Cracking open her eyes, Lonnie tried to remember where she was. Just then, a remarkably painful headache washed over her. It pounded in her ears. Or maybe that was her blood. She couldn't tell. She couldn't remember much from last night. Only that after she put Sydney in with Robin everything became blurry.
She sat up in her bed and tried to get her bearings. There was a cup of water on her bedside table. She quickly downed it and felt better. She stood up and then a wave of nausea hit her. She ran to the bathroom and spewed her guts, or so it felt like.
When she was done, she wiped her mouth with a cloth. Then, feeling gross, she sprayed water on her face. When she came back out to her room, John was in there. With a tray of food in his hands. He had a quirky smile on his face. He closed the door with his foot and brought the food over to her.
"What..? What's this?" Lonnie asked.
"Breakfast in bed," he said. "Obviously."
"Whatcha got there?"
"Scrambled eggs, mildly seasoned, fresh bacon, toast with raspberry jam, and a cup of bone broth. For the hangover, of course."
"You didn't have to do this. I could've done it."
"I wanted to," he said softly, meeting her gaze. "Besides, you have a hangover."
"Really, I'm fi-" abruptly, she ran to the bathroom again. When she came out, he raised an eyebrow.
"I can see that," he said mockingly. And then he was serious. "Just eat."
Reluctantly, she sat down on the bed. He set the tray down next to her. Immediately, she gulped the broth down and then eyed the eggs.
"You can eat them. They are for you," he explained in exaggerated patience.
She nodded and picked up the plate with the eggs. When she had scarfed them down, she looked back up at him.
"What?" John asked.
She patted the bed next to her, indicating that she wanted him to sit.
"Uh… I really should go. Leave you so you can-" his sentence was cut short when she pulled him by his arm and made him sit down. "Okay, never mind my plans. I mean, it's not like I had plans or anything," he said sarcastically. "Maybe I'll just stay here for the day. Neglect all my duties."
"That's a good idea," Lonnie said.
"I was kidding."
"I'm not. If I have to stay here, so do you."
John shot her a look, but she shot one back and that put an end to this conversation. John was the Duke, but that didn't mean he was totally in charge. Well…. Yes, it did. But Lonnie wasn't having it. They sat in silence for a moment. Lonnie picked up the piece of toast and handed it to John.
"That's your food," he said, handing it back.
"Okay, well, what have you eaten today?"
There was a silence.
"Nothing," he grumbled and took the toast from her hand. That's what I thought, Lonnie wanted to say, but was afraid that if she did, she might be overstepping her boundaries.
Late in the evening, she started packing for her trip to Cosbia. It would take two days to get there and two days to get back. She wouldn't need to hurry, so she might just take the scenic route.
"What are you packing for?" John asked from behind, startling Lonnie.
"John, I care deeply for you… but if you scare me like that again, I will actually poison your food. Just enough to get a fever, of course."
John made a face at her and sat down on her bed. "So you're not telling me?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because it's a surprise."
"What is? You leaving me here with - not one - but TWO children orphans to take care of? What happened to together?"
"Oh, you can't handle it?" Lonnie asked, snarking.
"That… I did not say that," John said.
"Well, that's what it sounded like."
John stood up. "Oh, really?"
"Really."
John narrowed his eyes at her and started walking towards her.
"John?" Lonnie asked nervously, taking a step back.
He smirked at her as he walked around her bed and stood in front of her.
"What?" Lonnie asked, perplexed by his dark look.
Suddenly, Lonnie took off down the hallway, John on her heels. Lonnie ran into a room and closed the door behind her. When she looked around, she realized she was in the room with Sydney and Robin.
"Aww," Lonnie cooed, bending over the crib. But, while she was preoccupied with the babies, John crept into the room silently.
"Ah-hah!" John said, grabbing Lonnie's waist.
Lonnie squealed, laughing, as John tickled her.
"John! Hahaha! Stop!"
"Oh, what's that? I can't hear you!"
His tickling finally subsided and Lonnie was left standing in his embrace. They were rather close. Lonnie playfully narrowed her eyes, teasing John as she leaned closer.
John, unable to take any more of this madness, swiftly closed the remaining distance between them. And their lips.
Lonnie, taken a bit by surprise, pulled back. John looked at her with a regretful, guilty expression on his face. He feared he had just ruined several years of friendship.
Suddenly, Lonnie's mouth parted slightly and the corners lifted up in a smile. She pressed her lips firmly back against John's. John smiled against her lips. This was all he had ever wanted. John knew, from the very first moment he met Lonnie, that he loved her.
"So," he mumbled, "the wait was worth it."