Yeah… It’s not at all what it looks like, I swear.
Declan: No, I’m out of town for the next week or so. Work came up.
Natasha: *pouting emoji* Fine, but you owe me when you get back. When will that be by the way?
She’s so fucking needy that it makes my skin crawl.
Declan: I’m not sure, I’ll let you know when I have a better idea.
Natasha: See to it that you do. Don’t keep me waiting too long.
I’m not in the mood to entertain her right now, so I navigate out of the text. To be clear, I’m never really in the mood to entertain her. My finger itches to click back on Jake’s name. He’s right. We were best friends for thirteen years. It’s hard not to call him when shit hits the fan. Over a decade, out of the fucking window because he fell in love with a woman who used us and I’m pretty sure continues to use us both. She’s not just reaching out to me. There’s no way in hell. At the end of the day they both betrayed me, and in my world that’s a crime punishable by death. I’ve left him alone for now, but I’ll correct his deadly mistakes one of these days. I just have to get my brother healthy first. I hope he’s ready, because I’m coming for him.
19
Chapter Nineteen
Mac
Iwake up out of a dead sleep covered in sweat. My body shivers uncontrollably and aches like I have the flu. Shit, did I get sick from being out in the cold last night? My stomach churns, and my mouth starts to water excessively. Fuck. Hopping out of bed, I trip over something on the floor. Declan’s groan of pain solves that mystery quickly. Scrambling to the bathroom, I get the toilet open just in time to empty the contents of my stomach.
I hear Dec walk in behind me, but I’m too busy violently heaving to say anything to him or focus on what he’s saying to me. He sits on the lip of the bathtub behind me and rubs my back until I stop. My head lays on my arms as I groan.
“I think I’m sick. Fuck, I hope I didn’t give it to Lee yesterday.” My head turns so I can look back at Dec. “I left my phone in Rowan’s car by mistake. Can I call her and makesure she’s okay?”
“She’s fine. I just talked to her brother a few hours ago. You aren’t sick, Mac. It’s withdrawal.”
Fuck, I almost forgot I was doing that shit. Can I tap out now?
“Dec, I’m fine. I swear I’ll cut back. I’ll cut back majorly. Just give me a fucking shot, a beer, something.” Before he can respond my head is back in the toilet. “Declan…please…” I choke out between heaves.
It’s no use. I know he dumped out anything with alcohol in it. Fuck, I watched him do it. I don’t know how long I lay here with my head in the toilet, but eventually my eyes drift shut and my body starts to tremble. Shit, I’m cold.
When I wake back up, I’m laying in bed with an IV coming out of my arm. I try to move to take it out when I notice my arms are secured to my sides. Panic soars through my veins, and my heart rate picks up. My eyes scan the room, looking for a way out of here. I have to get my fucking arms untied. I can feel my forehead dripping sweat. Then I remember Declan’s supposed to be here.
“DECLAN!” I yell as loud as I can.
He comes running into the room with a toothbrush half hanging out of his mouth. “What? What’s wrong?” He takes in the room and me in the bed before exhaling what seems like a sigh of relief.
“Declan, untie me. I’m not fucking around.” My voice sounds high even to my own ears.
“Shh. It’s okay. We’re going to keep these on you for just a couple of hours to make sure you don’t start seizing again.”
“What are you talking about? Declan, I’m seriously panicking. I don’t feel good, and now I can’t move my arms.”
Without answering me, Declan pulls his phone out of the pocket of his gym shorts, presses some buttons, then holds the phone up to his ear.
“Hey, how’s she doing today?”
The heat and anger from being tied down turn to ice as I realize he’s called about Lee. My gorgeous, perfect Lee. I instantly don’t give a fuck about anything but an answer to the question Declan just asked.
“That’s good. Listen, I think he’s up for real this time. He’s panicking. Can she talk?” He waits a second before putting the call on speaker and laying it by my head. He presses his lips to my forehead before wiping it. “You talk to her, and stay calm. I’m going to finish brushing my teeth and getting dressed. I can hear you, though. Holler if you need me.” I nod to him before he strides out of the room just as her sweet voice fills my ears and instantly starts relaxing my body.
“Mac? Is that you, Handsome?” She sounds good, way better than when I talked to her yesterday.
“Lelonie.” I rush out on an exhale. “How are you feeling? Are you resting?”
“I feel really good today. I miss you, but today’s a good day. It’s been different without you the past week, but I’m so glad you’re getting better.”
