I would have come first thing in the morning, but I’ve been caught up in meetings all day and couldn’t get away until it was well past five. Still, she owes me an explanation, and I’m going to get it.
I knock for the third time and am about to check around for a spare key when the door slowly opens. Before me stands a huddled figure draped in several blankets. Allie peeks out from under the one around her head, and I see dark circles puffing out beneath her eyes and redness circling her nose. She sniffles, her body trembling slightly. Despite all the blankets, she’s shaking as if she’s freezing.
“You’re actually sick,” I say stupidly.
“I was sick last time, asshole,” she croaks back. Guess her illness hasn’t altered her disdain for me.
“Are you okay? Can I?—”
“Look, I know I’m new to the newspaper world, but is it generally considered appropriate for an editor-in-chief to come to an employee’s house every time she calls in sick?”
“I think we’re well past what is appropriate,” I point out.
“Whatever,” she scoffs, but it turns into a deep cough. “You checked. I’m not lying. You can go now.” She starts to close the door, but I move my hand out to stop it. When I do, I accidentally brush my fingers against hers, and her eyes flick to mine.
“Jesus, Allie. Your hands are ice-cold.”
Not waiting for her response, I push my way into her house. It doesn’t take much. She’s clearly weak and doesn’t have her usual fight. As soon as I enter, I realize it’s the same temperature as outside. What the fuck? Why doesn’t she have the heat on? I instinctively walk over to the thermostat on the wall by the front door.
“Ashton, what are you doing? Stop.”
I ignore her, moving the ring back and forth to wake it up, but nothing happens. So I walk over and flick the light switch up and down. Nothing.
“It was a misunderstanding with the power company,” she says, a slight strain in her voice. “It’s fine. I’m sure they’ll fix it later.”
“A misunderstanding?”
I walk over to the window that looks out toward Emory and Luke’s cottage, moving the curtain to the side, and sure enough, I see the soft glow illuminating their windows.
Allie follows behind me, her slippered feet making a swishing sound on the hardwood floor.
“Why did they turn your power off, Allie?” I don’t mean for it to come out as harsh as it does, but thinking about her being in this frigid house all day while she’s sick is making meirrationally angry. When she doesn’t answer me, I keep pressing.
“Did you forget to pay your bill, Alexandra?” I told myself I wouldn’t call her that anymore. It makes her mad, and not in that sexy way where she huffs and her eyes turn molten. More in a dangerous way. Like the name itself is a weapon she has to defend herself against.
Just as predicted, her defenses go up as soon as the words come out of my mouth.
“It’s none of your fucking business,” she spits out as she stomps into the kitchen.
“Oh, but I think it is.” I’m right behind her, so when she suddenly turns around, she slams face-first into my chest. She backs up and angles her chin upward to meet my gaze.
“You’re my…employee and your well-being is important to…the company,” I continue.
Like an idiot.
The cerulean orbs beneath her glasses bore into me, and her right lip tips up into a ghost of a smirk. She sees right through me, but I don’t care anymore.
“I’m serious,” I continue, softening my tone. “You need to take better care of yourself.”
She rolls her eyes predictably. “Okay, Nate.”
Oh, that does it. Not that I care about being compared to Nate, but he’s clearly had this conversation with her, and she hasn’t listened. I turn away as I take my phone out of my pocket and look up the number for the power company.
She eyes my movements curiously before she realizes what I’m doing. “Ashton, stop. I told you I’ll handle it.”
Ignoring her again, I call the number and wait on hold for a representative. A voice comes through asking for my name and service address, and she must hear it because a wave of panic crosses her face.
“Hi, I’m?—”
