“Good,” Ottar says. “Then if it’s okay, I’ll ask my questions and maybe figure some things out.”
“Yes, but I also require him to take it easy, both of them.”
“We will,” I step in. “And you’re feeling good?”
Theo nods. “Much better, especially seeing you together. What are your thoughts for the future?”
I smile and press a kiss to Keller’s cheek. “When this is all over, we want to give Torskethorpe the wedding they were waiting on.”
“That’s everything I needed to hear,” Theo says before relaxing against the couch.
Katla takes the phone and presses her hand to her chest. “I’m so happy you’re together. The girls have been worried sick.” She points the phone toward Isabella and Marit, who wave frantically.
“We miss you,” they say together.
“Miss you too. Once this is over, we need to have another visit.”
“Count on it,” Marit says. “Glad to see you’re okay, Keller.”
“Thank you,” he says with a nod.
Katla brings the phone back to her. “We’ll let you go. Please keep us updated, and we’ll do the same.”
“Sounds good. Love you all.”
“Love you both,” Theo says before hanging up.
* * *
“How are you feeling?”I ask Keller as I take a seat next to him on the couch.
“Good,” he answers, but I know he’s lying. I can see it in his wince and slow movements. After we got off the phone with Katla and Theo, Ottar made us breakfast, and I watched Keller carefully. I noticed how he grew more and more quiet. I thought that maybe he was trying to process the conversation with Theo, maybe trying to recollect everything he wanted to tell Ottar, but when we went upstairs to take showers and he sat on his bed, taking deep breaths, I realized that maybe it wasn’t him being lost in his thoughts.
I sat between his legs and asked him what was going on. He told me his head was hurting again and that he just needed some Ibuprofen and more water. It didn’t settle well with me, but I helped him take a shower, got him dressed, and then walked him downstairs to the living room with his notebook in hand.
“You don’t look fine.” I stand from the couch and say, “Stretch out, lie down.”
“I’m good, Lilly,” he says quietly as he squeezes his eyes shut.
“Keller, I’m not going to fight you over this. Lie down.”
Grumbling under his breath, he stretches out along the couch, and I help prop him up against a throw pillow. When he’s settled, I move the coffee table closer and sit on it.
I drag my fingers over his stomach and say, “Is it just your head? Is anything else hurting?”
“Just the head,” he says as he takes a deep breath.
“As bad as when we were on the island?”
“Yeah,” he answers as he drapes his arm over his eyes.
“Everything okay?” Lara asks as she walks into the living room.
“No,” I answer. “Can you please grab four Ibuprofen and some sort of caffeinated drink for Keller?”
Her brows turn down, concern lacing her eyes. “Yes.”
“Please don’t make a big deal,” Keller says, his voice heavy.
