As he approached, I pushed him away. “It's probably just a stomachache,” I said nonchalantly, giving him a reason not to get closer. But he took it seriously.
His brows furrowed with concern and without hesitation, he scooped me into his arms and carried me to the bedroom.
Minutes later, he returned with honey water and stomach medicine, his hands gentle as he helped me sit up.
“What would you do if I’m not around? You can’t even take care of yourself,” he muttered, sounding more like a scolding than a statement, but I could hear the pain in his voice.
I said nothing, feigning exhaustion.
Gale spent hours massaging my stomach, his gaze never leaving my face. His dedication was unwavering, but I couldn’t shake the memory of him with Flossie.
Sleep enveloped me and I barely managed to keep my eyes open.
The faint chime of a notification broke the silence.
Gale’s hand immediately dropped away and before I could react, he snatched his phone from the bedside table and opened the message.
“Gale, my underwear is missing. Again.” The voice note continued, Flossie’s tone sultry and teasing. “I know you’re really into lace, but you can’t just take them with you and leave me with nothing to wear.”
The voice note ended abruptly.
Gale froze, his breath hitching as he glanced at me, panic all over his face.
When he realized I wasn’t reacting, he let out a shaky breath of relief, clutching his phone tightly as he slipped onto the bedroom balcony to make a call.
“I told you not to call me, didn’t I?” he hissed.
Flossie’s laugh drifted through the crack in the door, smooth and full of mischief. “You ripped almost all my underwear. I haven’t even had a chance to buy new ones.”
Her voice dipped lower, practically purring. “What do you want me to do—go without it?”
Gale’s breathing turned heavier and I could hear the strain in his voice. “I’ll bring you some tomorrow.”
My fingers curled into the bedsheets, tears soaking into my pillow as I tried to calm the storm in my chest.
“It’s fine,” I told myself. Just seven more days. Seven days and I’ll be gone. After that, Gale could search the ends of the earth, but he’d never find me again.
With that thought, I let exhaustion take over and drifted into an uneasy sleep.
The next morning, I woke to the smell of something warm and familiar. Gale had already made congee. He brought the bowl to me, his expression soft with concern.