Chapter 225

Chapter 225

Devante

"Hey, I didn't mean to be gone so long."

"It's okay." She smiles softly. "Stella didn't leave until you told her you were pulling into the parking lot, so don't get mad at her. She did more than what she had to, trust me."

Her skin isn't bunched around her eyes anymore, so I hope the infection is starting to come down. "Are you feeling better?"

"Slightly. Stella helped me to use the bathroom and got me some clean underthings." Her face pinkens slightly at the mention.

"I could've. You know you can ask me, right?" We've been dancing around each other for longer than anyone knows.

She adjusts slightly in the bed. "Please, spare me the embarrassment."

"No need to be embarrassed with me."

"Devante…"

"Eden…" I roll my eyes. "How many mornings have we spent in your coffee shop talking about life and anything else that comes to mind? I think we can consider each other friends, at the very least."

Her tongue swipes across dry, cracked lips. The part of me that