“I’m a big boy,” Arch said with a grumpy frown. Wes rolled his eyes.
“I’ll meet you at your apartments after I get your medicine,” Wes said. He turned toward the parking lot to get his truck and go to the pharmacy.
I drifted off again on the ride home. I didn’t expect I’d be comfortable sitting in the same type car we’d wrecked, but Gray and Arch gave me a sense of safety. Plus, I knew Gray was especially on edge and took extra precautions. We pulled into my parking garage, and Gray rushed over to help me. He offered his hand as I stepped out of the SUV and immediately began to teeter.
I wasn’t dizzy; I teetered because I still wore the damn heels. I refrained from cursing Todd; he couldn’t have foreseen such a need-to-wear-flats situation. Gray responded immediately. He scooped me into his arms so swiftly the garage spun. I rested my head against his shoulder and enjoyed the ride, once again grateful we had access to the parking garage. The press outside the front door would have a field day with pictures of Gray carrying me in the building.
Once home, I changed into comfy pants and an oversized tee, relieved to take the fancy dress off. Gray insisted I settle into bed. He propped me up with pillows, left my phone and the TV remote beside me, and left to check on Arch. My eyes closed and I fell asleep before he left my apartment.
Chapter Six
My neck cramped, and my body overheated under the thick comforter. I didn’t understand why it covered me, as I usually removed it from the bed and only used a light quilt. The flat screen mounted on the wall gave the only light in the room. Satan purred, curled up at my chest.
My throat cried for water, and my bladder cried to be emptied. All in all, I was groggy, confused, and in pain. I scooted my way over to the edge of the bed and slipped my feet out of the blankets. It took me a minute to stand and trudge over to my bathroom. Finally, the dizziness passed. As long as I moved slowly, I stayed steady.
Part of the reason for my sweating was the flannel pajama pants I wore. I slept in a tee and undies. I pushed the miserably hot pants to my ankles and stepped out of them.
Next problem—my dry mouth. Shuffling my feet on the thick carpet, I made my way across my living room to the kitchen to get a glass of ice cold milk. I set the glass on the counter a little forcefully. My arms didn’t work quite like they should. I tried to handle the full gallon of milk but ended up slamming it on the counter as well, too disoriented to manage its weight.
A hand on my waist made me jump, and the scream that left my lips would’ve given Todd a run for his money. I twirled around to find Wes standing behind me with a shocked expression on his face. Pain and dizziness overwhelmed me, and I grabbed the counter to steady myself. “I didn’t know you were still here!”
Wes’s hand on my waist tightened. He put his other hand on my shoulder to give me a little support. “I told you I was sleeping on your couch. I wasn’t kidding.” He pulled a small bottle of pills out of his pocket. “Here, take one with your milk. Are you hungry? I could make you a grilled cheese or something.”
My stomach protested the idea of food. “No, I don’t think I could eat now. I’ll drink the milk, it should be enough.” I downed the pill with the milk Wes poured for me. Icy heaven slid down my throat, cooling me off.
When I set the empty glass in the sink, I leaned against the counter and felt the cool wood of the lower cabinets on my thighs.I don’t have pants on.My t-shirt barely covered my private areas. A blush stained my cheeks. “Thanks, I’m going to bed!” I spat out, my voice high-pitched and tinny.
“I’ll walk you.” Wes took my elbow. All I could focus on was my bare legs.It’s no different than what he’d see at the pool!Somehow, pale pink panties and my bathing suit bottoms were two totally different beasts.
In my room, I started to drag my comforter off my bed until I realized my bottom would be exposed. “Wes? Would you mind pulling the thick comforter off my bed? It makes me too warm at night.”
As soon as he finished straightening the bed, I crowded him until he was out the door, shutting it behind him. My eyelids suddenly wanted to close, thanks to the powerful little pill. I looked forward to the pending oblivion. “Thank you for the help. I’ll yell if I need anything,” I called through the door. Before I crawled under the covers, I stumbled to my chest of drawers and found a pair of boxers to wear under my t-shirt. At least I’d be decent if I got up again.
The next thing I knew, light blazed through my windows, and Wes bent over me, staring at me like a puzzle to solve. My eyes widened as I fought to stifle yet another scream. Hehadto stop scaring me. “What’re you doing?” I croaked, a little surprised he let himself into in my bedroom uninvited. I didn’t know why it surprised me, though, since he already spent the night in my apartment.
The side of the bed sank with Wes’s weight as he sat beside me. “The nurse told me to check on your breathing. I’ve been in here every two hours all night.” I stared at him in shock, mouth open. I’d no clue. A high school band could’ve played a set in my bedroom, and I would’ve slept through it. “Plus, you talked in your sleep again, and I stayed a minute to try to figure out what you were saying,” he said unashamedly.
“Did you figure anything out?” I hoped he hadn’t.
“You said something about Mitch. Who’s that?” He stroked my hair and checked me over carefully. I’d no intention of telling him anything about my stepbrother then.
“Someone I knew growing up. What time is it?” I sat up and rubbed my sore head.
“Ten. Arch and Gray have already been over a few times, and your friend from downstairs started trying to reach you at seven. He’s pretty mad at you for not calling him. You’d better be prepared.” My stomach sank. It never occurred to me to call Todd. I bet he was furious. I’d be furious if he got in a wreck and didn’t call me. I grabbed my phone to find seventeen missed calls and about forty texts, all from Todd.
“My phone doesn’t seem to be on vibrate, but I didn’t hear it ring. I wonder if it got damaged in the wreck.” I contemplated the boredom of going to the cell phone store for a repair and decided to buy a new phone. I’d get Todd one as a present to help apologize for my blunder.
“Call him.” He tapped my phone. “I promised him you would as soon as you woke up.”
“I’ll call him in two minutes.” I pushed Wes off the bed and got up to use the bathroom. As soon as I finished, I peeked out of my room to find Wes moving around my kitchen. I collapsed onto the bed, grabbed my phone, and hit my speed dial.
“What’sgoing on? Are you okay? I’ve been worriedsick.”Todd’s voice came shrilly out of the phone. I pulled it away from my ear before he made my headache worse.
“Todd, I’m so sorry. I’m the worst friend ever.” I dropped my head into my free hand, ashamed of myself.
“I thought you’d been ax murdered!” He sounded close to tears.
I winced and rubbed my head. His voice rang too loud for my headache. “I was confused and disoriented, and the guys took care of everything. I didn’t think to call.”
