Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 116031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
He’s probably just tired. The past two days have been exhilarating and exhausting. It’s caught up with me, so I’m sure he’s feeling the weight of it as well. “I love you, too.”
We kiss before he retreats into the bathroom. When he shuts the door, a bar of light at the bottom is all that connects the two rooms. Though my chest feels empty without him as if he took that into the other room with him.
I sit on the edge of the bed, listening to the faintest sounds of the shower running. Not a peep from him, no singing while washing up. Silence. There’s no sleeping when I feel like something might be wrong.
I pad across the floor and crack open the door. It’s already steamy in the room from the hot water running, but not so much that I can’t see him through the clear glass of the shower. With one hand pressed high to the stone wall, Shane’s eyes are closed, and his head lowered.
There’s very little movement, really only the water pouring over him, pounding his neck and covering his shoulders. There’s such peace found in the moment, but also sadness. I want to go to him, but does he want me to?
I take the chance and strip off the T-shirt. I open the door, the sound alerting him to my presence. Opening his eyes, he lowers his arm when he sees me. And then, he offers me his hand. I slip mine in his and am pulled straight into his ardent embrace. My head is kissed, and then my cheek, the water soaking me as he douses me with sweet affection.
Reaching up, I caress his face. “Talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”
He searches my eyes for a moment before he says, “I’m having trouble with my left shoulder.”
The image of him leaning against the shower wall comes back, him rubbing his shoulder when he brusquely stopped playing, even the arm he held me in the bedroom. I turn to his left and kiss the arm that’s holding me like I’m precious cargo despite the pain. “For how long?”
“A while.” A grimace sits squarely on his face, telling me more than he has. Men and their pride. Geez.
“The past few months, the past year?”
“About five years on and off.”
“Oh, Shane.” Five years with pain? He’s stronger than he needs to be and too stubborn to ask for help. I run my fingers gently over the culprit shoulder. “This is not my area of expertise, but tomorrow, I can do an assessment of sorts so we can get you in to see the right specialist. Do you think it’s your rotator cuff or muscular?”
“I don’t know. Both probably.”
“Why haven’t you had it looked at?”
He releases a sigh, then looks down as shame weighs down his brow. “I’m the third member in a band. Number one spot goes to Nikki. Two is her twin. There’s no slacking. There are no off days allowed. I have to earn my spot every time I walk onto that stage.”
“I thought you guys were close.”
“We are. Laird’s my best friend, and I love Nikki like my own sister. But they’re moving on with their lives. Tours are scheduled around what’s best for them while I’m given scraps. It’s not their fault. They’d never get rid of me. I can’t show weakness, though. They have families now. Music is all I have.”
There’s so much to unpack, but he’s been silently suffering, making the injury worse because he believes he’s replaceable. I hug him. I don’t know how to fix this, but I do recognize that he’s trusted me. Over his cousins and managing team, he told me. I hold him tighter. “You have me. We’ll get it looked at, and we don’t need to tell anyone.” When he lifts my chin and our eyes connect, I’m glad he can’t tell my tears from the water raining down on us. He doesn’t need to worry about me. I’ll be there however he needs. “Tonight, though, let’s get some rest. I’ll make some calls after the holiday weekend.”
“I’d have a big garden with flowers overflowing the beds in the front and back of the house. Fruit trees to pick our own lemons and limes, oranges, and figs. Avocados, of course.”
Standing at the edge of the pool, looking over the property, he turns back and smiles. “Of course.” His mood has shifted this morning. A spark resides in his eyes as if a weight has been lifted. I’m glad he’s allowing me to take on some of his burdens. That’s what partners do. Though the sex this morning could have played a part in improving his mood as well. It was amazing.
“Lots of vegetables in raised beds.” His beautiful backyard has a stunning view, but there’s not much space to do what I’d like to accomplish with my home. I sip my coffee, knowing I’m getting ahead of myself. “And lots of kittens.”