I kept my back to Walker, not wanting to look at him being all pitiful. It felt like forever as I waited for the water to heat up and pour into the tiny cup. I steeped the tea bag into the hot liquid as I walked back over to the bed.
“I’m sorry they don’t have honey.” I was sure most hotels didn’t expect their guests to be sick while staying. Walker was a singer and liked to have tea with honey in it, so from now on, I’d keep honey on me just in case.
“This will be fine. Thanks.” He took the cup from me and blew on the hot tea before he took a sip.
“I don’t know how you do it. I have to have sugar in my tea, or it just tastes… dry,” I shuddered to even think about drinking non-sweet tea.
One corner of his mouth tipped up before he continued to drink more of his disgusting tea.
“If that is all, I’ll go back to my room now.” I looked down to see I’d forgotten shoes in my haste. I was lucky I’d gotten fully dressed with how quickly I’d left my room. What did that say about me?
“Can you stay with me for a little bit? I promise I won’t try to hit on your or anything like that.” He looked up at me with his big, black eyes that pleaded with me to stay.
Personally, I liked to be left alone when I was sick, but I knew some people didn’t. I understood there was no one else that could come sit by his side while he was sick. It made me wonder about his family. If he wanted me to stay, then I was going to ask questions.
“Sure,” I sat down on the bed and crossed my legs Indian-style, getting as comfortable as I could with Walker only being a foot away. “If you were home right now, who would be taking care of you?”
Walker lowered his tea and looked at me for a long moment. “I probably would have called you.”
“That’s not what I asked. If you didn’t know me and I wasn’t your manager, who would be by your side?”
“I don’t know,” he lazily shrugged as if it took all of his energy to make that one move. “Probably Kenton, but I wouldn’t ask.”
“What about your parents? Surely your mom would want to take care of you.” I knew my mom would have if she were alive. I didn’t talk to my dad. He was too controlling and didn’t approve of the career I wanted. My brother, on the other hand, would drop everything to come to me if I called. So would Stella.
Walker laid down, moved to his side, and pulled the covers up until they reached his chin. He closed his eyes, and I thought he was going to go to sleep without answering me. I watched him, waiting for him to fall asleep so I could leave. There was still a chance I could get a decent night’s sleep if I got back to my bed soon.
“My parents didn’t think it was smart of me to drop out of college to chase a fool’s dream.” His eyes opened and locked on me. “Those are their words, not mine.”
“I’m sorry,” I frowned at him. “If it makes you feel any better, my dad feels the same way.” I rubbed my hand along the blanket on his outstretched leg.
“How long has it been since you talked to him?” he asked quietly.
I kind of stepped in that, didn’t I?
“My dad is a hard ass, and he’s not one to gauge parents on.” I tried to backtrack, but even sick, I knew Walker wasn’t buying it.
“How long, Pen?”
“Ten years.” It was shocking to hear those words. It sounded so long, and yet I wouldn’t change my decision. “My brother and I are incredibly close, though. Unfortunately, he lives in South Carolina, and I hardly see him. He’s got two young boys, and that makes traveling difficult.”
“It’s nice that you have him. I’m an only child, or at least I think so.” He closed his eyes and shuttered.
“What do you mean you think so?” How could he not know?
Walker huffed out a breath and tightened his eyes as if it would keep the bad away. “Because my dad is a serial cheater, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he got multiple women pregnant.”
That had to be difficult to know about your dad. People cheated. All the time, but to know one of your parents was cheating would be horrible.
“I promised myself I’d never be like him. I’ll never cheat on you,” he whispered. I wasn’t sure if he was falling asleep or if his throat hurt. He didn’t sound as stuffed up as he did on the phone, so maybe the tea did help somewhat.
“We’re not together, but whoever you end up with will be one lucky lady.” I stood and patted his leg. “Get some sleep, and hopefully, you’ll feel better in the morning. If you need anything, you can call me.”
One eye cracked open, following me as I made my way around his bed. “What if I need you here? Would you stay with me?”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Walker.” I couldn’t let my heart thaw just because he was sick and needy.
“Please,” he begged. “You can sleep in here, and I promise to keep my hands to myself. I’ll even turn the other direction, so I’m not breathing my germs on you.”
“I think you’ll be fine without me.” I stood my ground, not giving in.
“I really won’t. I think I got sick because you won’t talk to me, and I’ve been wracking my brain trying to figure out how to get you back.”
“You never had me, Walker. It was only sex. I’m convenient right now, but I promise you, you’ll find someone else once you’re not sick.”
He sat up as if lightning struck him dead in the chest and reached over to grab me. He hauled me onto the bed and held me still as I tried to fight him. He was surprisingly strong for being sick. I also wasn’t fighting him as hard as I could have. I liked the feel of his hands on me, even if it was for a reason other than sex. “What if I don’t want anyone else?”
“Like I said, I’m convenient.” I huffed, annoyed at myself for what I was about to say, but it needed to be said. “Didn’t you like one of the women you were with when I was gone?”
He shook his head as his grip on me tightened. “I know the pictures you saw, but I can promise you, everyone kept their hands to themselves. I haven’t been with anyone but you.”
“And how am I supposed to believe that?” I started to fight harder to get out of his grasp, but Walker’s hold on me only tightened.
“Because I’ve never lied to you. Did they offer to sleep with me? Yeah, they did. When I said no, one offered to blow me, and I said no to that as well. If you ask the guys, they’ll confirm what happened when you were gone. Cristiano can confirm as well.”
“Oh, right,” I laughed bitterly. “You know I can’t ask any of them because if I did, they’d know something was up between us, and I’d most definitely lose my job.” Even though he was sick, I couldn’t hide my irritation as I fell to my side with Walker’s arms still around me and hissed out, “Or did you forget that?”
Walker let go of me. “Of course, I didn’t forget. You’re all I think about, and I’m constantly trying to figure out a way for us to be together.”
Not looking at him because I knew he’d see the truth on my face, I asked, “And what if I don’t want to be with you?”