How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

Elodie was caught off guard as Jarrod pulled her into his arms.

Pressed tightly against his chest, she could feel the heat radiating from his body- and the steady thump of his heartbeat, gradually calming.

"Are you awake?" she asked, trying to sit up. But Jarrod refused to let go; if anything, his arms tightened around her as soon as she spoke.

He murmured next to her cheek, voice rough and low, "Not until you got here. That's when I woke up."

Hearing his voice, so hoarse and strained, Elodie could imagine how awful he must be feeling. His skin was burning hot beneath her touch.

"Cara said you were in bad shape. Sit up and have some soup, then take your medicine and get some rest." Trapped in his embrace, Elodie found it impossible to move, especially since she was practically lying on top of him-so close it was almost disconcerting.

Jarrod stayed silent.

He still wouldn't let her go.

"Jarrod?" she called softly.

No reply.

Elodie pushed against his chest, trying to wriggle free. "Jarrod, come on-don't play dead."

Only then did he nuzzle her neck, almost imperceptibly, and answer in a lazy drawl, "I'm just pretending to be asleep. That way, in my dream, we're still in love."

Elodie was momentarily speechless.

Was this his way of cheating the moment?

to indulge him. Sick or not, he needed

a little, glancing at the bowl of soup on the bedside table. "So Cara called in

before handing it to him.

didn't take the

eaten since yesterday. I can

"So?"

of his mouth tilting

his aristocratic features. Was

for a moment, unmoved. "You seem to be recovering just fine. Weak in the body, but plenty of energy

tilted his head on the pillow, feigning

could see he really wasn't well-his antics felt more like an effort to reassure her than anything else a subtle

eight.

spoon. "Take care of yourself, will you?

the spoon

looked at her

for a moment, it

love. His throat tightened as memories threatened to surface, and he blinked hard before swallowing the

on another spoonful, Jarrod watched her in silence,

"I didn't really expect you

I have, or shouldn't I?"

aching. "I just thought... you're not well either.

down and stood up, ready to

beside him. "You're already

sidelong glance. He always