“What?” I yanked my head away.
“I wasn’t exactly stalking or anything, I was just—you didn’t text me back, and now I know you were in Nevada. But—” He paused, his body vibrating slightly.
“Jacques?” I patted a hand on his chest. “Jacques?”
He seized and spasmed, foam coming out of his mouth.
A summer internship at a care home and first aid training taught me what I had to do. Springing into action, I cushioned his head, laid him on his side, and the next step was to call 911. I froze. I didn’t know if that’s something he’d want me to do. I tried asking him, and it was stupid, I shouldn’t have even tried. I did some breathing exercises, holding his body on his side—he was a lot of mass to keep propped up.
It ended moments later. He came through it all groggy and stiff. “What—” he started, sucking on his teeth. “What the fuck happened?”
I lay beside him, staring at him, cupping his face with one hand and holding him on his side with the other—not like I was doing much with that one hand. He could’ve turned over awayfrom me and my weak hands would’ve given way. “You had a seizure,” I told him.
He laughed. “No, I’ve never had a seizure before.” Attempting to lift his head, he dropped it back against the double pillows. “Fucking hell.”
“Language,” I mumbled, hoping to lighten the mood.
He smiled. “I don’t know,” he said. “I know we were talking about how I’m here for you, but I don’t really know what happened after that.” He shook his head then complained about it aching.
“You told me you’d climbed my tree,” I said softly, smiling into his face. “I—I was so worried about you.”
“Did you call anyone?”
“No, no, no, I—I didn’t want to get into all of that,” I said. “Your life is probably way more valuable than some random A&E would care.”
He smirked. “It’s not,” he said. “Unless you think it’s valuable.” He winked at me then groaned, as if working his eye muscles hurt.
Stroking his face and scratching my palm against his scruffy facial hair, I stared into his aqua-green eyes. The whites were pink and glossy. “I do think it’s valuable, but according to you and that fancy place you said healed you up all nice, I didn’t think a 911 call would’ve been right.”
“You did the right thing,” he said. “I just—I’ve—”
“It’s okay, baby,” I said, seeing him struggle a little, chewing on his tongue for the right word. “Let me get you some water, and I can make you something to eat or I can order in. I burn water quite regularly. My mom gave me her rice cooker and I burned the metal pan inside.”
I’d never directly dealt with someone who’d had a seizure, but it wasn’t something I didn’t know how to take care of. And of all the people for me to take care of, it was this giant of a manwho’d stretched me out in so many positions I’d thought I was back on the gym team at high school, stretching my legs out on the floor.
“You can stay the night now,” I joked.
“I think I should,” he said. “Doesn’t this prove just how much I care? I came right to you after waking up. I probably should’ve eaten and hydrated.” He shook his head, and for a moment I thought he was going to seize again. I placed a hand on his cheek. “I’m actually pissed. I told the docs I didn’t want drugs, and I definitely didn’t want to be sedated.”
As I lay there, staring into his eyes, I had so many questions for him, and the last thing I wanted to do was take advantage of him in this state. “I’m glad you got better, and I hope you’re still getting better.” I continued with my fingers, tiptoeing across his face and down to his hairy chin. It was so prickly. “There’s this great place that does wonton soup. I could devour one of those.”
“Sounds good,” he said, brushing a hand down the side of his sweatpants. He grabbed his phone from his pocket. “I need to—”
I took it from him. “Bright screens might induce another seizure,” I said.
“It’s probably nothing,” he said.
“What drugs were you given?” My mouth became dry at the question.
He shook his head. “It’s not your fault.”
“It was from Nexovex, wasn’t it?”
“It’s not your fault,” he repeated.
He’d seen the files when I’d invited him over. He knew what I’d been doing. I pushed away slightly, almost falling off the side of the bed. “I’m trying to put this all together,” I grumbled. “Give me one second, please.”
He groaned as he sat upright, his dizzy head like a ball rolling on his shoulders, and he stared right at me. “It’s not what you think,” he said. “I justknew there was something fucked up about the company you work for.”
