Page 67 of Coastal Rewind

“Ryleigh, baby, what’s going on?” I whispered. She just whimpered as her tear filled eyes flashed to mine and closed again.

“What’s wrong with her?” MJ cried.

I turned to my son. “She just has some food poisoning, buddy. She’ll be okay. Why don’t you go play with your magnets in your room while I take her to bed?”

He looked unsure, and I understood not wanting to leave her side, but I couldn’t assess the situation with him standing here.

Eventually, he relented and walked to his room. When I heard the soft click of his door, I scooped Ryleigh up in my arms. She sobbed into my chest and my heart just about broke. I started toward the front door to load her into my SUV. I’d call Owen or Colin to come watch MJ while I took her to the emergency room.

“I’m going to get you some help, baby.”

“No,” she whispered so quietly I thought I misheard her. I paused my steps halfway to the front door. “Take me to bed, please.” Her voice was so pained. I glanced at the front door again, but turned and headed for the master.

I sat down on the bed but kept her cradled in my arms.

She shuddered, but her eyes started to flutter open a little more. “It. Happens,” she gritted out.

“What happens, Sunshine?”

“The pain.”

I furrowed my brow in confusion. “This has happened before?”

She nodded, her body still shivering. “It’s cramps.”

Cramps? “This is your period?”

She nodded again. What the actual fuck?

“Every month,” she whispered.

I held her against me and buried my head into her messy hair. “I got you, baby. Just breathe.”

We sat like that for a while. We didn’t speak. We didn’t move. After a little, her body relaxed a fraction and she was able to sit up a little more in my arms. I lifted her as I made my way into the bathroom. I didn’t grow up with sisters, but there was one thing I thought might help her.

I placed Ryleigh down on the counter and turned to start filling the tub with hot water. I added lavender bath salts and dimmed the lights. Ryleigh didn’t move from where I placed her so I stepped up and peeled her shirt over her head. I scooped her off the counter and placed her on her feet before peeling her leggings down slowly.

She looked so pale, her normal natural red-tinted cheeks void of all color.

I took her hand and walked her to the bath, helping her step in. She sank down and gripped her knees to her chest.

“Just relax here, okay? It’ll help.”

She looked up at me with glassy eyes. “Please stay.” She gestured with her head behind her.

I didn’t hesitate to start unbuttoning the practice jersey I was still wearing. She could ask me to cut off my right hand and I’d do it to make her feel better.

Unbuckling my belt, I dropped my pants and stepped into the tub behind her. When I was fully in the water, I pulled her back to lean into me.

I could feel more of the tension leave her body as she sighed.

“I’m sorry.” Her eyes were closed.

I stroked a hand over her stomach slowly. “What are you sorry for?”

“I can usually hide it better than this.”

This girl was killing me. “You don’t have to hide this, Ryleigh. You should’ve told me so I could help.”