Mr. Miracle by Debbie Macomber Page B

if it was important that she understand his point of view.
    “I know, and I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t like it, either. The question is whether we can set aside our dislike of each other long enough to see this through.” Two weeks would feel like an eternity, and the worst part was that it fell over Christmas.
    Once more, Erich centered his gaze away from her, focusing on the opposite wall. “I can manage, if you can.”
    “I’ll do my best.”
    He nodded and then released what sounded like a pent-up sigh. “That’s about all either of us can expect.”
    Addie sat down on the ottoman across from him and leaned slightly forward. “I have classes three days a week. It’s important that I go to those.” She was going to need to focus on her studies if she planned to make a go of schooling.
    “No problem.”
    “I’ll make sure you get food and have plenty of straws, but as for anything else …”
    “Don’t worry about it.”
    The picture of Erich stuck with her was a humorous one. Addie did her best to disguise her amusement.
    “This isn’t funny, Addie. I’m miserable and cranky, andI doubt I’ll be a good patient. The fact is, other than when it’s absolutely necessary, it might be best if you stayed away.”
    “Do you honestly think I’d want to spend more time with you than I need to?” Addie felt the heat fill her face. It seemed Erich thought she would go out of her way to be with him because she still had a thing for him. The man was living in a dream world.
    “Don’t go all Mother Teresa on me, got it?”
    If he wasn’t so serious, this would be downright comical. “Trust me, you don’t have any worries there.”
    “Good,” he said, and sighed as if their conversation had physically drained him. His eyes drifted closed and then flew open as if he’d caught himself in the nick of time.
    “Did you hear our mothers decided to leave tonight?” she asked. Their flight was scheduled to leave early the following morning, and with the threat of snow, they’d decided to spend the night in an economy hotel next to the airport rather than risk missing the flight.
    Erich’s frown darkened his face. “Yeah, I know.”
    “We can do this, Erich,” she said, hoping to sound positive and upbeat.
    “We can try,” Erich said, sounding none too confident.
    Addie stood, eager to be on her way. “I’ll stop by sometime this evening.”
    He nodded.
    “I’ll add my contact info to your phone—if you need anything before then, call me.”
    Again, he acknowledged the comment with a flippant nod. His phone was on the table next to the recliner. She reached for it and noticed several text messages.
    “You have a text message here from someone named Ashley.”
    “I don’t want to see anybody, especially Ashley.”
    “Do you want me to answer it for you?”
    He looked up at her as if she’d suggested something weird. “No, delete them all.”
    “But—”
    “Fine, don’t. I’ll do it myself later.”
    “Don’t get snarky with me,” she snapped. “I’m not your personal assistant. If you want those texts deleted, then fine. I was only trying to help.”
    “Just hand me my phone.”
    “Give me a minute,” she mumbled, concentrating on adding her contact information to his device. When she’d finished and stored the number, she handed him his phone. It immediately fell out of his hand and onto the carpet. Addie reached down to get it and gave it to him a second time. He left it in his lap, leaned his head back, and closed his eyes.
    “I’ll be by again later.”
    He didn’t comment one way or the other, which was just as well.
    Later that afternoon, Erich and Addie’s mothers loaded up the car. Addie was going to drop them at the airport hotel.
    “I prepared Erich a meal,” Julie was saying as she lifted the second of her two suitcases into the trunk of Addie’s vehicle. In addition, she had a carry-on and a purse the size of an airplane seat. “But he didn’t eat much. I