If he hadn’t been there, I would have had to ride in the back of an ambulance, call my brother and listen to him lose his mind with concern, or just sit there alone…and cry. I was at my weakest point, and Heath was the only person allowed to see me like this, the only person I was completely comfortable with. So, I forced the words from my lips, tears welling up in my eyes again. “Thank you…”
He was quiet.
I was touched that he’d come to watch me dance, that he was always there for me, even when I couldn’t see him. It was so romantic—and it killed me that I couldn’t have him. “You can go, Heath. I’m just going to go to sleep.”
He didn’t move, staring at the open doorway.
I’d ended things with him, so it wasn’t his responsibility to take care of me. He wasn’t obligated whatsoever. I could handle myself. The doctor said it would take six weeks to heal, so I just had to have Damien drop off groceries and maybe help me with laundry…and take me to physical therapy. Now that I’d thought through everything, I realized how much work it was. Damien and Anna had jobs, Tracy had practice and performances, and my dad was too old to do that stuff.
And now I had to figure out how to pay my bills. I had some cash in savings, but not enough. All I had to do was ask Damien for some money, but I was still too proud to do that. I leaned my head against the headboard and sighed loudly.
Then there was the biggest problem of all… Would I ever able to dance again?
It was hard for people to get back into it after an injury because their body was never the same again. They couldn’t be as competitive. They couldn’t be as strong. They couldn’t be the best.
And dance was everything to me.
Heath slowly turned to me, finally looking at me head on for the first time since he’d lifted me from the bench backstage. “I’m not going anywhere, baby. I’ll be right here until you’re better.”
I did my best to steady my tears, but it was so hard to look him in the eye without being overwhelmed by gratitude, overwhelmed by the way he loved me. He didn’t owe me anything, not after the way I broke his heart. “You don’t have to do that.”
He hadn’t blinked since he’d looked at me. “You took care of me. I’ll do the same for you.”
I shook my head. “But that was—”
“And even if you hadn’t, I would still be right here.” He rose from the bed and started to strip off his clothes, removing everything except his boxers. He turned off the light then came back to the bed. “Let’s get you into something more comfortable.”
“You don’t have to—”
He pressed his forehead to mine. “Let me take care of you.” He gave me a fierce look, his blue eyes commanding.
I didn’t even know how to get out of my costume without help since everything was so tight. The doctor had to cut off part of the tights to get to my foot. So, I did need Heath’s help. Otherwise, I’d have to sleep in this.
He helped me out of it, taking his time to make sure he didn’t hurt me, and when everything was gone, he put a pair of pajama shorts and a new top on me, not staring at my tits like he normally would, like he didn’t want me to think this was about sex. “Take your pills, and let’s go to sleep.”
“You’re going to stay with me?” I whispered.
He got in beside me, adjusting the covers so they stayed around his waist like he preferred, but they were pulled to my shoulder so I wouldn’t get cold. “Yes.”
I took the pills and swallowed them with water before I lay down again.
He grabbed a pillow and placed it under my foot to elevate it. Then he lay down again, keeping a few inches between us so he wouldn’t crowd me.
I turned my face toward him so I could look at him, just the way he used to look at me when he was injured in his bed.
His hand snaked to mine, and he interlocked our fingers. “It’s going to be okay.”
Tears formed in my eyes. “I’m afraid I’ll never dance again…”
“You will.”
“I don’t know—”
“I do. You’re the strongest person I know. You’re going to get there—and I’m gonna push you until you do.”When I woke up the next morning, he wasn’t beside me in bed. I moved to get out of bed, but then I was painfully reminded of my broken ankle. I stilled once my nerves winced in pain. I had to use the bathroom, and my eyes moved to the crutches in the corner, which seemed to be a world away. Then I heard Heath moving in the kitchen. “Heath?”