A second later, he sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes fluttering open. “Huh? What?”
“Hey, sleepyhead” she said, forcing a smile. “Time to get up. You need some food, some meds, and a little walk.”
“Ugh,” he moaned as he covered his face with his hands, “okay.”
“I’m sorry, babe. I didn’t want to wake you, but Kyle was very insistent that we not let this fever get out of control.”
“Yep,” Alex murmured as he pulled his hands away, staring up at the ceiling. “Woo, I feel awful.”
Her heart broke as she patted his clammy skin, noticed the dullness in his eyes and his lethargy. A shiver shook her as she tossed back the covers. He was so warm next to her, it was like a heater.
She grabbed the airline blanket she’d bought on her second trip to the pharmacy for more provisions and held it out as he slowly climbed from the bed.
With it wrapped around his shoulders, she slid an arm around his waist to steady him as they paced back and forth at the foot of the bed.
“Wow, this flu is terrible,” he murmured.
“I’m so sorry, babe,” she said with a weak smile. “Doc’s doing everything he can to find a solution, but so far, nothing.”
“Doc will figure it out. I know it,” he murmured, his speech a little slurred.
“You okay?” she asked as he stumbled sideways, knocking into her when they turned to amble in the opposite direction.
“Y-yeah,” he mumbled. “Just…tired. I want to crawl back into that bed and go straight to sleep.”
“In a few minutes,” she said. “Just a few more passes here, and then some food and meds.”
“Ugh, food. You know what’s awful…I don’t think I even want cheeseballs. Avs, this is serious. Not even the cheeseballs can appeal to me.”
“Maybe you’re actually healthier when you’re sick,” she said with a grin that faded the moment she caught a glimpse of his grey skin.
“Hahaha,” he forced out as he collapsed on the edge of the bed, swaying a little.
“Don’t lay down,” she instructed as she shook two pills from a bottle and offered them to him along with a bottle of water.
His skin–hot to the touch–brushed hers, sending another shiver down her spine. “Down the hatch, then eat some crackers.”
“Did you get any spray cheese?” he questioned after downing the pills and swinging his legs back onto the bed.
“Seriously?” she asked. “I thought you had no appetite?”
He punched at the pillows to fluff them before he pulled the covers higher. “I don’t. But those crackers are so dry and nasty.” He stuck his tongue out with a grimace.
“Well, good thing I know you pretty well,” she answered as she pulled a can of spray cheese from the bag.
“Sparky, you are truly the best wife a man could ask for.”
She delivered the can and crackers to him, allowing him to serve himself. He ate four crackers before he led his head fall back against the pillows.
“No good?” she asked.
He offered her a thumbs down. “Can I go back to sleep?”
“Yes,” she said with a nod, her insides knotting a little. Rest was key to recovery, but she hated how much of it heneeded right now. She wanted him to show signs of relief not a downward spiral.
He slouched down in the bed, closing his eyes and falling asleep almost immediately. She climbed onto the bed beside him, resting her head lightly against his chest, feeling the warmth of his feverish skin through his shirt. Each breath he took seemed to echo in her ears, a rhythm she counted obsessively, afraid that if she stopped, his breathing would too. She wrapped her fingers around his hand, squeezing gently. “I’m here, Ace,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Her phone jangled, and she nearly dropped it as she swiped to answer. “Doc, tell me something good.”
