I don't feel like this chapter needs a long author's note to introduce it!

Hi sorry I've been gone for so long. I hope you're still with me! I love you all!

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Denny's breath evened out and I slowly peeled myself away from him. I obviously didn't wear down as easily as him. I got out of the bed and walked out of the room closing the door behind me so I didn't disturb him. I walked into the living room and plopped down on the couch. The book Denny had been continuously reading was sitting on the coffee table with a book mark in it.

I leaned forward and grabbed the book. I turned to the page that was book marked and sat back on the couch. I started reading the book and was instantly engrossed by the romantic comedy story line. It didn't seem like Denny's type of reading. He struck me more as a literature or poetry type of guy.

Before I knew it I had finished the book. I went to close it when something caught my eye written on the inside of the back cover of the book.

If you're reading this, you're still alive.
Love,
Mom

My eyebrows pulled together. Mom. The nurse at the hospital said that his parents were dead. This must have been a book that Denny has had for a while. Was his condition something that happened early on? Maybe at birth? I placed the book back on the coffee table and stood up to stretch.

I walked quietly back to the bedroom to find Denny still steadily sleeping. I grabbed a piece of paper from his bed side table and scribbled a quick note for him. I placed it on the table beside him before walking to the bathroom. I shrugged on some new clothes and pulled my hair up. I splashed some water on my face before grabbing my keys and heading out the door.

It didn't take me long to get to the town library where I worked. I sighed and got out of the car. I was not looking forward to have this conversation with my boss. I walked in and Barbara was sitting at her desk reading a book. "Hey Barbara," I said as I walked around her desk and sat beside her.

She closed her book and smiled at me. "Hey kid, it's your day off. What are you doing here?" I leaned forward in my chair and propped my arm on her desk. "You're not going to like me," I said softly. Her eyebrows pulled together instantly. "Oh no, you're not quitting too, are you?" she asked me.

My eyes became wide as I shook my head. "No no no, wait what? Too?! Who else quit?" I asked her. She ran her hands through her hair. "Jennifer, yesterday. She found a better job with full time hours. Something to actually support her family with," she said. I frowned. I really liked Jen. I was going to miss her.

"Well shit, then that makes my news worse then," I said. Barbara looked back over at me with panicked eyes. "I'm not quitting, but I do need some time off," I said. Barbara bit her lip. "More than two full days a week and the five half days you get?" she asked me and I instantly nodded my head.

"Though it's none of my business, may I ask why?" she asked me. This time I sighed and avoided eye contact. "Look, Emily. It's none of my business and you don't have to tell me, but I's like to think of me as more than a friend instead of a boss," she said as she grabbed some leave paperwork for me to fill out.

I started scribbling out all my information when I started my next sentence. "Do you remember Denny?" I asked her as I continued to write. I saw Barbara nod out of the corner of my eye. "Ah, yes, Mr. Prince Charming. You haven't talked about him a lot lately. Is everything going okay with him?" she asked.

I finished filling out the paperwork and slid it back to her. "Besides our first date, nothing has actually happened," I said. Barbara popped an eyebrow at me. "Oh?" she asked me curiously. I gave her a sad smile. I felt the tears starting to well up in my eye again but I cleared my throat and forced them back.

"After our first date, Denny disappeared. I figured he skipped town until a neighbor told me he ended up in the hospital with a heart attack," I said. Barbara frowned. "Oh no, how is he now?" she asked. I bit my thumb nail nervously and shrugged my shoulders before answering her softly.

"That was two weeks ago. He was released yesterday. He's home now, but he's weak. I left him at home sleeping to come talk to you," I said. "So you need time off to take care of him?" she asked me and I nodded. "How long do you need?" she asked and I shrugged my shoulders again.

"Quite honestly, I'm not sure. Right now he's weak and it takes everything for him to move from one room to another. Maybe a couple weeks? Just until he gets back on his feet and then we'll go from there," I said. Barbara nodded and signed off on my paperwork approving the leave. I let out a sigh of relief.

"Thank you, Barbara. I really appreciate it, but what are you gonna do while I'm gone since Jen quit?" I asked her. She shrugged. "The library isn't open that long. I can manage, but if there are days that you feel like you could help, please don't hesitate. But take all the time you need. I know you care for him," she said.

I stood up and squeezed her shoulder. "Thanks, Barb. You're the best," I said as I left. I got back in my car and headed towards the local italian restaurant that Denny and I ate at for our first date. I ordered two simple salads knowing that right now Denny didn't need to eat anything greasy and high in cholesteral.

I put the food in the passenger seat and headed back towards Denny's house. It didn't take me long as our town was tiny. When I pulled back in his driveway Denny surprised me. He was sitting on the porch in a rocking chair. I got out of the car and grabbed our food before walking up the porch steps.

Denny stood up and I waved him off but he walked towards me. "Hey you," I said as he closed the distance between us. His lips instantly met mine and I sighed into the kiss. He smelled clean and his breath was minty with a hint of orange juice. "Well hello," I said as he pulled back and ran a hand softly down my arm.

"You weren't here when I woke up," he said. I smiled up at him as he opened the screen door to let me in the house. I walked into the kitchen and Denny followed like a lost puppy behind me. I sat the food on the kitchen counter and turned around to face him. His chest was practically against mine and he backed me against the counter.

"I'm sorry. I had some things to take care of, and I brought us lunch," I said gesturing to the food. "I was worried," he said. I placed my hands on his chest and played with a frayed string coming out of his sweater. He must've been cold today. "I left a note," I told him matter of factly. He chuckled and squeezed my hips.

