Sip by Sip

Chapter Eighty-Eight: For Better

Tear stained cheeks. Bloodshot eyes. Pale lips, beaten figure.

She was an embodiment of the expression 'dead on her feet.'

"I-I can't . . . I can't . . . " She choked out, before dropping her gaze to the ground. He reached out and led her inside, gently sitting her down on her bed. "I haven't slept in-in-in . . ." She swallowed a sob, and his eyebrows furrowed further in worry.

"Gemma, why haven't you been able to sleep?" Noah asked softly, pushing some of her stiff, frizzy hair out of her face.

"I fucking hate un-un-ungodly hours." She could barely talk through her sharp breaths and sobs. He already figured she was an insomniac, but this still surprised him a bit. "Usually I-I can fall asleep, I can sl-sleep for a few hours, but I can't even . . . I can't even . . . "

He pulled her into his arms, rubbing her shoulder with his thumb.

"Breathe, Gemma. It's okay."

"I-I'm working to get this new promotion at work and it-it's stressing me the fuck out. I can't . . . think anymore, I can't relax. God, I need a break Noah, I need a break." Her sobs calmed a bit, and she pulled her head off his shoulder.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I-I don't know. I didn't want to dump my problems on you, yet here I am . . . "

He gave a small smile, "I don't mind."

"Really?"

"I'm serious, Gemma. Do you remember the first rule?"

She managed a small laugh, "We are way past those rules. Besides, we already broke all of them."

"Gemma,"

"Yes, I do remember, Noah. I remember the first rule." She sighed, annoyed. "But I can't always tell you everything."

"Why not?" He asked softly, and she smiled.

"I don't want to scare you off."

He laughed, and she felt it against her hands, pushing her to realize they were pressed against his chest. She removed them quickly, but his hands moved to cover hers, moving them back into their place.

"You can't, Gemma." He paused, bringing his face up closer to hers, "I'm here to stay, for better or for worse."

For a few minutes neither spoke, him holding her as she calmed her breaths.

Finally she broke the silence, her voice an optimistic whisper.

"For better."