Page 113

Things have shifted for her—for us. I’ve been steadfast in my feelings, but she’s put up a fight like hell. Today, it felt like she was finally letting go a little.

Her pull toward me is growing strong with our every interaction, though her need for me is still simple. More studio time, and as her fake boyfriend, I must fulfill my sole responsibility.

But as the man head over heels for her, I must also fulfill my other responsibilities. One of those being worrying about her when she doesn’t seem to worry about herself.

Waiting for another text to come through, I decide against being patient.

ME

What do you mean you’re fine? If you need water, I’ll get you some.

Minutes go by with no response, and the air circulating around my rib cage tightens as possibilities form in my head. Is she okay? Did she get hurt? Is she dehydrated?

I’m going to the gas station—be right back.

My message delivers, and I watch the thread briefly, not wanting to waste another moment if she needs me.

Dashing into the gas station, I rush to the fridge and pluck the largest bottle of water I can find, along with an electrolyte drink and an entire row of protein bars.

The cashier checks me out, and I forgo a bag, bundling everything into my hands and jogging back to my car.

Inside, I pull my phone from my pocket—still nothing.

Fuck.

Be there in 5.

I slam on the gas, frantic to get to her.

The worry that’s been harboring in the center of my stomach erupts into a storm of uncertainty the moment I pull back into the studio. From outside, I can always hear the bass of the speaker just slightly, but right now, it’s silent—eerily silent.

I’m out of my car quicker than I can put it in park. Sprinting to the door, my heartbeat pulses in my ears the nearer I get to her.

When the wooden studio floor comes into my vision, a sobered decoration of my heart is splayed out in the center.

Prickles dust my body from head to toe. The tough layer of skin I’ve worn for thirty-one years is stripped raw with one glance of her.

“Fia, what happened? Are you okay?”

I’m frantic as I inch closer to her, wrapping her sweaty body into my embrace, desperate to transfer some of the power I hoard over to her weak limbs.

“S-So warm,” she coos into my skin.

“Baby, what happened? Did you fall?” My voice is hoarse with unexpected emotion.

What if I hadn’t gotten here sooner? What if something really happened to her?

“I got dizzy,” she whimpers, cocooning her head into the crook of my neck.

“Dizzy how? Did you fall? Talk to me, baby.”

She murmurs something I can’t quite understand, and then it dawns on me.

“Have you eaten?” I press, my voice hardening because I already feel like I know the answer.

“I forgot.”

“Bullshit,” I interrupt. “You’re too smart to forget. Fuck, Fia, why are you doing this to yourself?”