He chuckled. “You probably make more than Zeke and I put together anyway.”

“I do,” I said, throwing my duffle into the back seat before climbing into the passenger seat.

I fought the urge to ask Watts to drive faster, and to jump from my seat when he parked in the drive. Zeke was lying in my bed, ice water and a dirty bowl and spoon on the nightstand next to him.

“Thank God,” he said, letting his head fall back.

“You look bored,” I said, leaning down to peck his lips.

“So bored.” He pulled me down again, planting another kiss, this time opening his mouth and grabbing each side of my face.

“All right. I’ve got some shit to do. Call me if you need me,” Watts said from the doorway.

I reached up, waving goodbye with Zeke’s mouth still on mine.

When Zeke finally relaxed back, I had to remind myself he was unconscious the morning before.

“Merry Christmas,” he said.

“Day late.”

“No, today is our Christmas.” His smiled faded. “But first, we should talk.”

I tilted my head and glared at him, annoyed. “Zeke…”

“No, just let me say it. When I first met you, it was obvious to everyone you needed someone who could keep up. I thought I could—just barely—but things are different now.”

“Quit it,” I said.

“Naomi…”

“Shut up, Zeke. Just shut up. We’re not doing this. You’re not weak. You don’t have a bad heart. It’s controllable, treatable. You’re not even on medication, are you?”

“Not yet. It’s seems like it’s going to be a lot of wait and see. What if I… I don’t want to make you go through that twice.”

“So you’re going to leave me before you leave me? That makes sense.”

He breathed out a laugh and looked down. “It does sound stupid when you put it that way. I just… I love you. It’s real. I know because I want you to be happy with or without me.”

“I’d rather be happy with you, if it’s all the same to you,” I said.

“Okay.”

“Okay,” I said, picking up the dirty bowl and spoon. “Need anything from the kitchen?”

He shook his head.

“What did the doc say?”

“No drinking. Low stress. My career is over.”

I looked down. “I’m sorry Zeke. I don’t know what to say. It has to be devastating.”

“Yeah,” he said, using his index finger and thumb to wipe his eyes.

“We’ll figure it out,” I said. “Together.”

The corners of his mouth turned up. “It’s what’s keeping me going right now.”

I made a face. “Then why did you offer a sympathy-kick-to-the-curb?” I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “Boys are dumb.”