as it came on. By the time they finished running tests, it had eased up. Now, I’m just a little tired.”

“We’ll let you rest.” Victor, who had been very quiet through this whole thing, finally spoke up.

“Rest, Ronin.” Ling kissed him on the cheek and left the room with Victor.

“Let us know if you need anything.” Lila gave him a hug.

“Thank you. Maybe take Evelyn to dinner. Get her a glass of wine.”

They chuckled.

I didn’t see the humor. I hadn’t overreacted. Why was everyone downplaying and completely dismissing what happened just hours earlier?

“We’ll take care of her.” Graham reassured Ronin.

“Can I have a minute?” I gave Lila and Graham a tight smile.

“Graham and I will meet you downstairs. Take your time.” Lila took my hand and gave it a quick, reassuring squeeze.

I waited until they left the room, keeping my back to Ronin a few more seconds after the door closed. With my scattered emotions, frazzled nerves, and racing thoughts, I needed a moment, a few breaths to formulate the words I wanted to say to him.

“Look at me,” he said, just above a whisper.

Closing my eyes, I took one last deep breath and turned toward him.

“I’m fine.” He held out his hand.

I stared at it for a few seconds.

“Evie …”

Biting my lips together, I shook my head. “I’m not buying it.” Ignoring his proffered hand, I hugged my arms to my body.

A crease formed between his brows. “Buying what?”

“The migraine.”

“They found nothing. Speculation is all we have. And I’m feeling better, so what does it matter?”

“It’s serious.” I swallowed past the lump of alarm and disbelief in my throat. “You have something really wrong with you like cancer, and you’ve known it. You told the doctor to tell us the tests came back negative and maybe they did for everything but … cancer.”

Ronin shook his head. “No, Evie. I don’t have cancer.” Again, he extended his hand toward me, but I stayed just out of his reach.

“It’s okay.” I cleared my throat and tipped my chin up. “I know you think I can’t handle it because of my mom and the wedding chaos, but I can. I’m stronger than you think I am. Maybe I can’t ski, but I can handle bad news.”

“Evelyn …” He pushed himself up so when he bent forward his hand could reach my wrist, and he pulled me to him.

I sat on the edge of the bed while he held my hand and brushed his knuckles along my cheek with his other hand. “I know you’re strong. And if I had cancer, I would tell you. I would let you micromanage my treatment, my meals, my sleep schedule, and my exposure to environmental toxins.”

My eyes couldn’t help but roll at his words, his reference to everything I’d done for my mom since her breast cancer diagnosis.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me, Miss Taylor. I’m not making fun of you. In fact, I’m quite envious of all the attention your mom has gotten from you. And over the next few days I’m taking off to recover from whatever this was … I expect nothing short of your undivided attention. You’ll need to feed me, bring me hot tea and my favorite book. Bathe me …” He smirked. “Yes. You’ll definitely need to bathe me.”

Ronin tried his best to be fun and cute. He tried his best to ease my worry by dismissing the events of that day, but my gut rarely lied. It told me I hadn’t seen the end of whatever it was that landed him in the emergency room. However, with a doctor’s list of negative test results accompanied by a shrug, I had nothing to go on at that moment.

“I’ll take care of you.” I leaned toward him, resting my cheek on his chest as he stroked my hair.

“Thank you,” he whispered on a sigh.





CHAPTER TWELVE





Ronin


“You’re hovering.” I grinned at the page in my book, feeling the gravity of Evelyn’s gaze on me as she peeked around the corner to the bedroom. Three long days passed under the wide umbrella of her worry. I anticipated more bathing and less studying, less frowning, less wrinkled-nosed concern.