"I know, it's just not the same not waking up to you," he said. I smiled adnd leaned up on my tip toes to give him a small kiss. He pulled back and smiled. "You got a bath without me being here," I said changing the subject and pushing him off me gently. Denny nodded my head as I grabbed the salads and opened them.

"I'm sorry, I know you didn't want me too, but I wanted to feel better about myself before you got back," he said. I grabbed a couple forks and put some dressing on the salads. Denny grabbed a couple bottles of water and followed me into the living room. I didn't feel like sitting at the kitchen table.

I handed Denny his salad and he traded me a bottle of water before settling back on the couch. He took a small bite of his salad and sat back. He chewed slowly and I watched him. He poked at his salad for a few minutes and a took a few sips of water. My eyebrows pulled together in concern.

"Everything okay?" I asked him. He nodded and placed his salad on the coffee table. "Yeah, I'm just not that hungry. Ever since breakfast I haven't felt the greatest," he said. I nodded and figured that it was his morning medicines messing with him. "Have you even researched what half those medicines are?" I asked him.

He took another drink of his water and shook his head. I put my salad on the coffee table and stood up. "Sit down, eat," Denny said but I shook my head and went to the bedroom. I grabbed the medicines in the nightstand drawer along with Denny's laptop. I walked back to the living room to see Denny waiting patiently.

I placed the medicine on the table and opened his laptop. "Password please," I said as I turned the laptop towards him. He cleared his throat and typed in the password before sliding it back to me. I started typing away at the computer and searching all of the drugs that were sitting on the table in front of me.

"Okay," I breathed after a few minutes of research. I picked up the first bottle. "This one is to control the potential fluid that gets in your lungs, so you don't suffocate," I said as I placed it down and picked another one up. "This one for your irregular heartbeat," I placed it down and picked up another one.

"This one is a water pill. It just keeps everything running," I said. Denny chuckled as I picked up the next one. "This one is for nausea," I picked up another. "This one is a blood thinner," I picked up the another. "Pain pill," I said and picked up the last one. "This one is pretty much an all in one. Like a multivitamin but not," I said as I pushed the laptop back and sat back on the couch beside Denny.

"So, what was so important that you had to leave me in the bed alone this morning?" Denny asked as he put an arm around me and ran his hand up and down my arm. I leaned my head against his shoulder. "I told my boss I needed some time off," I told him as I closed my eyes to relax.

Denny's hand stopped moving. "Why'd you do that?" he asked me. I shrugged my shoulders as I pulled my feet up on the couch and tucked them under myself so I could snuggle into Denny more. "I figured you needed the company," I told him. His fingers drew lazy circles on my arm again.

"What about your life? Your bills? Your home?" he asked me. I smiled a little but didn't open my eyes. "I live right across the street, Denny. It's not like it's a long trip to make to take care of both places. I have enough saved to make my bills for a few weeks," I said. Denny kissed my forehead lightly.

"I really don't need a babysitter. I'm a big boy. This isn't the first time this has happened," he said. I cringed hearing those words. I wondered what he did since he didn't seem to have anyone else around. Did he have another girlfriend at those times? My stomach flopped at the thought of another woman in his life.

"I know, but for my peace of mind I would rather take care of you for a little bit," I said. Denny's chuckle rumbled through his chest. "Are you gonna be my nurse?" he asked me with a deep lust in his voice. I laughed this time. "In your dreams, buddy," I said. Denny's hand lowered and went under my shirt.

He rubbed my side lightly. His cold hands made my side burn hot. "You're blushing," he whispered in my ear. I sat up and shoved him lightly. "Oh hush, you!" I said feeling the heat in my cheeks. Denny chuckled again and reached forward to grab his water as a few coughs escaped with his laugh.

"You're heart can't handle that any time soon, Mr. Duquette," I said as I stood up to go put our salads in the fridge for later. Denny flopped down on the couch. His six foot self easily took up all the space as I walked towards the kitchen. I placed our forks in the sink and walked back to the living room.

"Move your feet, Mister," I said as I looked at Denny. He had his arm over his face. He shook his head and I laughed. "Fine, be that way," I said as I laid down on top of him. I tucked my legs between his and laid my head on his chest. He chuckled and lowered his arm to wrap around me.

His hand started running through my hair and I sighed contently. "You're the best, you know that?" Denny said softly. I smiled as his hand continued working its way through my hair. "That's what people tell me," I said. Denny pulled one of my curls lightly. "I'm being serious," he said as I I rested my chin on his chest so I could look up at him.

"I know, but I'm weird with compliments. Just don't mention it," I told him. His thumb rubbed against my cheek softly. "Okay," he breathed as I got comfortable on his chest again. I hated compliments. I hated being the center of attention. Denny continued to run his hand through my hair.

I closed my eyes and relaxed against his chest. "Are you tired?" he asked. I shook my head against his chest. "No, I'm just comfortable," I whispered. Denny's long arm reached out and grabbed the book that was sitting on the coffee table. He opened it and started reading while still running a hand through his hair.

Occasionally he would stop to turn a page before continuing to play with my hair. I wondered about that book. How long he had had it and why his mother had wrote what she had in the back of it. I also wondered how many times he had read it. Denny's hand stopped playing with my hair and landed on my left hand which was resting on his chest.

His fingers laced with mine and his thumb rubbed light circles on my palm. His touch seemed to relax me no matter where it was at. Denny's thumb stopped as it reached my grandma's ring that was still on my ring finger. I smiled slightly as his thumb stayed there. I forgot it was still on there, but it was the last thing I remembered before I fell asleep on Denny's chest.

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Predictions?? I really liked this chapter!

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