Kitty Gatto
!!!!
So that’s still going on?
Nothing’s happening. He just started feeling bad
while he was helping me move
Sure. Guess you’d better nurse the baby back to health
Stop
I’ll check on the diagnosis situation. Hope it’s not strepor the flu or you’re screwed
(angry emoji)
I carried two tea mugs back to Nick’s room, his insulated in case he’d fallen asleep again. And he had, curled up with Greg, his dark lashes splayed out on his cheeks. I left him to rest, carrying my mug to the bookshelves to look for some reading material. Reading would be better than bothering him with the TV, and I could keep an eye on him until I was ready to sleep. Probably best if I slept in another room anyway.
I plucked an Agatha Christie off the shelf and snuggled into the cozy chair in one corner of the room. He’d made a reading nook of sorts with a chair, lamp, and side table. Damn, Nick. Didn’t see that coming. I knew he was smart, but I didn’t know he was reading nook in his bedroom smart. The tea, blanket, and book were enough to send me dozing earlier than I imagined. Greg woke me at one point to get in my lap, adding to the cozy factor. Then he woke me again to take him out. Just like that, this dog knew I was the person in charge and didn’t object. I got why Nick was obsessed with his little dog. He was the epitome of ugly cute, with a little too much chub and big buggy eyes and loose skin in various places.
When we returned from our walk, Nick was shivering in the bed. I went over to check on him to find his eyes open and glazed over.
“Nick? You okay, bub?”
He was laying on his side, a little tear streaking out of his bottom eye. “No.” He grabbed for my hand. “Help, Annie.”
Panic surged in me as Greg climbed his ramp to get back in bed with Nick.
“It’s going to be okay. Let me get your temperature. I think it might be time for medicine.”
Nick didn’t disagree. He had one of the fancy thermometers, and it read 106. I checked it on myself to make sure it wasn’tmiscalibrated. Mine was perfectly normal. I checked his again to find the same result.
He was already freaking out, so I didn’t need to tell him how high the fever was. I counted out a couple of pills and brought them to him. “Can you sit up and take these, baby?”
He obeyed, wincing as he sat up. “My whole body hurts.”
Even though I probably shouldn’t have, I leaned over and kissed his forehead. Seeing a big guy like him be so pathetic was scary, but I had to keep my cool. “I know, bub. It’s gonna be okay.”
He groaned as he swallowed the pills, clutching his throat. At what point did a human need to see a doctor?
“Let me get my phone. I want to look at your throat.”
Before I could get up, he clutched my wrist. “Don’t go.”
I rested on the bed’s edge. I’d never seen him, or hardly anyone, look so rough. Not just sick, but terrified.
“Just lie back, buddy. I’ll come right back.”
I used the bathroom and got my phone off the charger, returning to his bed. I was still in my moving clothes, which I realized might have dust irritating his throat.
“I forgot night clothes. Can I borrow something?”
He nodded and pointed to the dresser. “Bottom drawer.”
I pulled out some sweats, stepping into the bathroom to change. I’m tall and they were still enormous. I was too hot to put on the sweatshirt, so I just wore my sports bra with his sweatpants, rolled multiple times. A small smile curved his lips when I approached his bed.
“My angel,” he whispered.
