Perfect Song (Mason Creek Book 2) by Lauren Runow (christmas read aloud .txt) 📕

baby. We’re still here. Are you wanting to head to bed?”

“Justine …” he says, and my stomach drops at the sound of his voice.

“What’s wrong?” I stand up, grabbing my purse, ready to leave the bar.

“I don’t know, but I’ve been really sick.”

“I’m on my way.”

“I … I don’t want you to leave your friends, but—”

“Tucker, don’t worry about it. I’ll be right there.” I hang up and turn to my friends. “I’m so sorry, you guys, but I have to get going.”

“Is everything okay?” Kylie places her hand over mine, concerned.

I don’t know how to respond. I don’t want them all to know what’s going on with him, so I put on a fake smile. “It’s fine. Tucker thinks he might have eaten something bad earlier.”

“Oh no, that’s the worst. Go take care of your man,” she says.

I give everyone a hug and thank them for coming to hang out with me before I head out. On my way back to the hotel, I grab some ginger ale, crackers, and Tylenol.

Tucker got an injection for MS before we came to New York, and they said one of the side effects was flu-like symptoms, so I can only imagine that’s what’s really going on.

When I enter our hotel room, I see Tucker curled up on our bed, shaking.

“Oh, baby.” I run to him.

He’s flush and pale.

“Here, let me get you a washcloth.”

“No.” He grabs me. “Please, just stay here with me. I just want …” He doesn’t finish his sentence.

I know the fact that he had to call me was something he didn’t want to do. He’s never had to ask for help, but he needs to know I’m here to help him.

I slide off my shoes and curl into bed with him, resting his head on my lap and rubbing his hair.

We sit in silence as we watch a movie that he had on. Within minutes, he falls asleep with his arms wrapped around my waist.

I run my fingers through his hair, wishing I could do more for him. Seeing him so helpless hurts me to my soul. He’s such a proud man, and I know it kills him to be so vulnerable.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Tucker

I wake up, still wearing my clothes and drenched in sweat. Justine is sleeping, sitting up, and I find my arms wrapped around her legs. Remembering having to call her to leave her friends to come take care of me fills me with anger. I’m only here to protect her, not for her to have to take care of me.

I don’t ever want to be a burden on anyone in my life, especially her.

The helplessness I felt last night washes over me. I’ve never been so scared as to what was going on in my body. I’ve been sick, but that hit me so strong that I didn’t know what to do if I got worse and couldn’t help myself if need be.

When she came back to the hotel, a level of calmness wrapped around me, and I could finally relax and fall asleep.

Now, I feel nothing but guilt.

She was having an amazing time with her friends, who she hadn’t seen in a while, and I ruined it for her.

That’s not okay.

She should be here, going out and enjoying the end of her twenties. Not at home, having to take care of me.

I sit up, and she squirms.

“Are you okay?” she asks in a panic, which hits me even harder.

She shouldn’t be this worried about me. No one should.

“I’m fine. I’m just going to go to the bathroom and get a drink of water.”

“I’ll get it.” She hops up, but I stop her.

“It’s okay. Here, lie down. You probably didn’t get any sleep, sleeping like that.”

She grins as she slides down in the bed and lies on a pillow. Her eyes close instantly, and I can see the relief she feels in finally being able to lie down.

I hop in the shower, letting the hot water wash over me, sending chills all over my body.

I hate how helpless I was last night. I’m supposed to be strong, be her protector in a time of need. She can’t count on me if I’m curled up in a ball, feeling like I’m dying.

And what about fifteen years from now? I’ll be almost sixty while she’ll be in her forties. That’s a huge difference in how we’ll be living our lives. I’ll be slowing down while she’ll have the energy I do today.

I can’t imagine not being able to do the things I love to do now. Will I be able to cast a line on my fishing pole? My two boats take a lot of maintenance and upkeep. Will I be able to do that? Having your balance is key on any watercraft, yet that seems to be the biggest problem with MS.

What if she gets bored with having someone who can’t go do the fun things life has to offer because they have a disease that’s taken over their body? That’s not fair to her. I’ve already had one wife leave me because I was too boring in her eyes. I can’t go through that again.

What would be worse is, I’d fully agree with her.

Besides, there was a reason she never came back to Mason Creek. I saw the difference in her last night. This is her home. Knowing that she wants to give up her dream for me doesn’t sit right with me. I don’t want her to maybe regret that decision down the road.

The more I think about it, the more I know what I need to do.

When I get out of the shower, I grab my phone from the dresser and head back into the bathroom, calling the airline and changing my flight back home to leave today. Justine doesn’t need me here, holding her down, while she’s trying to work or hang out with her friends.

I try to pack my bags as quietly as possible, knowing she needs sleep after the night