ripples through her shoulders as she closes her eyes. “I had the flu. I’m better now.”
I hold her closer, and she sort of sags against me. “Is Jace around?”
“He’s away,” she says. “For work.”
Her cheek is on my shoulder, her arms holding onto my waist. I press my face against her throat and listen to her heartbeat. When she glances up at me, her eyelids look heavy.
“Povero tesoro…”
She’s not better. Sweet Elise is curled against me, holding on as if her legs might give out. Fuck, and I can’t really help her. Hugging her with one arm, I reach into my pocket with my other hand and dig out my key. Then I press it into her palm. “I’m parked at the Lutheran church across the street and a little down from Tavern on the Green. Can you walk to my car?”
Her eyes flicker up to meet mine, and I know it’s bullshit—that she’s better—when she just nods.
“That’s right.” I sweep her hair back off her forehead again. “Just get in and wait for me. I’ll come right after.”
She nods.
“You know where that church is?”
“Yes.” She gives me a small smile and steps away. With just a foot or two between us, she lifts her slender hand, as if to wave. Then she turns away from me and drifts into a slow jog.
Fifteen minutes later, I find her reclined in my front passenger seat, buckled with her eyes closed and an arm wrapped around her middle. When I get in the car, she peels her eyelids open, smiling a smile that looks painful.
“Stellina.” I smooth my hand over her warm forehead. “Anywhere you need to be?”
She shakes her head, closing her eyes. Then a shiver ripples through her, and she draws into herself as if she’s cold.
“Let me take you to my place, la mia rosa. Only for a few hours. Let me take care of you like you did for me at the cabin.”
She peeks up at me, looking definitely dazed. I lay my hand over her forehead again. Then I reach into the back seat for a hoodie I keep there. At the next stop light, I spread it over her.
“This might be a bad idea.” Her glazed eyes peek at me, even as she starts to shiver again. “I don’t want you to get sick.”
“I take all my vitamins.”
I rub her soft hair, using my fingertips to massage along her hairline while I drive us slowly toward the bridge.
“You hot or cold?”
“I’m fine.” She gives me a tiny smile. Now that she’s stationary and curled up, I can see how sick she really is.
“What happened to make you go out running? You go a little stir crazy?”
She shuts her eyes again, and her lips curve slightly. “Something like that.”
“Gotta rest when you’re not feeling well, la mia rosa. Stay in bed.”
She gives me another smile, and I stroke my hand over her forehead again. “Is it wrong I’m glad you didn’t?”
I keep messing with her hair, her forehead, and she doesn’t answer. She’s asleep by the time we get to the bridge. It’s a slow drive into Queens. As we’re passing Fort Totten Park, she peeks her eyes open, squinting around before her gaze settles on me. There’s this moment where a cute grin overtakes over her face. Then she seems more ponderous. She sits her chair up and looks down at her chest, which is covered with my hoodie.
“Curious to see where I live, rosa?”
She gives me a tiny smirk. “I already know it’s in Kings Point.”
Elise
I wonder if he knows about the camera I had in his yard. When I say “Kings Point,” his lips twitch like he’s going to say something, but when his gaze dips back to mine, his handsome face is at polite neutral.
Despite the headiness of this adventure—I’m covered with his hoodie, and he’s taking me to his house—my eyelids feel weighted. I shouldn’t have run, I guess, but I’ve been cooped up at home for four long days, and I was tired of being alone with my thoughts. Needed to do something to feel…capable. Like I can handle my new, insane situation.
When I saw him as I stood behind the lemonade stand, every cell in me went still. It was such a shock, but in a way, it felt so unsurprising. Of course he would find me this morning, when I’m feeling so alone and afraid. Of course he would sweep me up and spirit me away. And I would