I thought I caused a crack in his armor.
Apparently, I am wrong.
It’s been two weeks since then. Each time I’ve reached out to him, he’s been curt and made an excuse he’s busy. Any conversation we’ve had has been business related.
What went awry after he left my place? We were teasing each other via text the same night. The next morning, his behavior did a complete one-eighty.
Did he find me too clingy? Did I make a mistake by confessing I desire more from our arrangement? Why is he so hell-bent on keeping me at arm’s length when his eyes all but beg me to stay?
God! I wish I had the power to read his mind.
Too bad, he’s lucky in that department. I should be a psychic, not him.
Tired and exhausted from a hard day of work and the long commute in the cab since my car is still at the repair shop, I twist the keys into the lock and unlock my apartment. When I enter the semi-dark hall, I frown at finding it empty.
There’s no sign of Pihu, who dutifully waits to greet me every evening.
“Pihu?” I call out.
Silence echoes back at me.
My stomach dips.
“Pihu?” I yell, speed walking into the living room. Hoping to see her curled up on the couch. “Cutie-pie, where are you? Mommy’s home.”
Where is she? She was fine in the morning.
Abandoning my purse on the kitchen counter after checking in there, I sprint to the bedroom. Shoving open the door, I frantically search for her.
“Pihu!” She’s lying near the foot of the bed on the rug, her forest green eyes shut. She’s not breathing. “Pihu!”
I fall to my knees and nudge her face. Panic and dread fill my bloodstream when she doesn’t stir. Turning her onto her back, I press two fingers against her neck to check her pulse. “Wake up, baby.”
She’s breathing, but barely. She’s also burning up. Fever? But how?
What should I do?My mind blanks.
Oh gosh! Am I going to lose her?
No. No. No.
I need to take her to the vet. I heft her into my arms to drive us to the clinic when it hits me that I don’t have a car.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Tears burn my eyes as I try to hold them at bay and think of a solution. The cab will take forever to come. But what other choice do I have?
Running to the living room with Pihu in my arms, I hastily unzip my purse and yank out my phone. Without a single thought, I dial Nathan’s number with trembling fingers, praying that he picks up.
“Arya,” his deep voice says.
I ignore the sting when he calls me by my full name. “N-Nathan.”
“What’s wrong?” he demands, concern lacing his tone.
“It’s Pihu.” I hiccup and force out my words. “She’s not waking up… Her pulse is weak. I think she has a fever. I don’t know what to do… I’m scared and I don’t have my car to drive us…”
“I’m coming.” I hear some background noise, but I can’t make it out over the roaring in my ears. “Come to the lobby. I’ll be there soon. She’s going to be okay.”
