The rehearsal was painless enough, but the end was awkward. Holding onto Aaron's arm, as she had so many times as his wife, was near torture for Keeley. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

She did notice something, however. He was shaking. That wasn't normal at all.

"Aaron? Are you okay?"

"I kind of feel like I'm going to pass out, actually," he admitted faintly.

She rushed around him frantically. "Sit down, you idiot! Is it your eye? Does anything else hurt? I'll get you ice right now! STAY THERE!"

She scurried into the venue's kitchen area and asked for an ice pack. They didn't have one, but offered her a partially used bag of frozen peas. It would have to do.

Wrapping it in a towel, she thanked the kitchen staff and dashed back to Aaron, who was lying across a row of pushed-together chairs. It didn't look comfortable.

"I have a makeshift ice pack."

He glanced up. "Peas?"

"It was the best they had."

He accepted it without complaint, sighing in relief as the coolness touched his swollen eye. He seemed miserable, but what else could she do? She'd already gotten him ice.

There wasn't much that could be done for black eyes; they had to be waited out.

Keeley hovered over him anxiously. "Is it helping? Do you feel any better?"

"A little. But now I understand why you told me to stop being nice to me."

Huh? What did he—oh. She'd told him to stop being nice because it made her feel worse. She was doing the same thing to him.

She tried to keep things light, despite the weight of his statement. "I'm sorry. I can be mean if you like."

"I think I've had enough of that from you."

Wow. He wasn't pulling any punches. Someone was bitter. She couldn't blame him; her emotions had been all over the place, and he'd had to deal with the fallout.

They constantly hurt each other. Moving away really was the best option.

"What are you doing over here?" Valentina asked curiously.

"My partner injured himself yesterday, and it's still bothering him," Keeley explained.

"You're Cameron's best friend, right?"

"Not for much longer," Aaron said flatly. "He's the one who shot me in the eye."

Keeley tried, and failed, to muffle her laughter. "Sorry, that's pretty funny."

He exhaled heavily and closed his good eye. "I know. At least Keeley didn't laugh at me; I thought she would."

Keeley didn't appreciate being talked about like she wasn't there. "I still can if you try me."

"Please don't. I've already lost all semblance of dignity."

He had a point. He looked ridiculous lying across chairs with his feet dangling, a bag of peas on his face. For someone who cared so much about appearances, this must be a deathblow to his ego.

Feeling unusually sympathetic, she patted his hand. "There, there."

"You're funny," Valentina giggled. "What's your name again?"

"Aaron."

Valentina's eyes widened. "Oh! Like Keeley's—"

Keeley slapped a hand over Valentina's mouth. Aaron could never know about that telenovela. He was the only other person who would realize it was based on her life. It would be a nightmare if he found out.

"Like Keeley's what?"

"Nothing!" she said unconvincingly, releasing her friend's mouth. "Nothing at all. Excuse us. We're going to the rehearsal luncheon. Are you guys coming?"

"Did you drive here?" Keeley asked Aaron.

"Yes."

"I'll drive him once he's done icing his eye," she told Valentina. "Go on without us, but if you dare eat all the appetizers without me, I'll stand over you in your sleep like that ghost from that movie you hate."

Valentina rolled her eyes. "I'll remember that."

"…that's a rather interesting threat," Aaron said, amused.

Keeley flushed. It had just slipped out. They'd watched a scary ghost movie one Halloween in college, and Valentina had nightmares for weeks. She still used the ghost as a threat.

"Well, it worked. I'm starving."

"You really don't have to stay with me. Why are you?"

His confusion made her feel worse. He really thought she hated him.

"You take care of me. Why can't I take care of you, too?"

No one had ever taken care of Aaron, to her knowledge. Not even his parents. He was always alone.

She tried to show him love when they were together, but that stopped when he ignored her. After a while, she ignored him back. He probably hadn't experienced affection since.

The thought made her heart ache. He deserved better. Everyone deserved care when needed.

"That's different," he said dismissively.

"How so?"

"I take care of you because I love you. You obviously don't love me anymore."

Keeley's jaw dropped. All three times he'd said this were random, in the last few months when they were nothing to each other, not during their years as a couple.

He couldn't mean it. If he did, he would have said it once when they were together. How had she ever believed he loved her then, when he never said the words? Now that she knew he was a habitual liar, his words held no weight.

She ignored the first part and addressed the second.

"True, but everyone needs care sometimes. Even someone as unflappable as you. No one else will, so it might as well be me. You're in no condition to drive."

"Has anyone ever told you that you're too nice for your own good?" Aaron mumbled.

"Yep."

He had, actually. Years ago.

She helped him to his feet, letting him lean on her. "Come on; let's get you to the car. I think you've iced it long enough."

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