The Last Time (Forever and Always #18) by E. L. Todd

Author:E. L. Todd [Todd, E. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-08-08T00:00:00+00:00

10

Cortland

When we went to bed that night, Monnique was quiet. She hadn’t spoken since she broke down at the cemetery. But she didn’t cry either. When we went out to dinner, she ordered her food but didn’t touch it. Both she and Javi were lost in their thoughts. I respected their despair and remained mute.

She opened her bag and pulled out her shorts and t-shirt. I knew she usually just slept in a t-shirt with no bottoms or bra, but she was making an effort to cover herself. I wouldn’t make a move anyway, not when she was depressed like this.

She went into the bathroom and changed before she came out, her hair pulled back.

I stripped down to my boxers because that’s usually how I slept. It was too hot sleeping next to Monnique.

She sat at the edge of the bed and unclipped her earrings, dropping them on her nightstand. I got into bed and waited for her to join me. She stayed on the bed, facing the wall.

I wanted to say something to make this better, but I couldn’t. There was nothing. Her father was gone and I would never change that. The pain she felt would radiate through her body no matter how I touched her or loved her. I couldn’t protect her from this.

I placed my hand on her back and rubbed her gently, trying to clear her mind of whatever she was thinking. She finally lay down and pulled the covers over her. She immediately turned on her side, away from me. I stayed on my back and looked at the ceiling.

“Monnique?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m sorry.”

She sighed. “I know.”

I spooned her from behind and wrapped my arm around her stomach. She didn’t push me away or react. My face moved to the crook of her neck, breathing in her scent. More than anything else, I missed this. I missed holding her while we slept. She was better than any teddy bear I had as a child.

I faintly heard her sniff.

“Talk to me,” I whispered.

“I have nothing to say.”

I grabbed her hand from her chest and gripped it tightly. “I’m always here for you, Monnique. Remember that.”

She didn’t speak, but the sound of a few more tears escaped. Listening to her cry made me want to cry. I hated it.

“Try to get some sleep.”

“I can’t…”

“Think about something else.”

“When I’m not thinking about him, I’m thinking about you…”

“Then think about Sean and Scarlet’s baby and how cute it will be.”

She took a deep breath. “It will be cute.”

“And you’ll be there aunt, their favorite aunt.”

“I don’t know about that…”

“You’re a nurse. They’re going to think you’re a hero.”

She chuckled. ‘That would be cool.”

“They’ll love you.” I rubbed her back and kept talking about their baby. She listened to me and responded a few times, but eventually, she fell asleep.

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