You had been feeling off all day—lightheaded, dizzy, and a little weaker than usual. It wasn't anything new, though. Low iron had been something you'd dealt with for years, but today, it seemed worse than normal. Maybe you hadn't eaten enough; maybe you hadn't been drinking enough water. Either way, you tried to shake it off.
"Babe, you okay?" Nicholas asked, his voice full of concern as he glanced at you from across the kitchen. You were standing by the counter, staring at your phone, trying to focus on a text but feeling like the words were swimming on the screen.
"Yeah, just a little tired," you muttered, brushing it off.
Nick didn't look convinced. He set down his coffee and crossed the room, his eyes scanning your face. "You sure? You look kind of pale."
You forced a smile. "I'm fine."
He gave you a look—the kind that said he didn't quite believe you but wasn't going to push just yet. "Alright. But let me know if you need anything."
You nodded, but as soon as he turned to grab his drink, your vision blurred, and a wave of dizziness crashed over you. Your knees buckled before you could stop them, and suddenly, the ground was rushing up to meet you.
The last thing you heard was Nick's panicked voice calling your name.
⸻
When you opened your eyes, you were on the couch, a cool cloth pressed against your forehead. The world was hazy at first, but as your vision adjusted, you realized Nick was kneeling beside you, his brows furrowed in concern.
"Hey, hey—there you are." His voice was gentle, but there was an edge of worry in it. "You scared the hell out of me."
You swallowed hard, your mouth dry. "What... happened?"
"You passed out." His hand found yours, squeezing lightly. "One second you were standing, and the next, you just—" He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "I caught you before you hit the ground, but, babe, you were out for a solid minute."
You blinked, still trying to process everything. "I—I think it's my iron."
"Yeah, no kidding." He grabbed a glass of water from the coffee table and pressed it into your hands. "Drink this."
You obeyed, sipping slowly as he watched you carefully.
"Have you eaten today?" he asked.
You hesitated.
"Y/N."
"I had some toast this morning," you admitted.
Nick's eyes darkened. "That's it?"
You sighed. "I wasn't that hungry."
He sat back on his heels, running a hand through his hair. "Babe, you know you need to eat, especially with your iron levels. You can't just run on empty and expect your body to be okay."
"I know," you mumbled, guilt creeping in.
He softened a little, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. "I'm not trying to nag, I just—I was terrified. One second you were fine, and the next, you were in my arms, completely unconscious." His jaw clenched like he was trying to shake the image from his mind. "I don't want that to happen again."
You squeezed his hand. "I'm sorry. I should've taken better care of myself."
He exhaled, nodding. "We'll fix it. Right now, I need to get you some food."
You opened your mouth to protest, but he shot you a look. "Don't even try. I'm making you something whether you like it or not."
A small smile tugged at your lips despite the situation. "Okay, okay."
Nick leaned in, pressing a kiss to your forehead before standing. "Stay put. I mean it."
As he walked toward the kitchen, you watched him, warmth filling your chest. He cared—so much. And even though you felt a little guilty for worrying him, it also felt nice knowing he was there to catch you when you fell.
Literally.
⸻
Fifteen minutes later, Nick returned with a plate of scrambled eggs, toast, and a side of spinach.
You raised an eyebrow. "Spinach?"
He smirked. "Iron, babe. I Googled it."
You laughed softly as he handed you the plate. "You're ridiculous."
"Nope, just a concerned boyfriend who doesn't want you passing out on me again." He sat beside you, watching as you took a few bites. "How do you feel now?"
"Better," you admitted. The dizziness had mostly faded, and the food was helping more than you expected. "Still a little tired, though."
Nick nodded. "That makes sense. Your body needs to recover."
You set the plate on the coffee table and leaned into him. "Thank you for taking care of me."
He wrapped an arm around you, kissing the top of your head. "Always."
As you rested against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart, you knew one thing for sure—no matter what, Nick would always be there.
