Office Grump An Enemies to Lovers Romance - Nicole Snow Page 0,96
coma, lying in ICU. Jordan’s going to be here indefinitely. He refused to eat until you came, and I still can’t get him to say more than two words. He calls me a rich prick.”
If it weren’t for the tortured look on his face, I’d laugh at the last part because it’s too true.
But I play the words through my head several times, trying to come up with the best way to say this. However I phrase it, he won’t like it, so here goes.
“I mean, your outburst this morning probably didn’t help. I know you were stressed, but...”
“I know,” he says, shrugging. “I tried to be congenial the best I could. Turns out, I’m just not very good at it. Jordan didn’t deserve the shit flying off my tongue and frankly, neither did you, Brina. I’m sorry.”
Gutted.
That’s exactly what I am when he looks up again, the angry blue moonlight in his eyes dimmed to a mournful winter. A deeply regretful one.
I smile.
“You’ll get the hang of Jordan.” He sips his tea and I stare at his face. “I’ve never seen you so exhausted. You should get some sleep.”
“I’m okay,” he says.
“Mag, you need sleep. Have you slept at all?”
“I have to wait until Jordan’s in bed in case he needs anything.”
I laugh. “He’s fourteen. Not four. If he really needs something, I’m sure he’ll manage, but I’m also here.”
“You’re going to take care of my brother while I sleep?” he asks. “After this morning, I’m amazed you came back here.”
“I’m a believer in second chances.” I nod. “Let me put away the groceries. I’m still helping you at work if I’m helping you here. I take care of everything else for you anyway, even if you don’t need my help at home.”
“Sad, but true. I’m just overwhelmed right now.”
He sets the mug down on the coffee table with a loud clink, pulls me into his lap, and closes his huge arms around me.
“I don’t deserve you,” he whispers, kissing my neck until I bristle.
It’s so hard to keep my hands to myself, but if something happens now, when he’s in this state?
Bad, bad idea.
“You’re right.” I lean back and whisper in his ear, “You should go to bed.”
“You’re getting rid of me?”
The vulnerability he’s shown since I came back from the office makes me bold.
“No. But if you kiss me like that again, I’m not sure you’re getting any rest tonight.”
His teeth sink into my neck. “Don’t tempt me, woman.”
I let out a laugh that ends in a grin and wiggle out of his hold.
“Go to bed, Magnus.”
“You’ll be here when I wake up?” he asks, more like a possessive demand than a serious question.
God.
Does he want me here? Or is he just saying stuff he’ll regret later due to stress?
“Of course I’ll be here,” I tell him.
What I don’t say is, you’re the one who always leaves.
“Thank you.”
My heart sings to hear those two simple words again. He’s getting soft with all of these thank yous.
Magnus slips off to his room, and I go find Jordan.
The penthouse is huge, bigger than several of my parents’ houses put together. It takes time to navigate the strangely beautiful, sleek, and modern corridors, but eventually I figure out how to get back to the sunroom. Jordan sits on the floor in the dark, hugging his knees, staring at the snow falling lightly out the window with the city’s lights twinkling in the distance.
“Hey, guy. Are you okay?” I ask.
He turns and looks at me. “Yeah. What’s up?”
“I’m going to order some food, so there’s something in this apartment besides coffee. Got a minute to help me fill up an online cart?”
He gives me a curious look, his lip curled. “Why do you need my help?”
“So I know what you like. Mag usually eats at the office. If you wait for him to buy groceries, you’ll starve.”
“What is it with you guys and food?” Jordan rolls his eyes, almost the same beautiful shade as his big brother’s in the darkness.
I shrug and grin. “We like to eat.”
He presses his lips together.
“So you’ll just buy whatever I want?” His voice goes up an octave.
I nod.
“But why?” He seems confused.
“Because your brother wants you happy here, and so do I. I know this is a tricky situation. We’ll make it as easy as we can.”
“Thanks, I guess,” he says before going quiet. “So if I wanted sour gummy bears, marshmallows, and hot chocolate?”
“We can definitely get those things, but you’ll regret an all-sugar