Stanton Box Set

“He deserved to live and to have his husband to be loyal to him till the very end,” he whispers. “This isn’t about me … or you. This is about Pierre and his memory.”

Nausea rolls in my stomach. “Get out,” I snap as I storm to my bedroom and sit on the side of my bed. Five minutes later I hear him pick up his keys and the door quietly shut behind him.

Tears fill my eyes. “I loved you too, Nicholas, I loved you too,” I whisper.

Joshua

It’s 12.30 am and I sit in the chair next to Natasha’s bed watching her in silence. She should have woken up by now. I am giving it half an hour and then I am ringing Cameron. This is bullshit, something is wrong. I read the diaries. Every sordid detail of the way I have treated her is right there on the paper in black and white from her perspective. How can she still love me after everything I have put her through? I smile, she loves me … even after all that, she still loves me. I haven’t found the most recent diary. I looked everywhere but she has obviously hidden it. My stomach is twisted with guilt, she knows more about my past with other women than I thought. I have been blaming her for our demise when I should have been listening to her reasoning. It makes sense when I see it from her point of view, as twisted as that is. I am going to make it up to her if it’s the last thing that I do. I have never loved her more.

Chapter 27

“She’s not awake, you need to get over here. Something is wrong.”

My heavy eyelids flutter as Joshua’s voice echos through the apartment from the lounge room, the bedroom is dark and lit only by the side lamp.

“She should have been awake four hours ago.” He goes silent as he listens.

“I mean it, get your ass over here now Cameron.” He goes silent as he listens again. “Or maybe I should take her straight to the hospital.” He listens. “Hang on, I will check.” He walks back into the room and I sleepily open my eyes.

“Hey baby,” I whisper.

He closes his eyes in relief and puts his hand on his chest. “She’s awake, call you later.” He hangs up.

He sits gently on the side of the bed. “Are you ok?” He brushes the hair from my forehead.

“Sorry,” I whisper in a throaty voice.

He frowns. “What for, presh?” He bends and kisses my cheek gently and I smile.

“You had to stay with me. I hate these stupid headaches,” I mumble.

He smiles broadly and pulls me into an embrace. “You scared the shit out of me. I thought you were going to die.”

I smile again. Hmm, beautiful Josh is here. “I need to go to the bathroom,” I whisper.

He helps me out of bed and I walk gingerly to the bathroom as he holds my hand.

“It’s ok. I can walk by myself,” I whisper.

He frowns. “Natasha, you have just been unconscious for eighteen hours. I am helping you.”

“I need a shower,” I sigh as I lean against the vanity. Joshua runs the shower and then turns and smiles warmly at me.

I frown. “What?” I ask.

He bends and kisses me again on the forehead.

“Josh, I need to go to the toilet. Can you go out?” I whisper.

He is still leaning over me. “No.”

I frown. “Josh, give me some privacy please.”

“Presh I have been looking after your needs for the last eighteen hours. We have no secrets anymore.”

My eyes widen in horror. “What?”

“You have your period and I have been looking after you.” He kisses my face again as he pulls me into an embrace.