“I know what a ChromeCast is,” she told him in amusement. “You forget I’m a computer geek in my real life. And that sounds great. I’d love to relax and binge-watch TV, but I couldn’t find anything in English worth watching.”
Flynn got his ChromeCast and plugged it into the TV, but she insisted that he pick the first movie, because she could already feel herself starting to drift. Sure enough, she barely made it through the opening credits of the historical drama he’d chosen before she fell asleep. When she woke, he made her hot tea and put on one of her favorite romantic comedies.
“Don’t you need to be working?” she asked sleepily.
“I worked on the plane, but I’ll set up my laptop tomorrow so I can work while I’m here.”
“Okay. Don’t let me distract you.” She reached over to squeeze his fingers.
“I won’t.”
They spent most of the rest of the day snuggled on the couch together, watching movies as she drifted in and out of sleep. Flynn seemed to spend more time playing on his phone than actually watching the TV, but he never complained. He brought her everything she needed, including all her medication, so she didn’t have to leave the couch except to use the bathroom. And even though she could have managed on her own, it was nice,reallynice, having him here.
“What would you like for dinner?” he asked as she lay against his chest, half-asleep as the credits rolled at the end ofSkyscraper.
“I’m not that hungry. I could probably just eat more of the soup I had for lunch. Did you send that?”
“I did,” he confirmed.
“Thank you. It was delicious,” she whispered, fighting the urge to cough. Her chest ached something fierce, and the shivery sensation on her skin meant her fever had returned.
“I’m glad. Anything you want for supper, just name it, and I’ll go get it for you.”
“Well, I do have a craving for ice cream.” She turned her head to look up at him with a smile.
“I read that you shouldn’t have dairy products,” he told her solemnly. “It can make your body produce more mucous.”
“I know that.” Had he researched pneumonia to help take care of her?Gah. She was so screwed where he was concerned. She sat up and grabbed a tissue off the table to cough into. “Sounds so good right now, though.”
“What about sorbet?” he asked. “Or a fruit smoothie?”
“Mm.” She leaned back on the couch, closing her eyes. “A smoothie sounds fantastic, actually.”
“Say no more.” He leaned over, pressing his lips against her neck with a quick, gentle kiss that filled her with a combination of heat and chills. Desire and fevers really didn’t mix.
“Thanks, Flynn,” she whispered, snuggling into the blanket on the couch as he left the flat. She had no idea how long he was gone, because she was asleep almost before he was out the door. The next thing she knew, he was back with a paper bag and a plastic smoothie cup. “Oh my God, you’re the best.”
She took the smoothie from him and sipped gratefully. It felt like heaven going down her raw, parched throat. He set several containers of food on the glass table in front of the couch and went into the kitchen for plates and utensils.
“I got a few different things,” he said as he rummaged through cabinets. “I figured leftovers are going to be our friend this week.”
“Definitely,” she agreed, still sipping from her smoothie.
They chatted comfortably as they ate, then watched a documentary on Netflix before she was ready to call it a night.
“Would you like me to go to a hotel nearby?” he asked. “Or I can sleep out here on the couch, if you prefer.”
“I’m happy to share the bedroom with you.” She leaned over, pressing her lips against his cheek. “And I’m not contagious, by the way. But I might keep you up all night coughing. The couch pulls out if you’d rather sleep here.”
His arms went around her, lifting her from the couch to carry her into the bedroom. “I would rather sleep with you.”
Flynn woketo the sound of Ruby coughing in bed beside him, reaching over instinctively to rub her back before he stood to refill her glass of water.
“Thank you,” she whispered, squinting at him adorably without her glasses. She took the glass and drank, wincing as she pressed a hand to her chest.
“Anything else you need?”
She shook her head, taking shallow breaths until the spasms had passed. Weak daylight filtered in through the windows, telling him that morning had arrived. He leaned back, drawing her against his chest, and she snuggled in without protest, wrapping an arm around him. Her skin was feverishly warm against his, her breaths still shallow and ragged.
