Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135955 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 680(@200wpm)___ 544(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
I feel off. Going to bed early.
The time stamp was two hours ago.
Guilt coils inside. I should have been here sooner. When the text came through, I assumed she was sleeping at the house. Finding my bed empty, I took a shower before coming over. Has she been lying on the bathroom floor all this time?
I grab a bottle of water and go to her side, brushing her hair off her cheeks.
“Baby, take a sip of water.”
“The smell, make it go away.” The pain in her voice slices deep.
Nothing smells out of the ordinary. Before I can question, she bolts up and races to the hall bathroom.
I crowd in behind her, gathering her hair as she dry heaves over and over. Sweat drips down her neck as her body quakes. Helplessness turns into fear when tears spill down her pale cheeks.
“I’m calling nine-one-one.”
She shakes her head violently, heaving again. After what seems like forever, she collapses into me.
“I think it’s done.” Her bloodshot eyes meet mine, and my heart stops at the misery on her face.
“We need to get you to a doctor.”
“No need, it’s food poisoning.”
“From lunch?”
She and the guys had lunch with Janice, Bea, and Ronnie before her family headed home. That was a while ago.
“No, lunch was so filling I didn’t want dinner. I made a bagel. The cream cheese was spoiled. I noticed after I ate it.”
“Did it taste off?”
“Not really. I just figured the chives were stronger.”
My stomach curls at the thought.
“That’s the smell in the other room.”
I didn’t smell it, but then again, I haven’t been retching it up, either. “You feel safe enough for me to get you into bed?”
“Yeah, there’s nothing left in my stomach. I need to brush my teeth.”
We get to her bathroom, and she gasps at her reflection. “Hot mess express coming through.”
“You’re still beautiful to me.”
She scrunches her nose and rolls her eyes. “Give me your shirt.”
“My shirt?”
“My clothes are gross, and I want to smell like you.”
I whip it over my head, handing it to her. “I’ll take out the trash.”
She shoots me a grateful look and shuts the door.
In the kitchen, I check the contents of her fridge, which are scarce, but nothing else is expired. The tub of cream cheese lies on the top of the trash. The expiration date isn’t for another week, but the odor makes me want to gag.
On my way back across the parking lot, Ronnie’s door opens, and she steps onto her small porch, her eyes doing a once-over of my body. “The warrior returns unharmed.”
I grin at her choice of words. “Don’t know what Jewls told you, but this was a purely basic weekend of training.”
She gives me a short nod of understanding. Then her expression turns serious. “Jewls okay?”
I explain what I walked into.
“I can’t speak for the boys, but none of us had any problems with lunch.”
“Jewls narrowed it to spoiled cream cheese.”
“That girl and her cream cheeses.”
Her grin is forced and her gaze goes over my shoulder to Jewls’ door, causing the hair on the back of my neck to prickle. “Ronnie, something on your mind?”
She snaps back, the weariness gone. “Nope, you better get back in there and take care of our girl. Come a knockin’ if you need anything.”
She disappears inside, leaving me with an uneasy feeling. I listen for her to lock her door before going back to Jewls. After closing down the house and setting the alarm, I find her in bed, watching the door.
“Did you get lost?”
“I ran into Ronnie.”
“You’re not wearing a shirt. Did she gawk?”
“Not exactly.” I lower myself next to her and run my hands through her hair. “How are you?”
“Okay, took a Zofran, which means I’ll pass out soon.”
“Sleep is good.”
“I’m glad this happened after Huey, Duey, and Louie left. They’d never let me live it down.”
“It’s not like you got loaded at a keg party and spewed all over the lawn. You were sick.”
“They wouldn’t care. My brothers have stomachs of iron. They’d definitely make fun of me.”
The protective part of me rears up, wanting to erase any embarrassment she feels. But the older brother in me knows it would be the same situation with Sam and Drake.
“Your visit went well?”
“Yes, they behaved mostly. Only got into my business once.”
“Anything you want to share?”
“They think we’re moving too fast. Turns out that they are chomping at the bit to meet you and see how fast you flinch.”
“Never been one to flinch.”
“My money is on you.” She stares into space, lost in thought, then brings her gaze to mine. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“The clean sheets, holding my hair, carrying me around, giving me your shirt.”
“Baby, that’s part of our deal. I take care of you.”
“Will you do me one more favor?”
“Anything.”
“You witnessed the least sexy, grossest thing ever, but will you stay here tonight?”