And then the memories of last night hit me.
I jerk back, my eyes widening in horror.
I was with Nico last night. I gotsickwith Nico last night.Onhim.
“Oh my gosh.” I try to put as much distance between us as possible, but since I sleep in a ball on the edge of the bed, there’s nowhere for me to go. All I can do is hold the blanket up to cover my body.
My body that’s clothed in Nico’s sweats.
God, they smell good.
He lets out a giant yawn and wipes the sleep from his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
I gape at him. And not because he’s not wearing a shirt right now. “What’swrong?What’s wrong is, I got sick last night.”
Still rubbing one eye, he frowns. “I’m aware. Which is why I’m asking how you feel.”
“I—” I feel like crap. But there’s no chance I’m telling him that. It’s bad enough I ruined our date. “I’m fine. Why are you in bed with me?”
He freezes at that, his frown deepening. “I didn’t want to leave you unsupervised,” he says carefully. He’s watching me, cataloguing my reactions the way he always does. “But I can leave if you need space.Afteryou tell me the truth about how you’re feeling.”
Just like that, all energy leaves my body. I drop into a seated heap on the bed.
“I’m okay,” I say in a small voice. Truthfully, this time. “Just tired. And thirsty. And I feel gross.”
I run my tongue over my teeth and feel the gritty remnants of a night spent puking.
Mother would be so disappointed in me.
Somehow, I can’t summon the will to care.
About her, not Nico. I hate that Nico saw—is seeing—me like this.
“I need a shower,” I admit. “Do you have a towel I can use?”
He nods and gets out of the bed. If I wasn’t so dehydrated, I’d drool over the sight of him shirtless and barefoot, wearing light grey sweatpants.
“I have a bathtub if you’d prefer that,” he says as he goes into his closet. “I think you mentioned liking baths.”
I let out a groan I can’t hold back. “I wouldkillfor a bath.”
His chuckle floats behind him as he walks into what I assume is the ensuite bathroom. “Coming right up.”
Flopping back onto his pillows, I let out a big exhale. This is so not how I wanted last night to go. But I’m too tired to give in to the brewing freakout, so I try to just breathe and revel in the fact that I feel somewhat human again. Thank God, it was only?—
Wait, how long have I been here?
I have no idea where I left my purse and phone, but Nico’s is on the nightstand. When I tap it and the screen lights up, the time shines back at me.
2:53 p.m.
I jolt to a sitting position.Shoot. It’s been twenty hours.
I don’t have anything on my schedule today, but I have no idea what Nico’s looks like. His date was technically only scheduled until eight a.m.
“Don’t you have to go to the gym or something?” I call out. “Did I take over your entire day?”
Nico appears in the doorway, towel slung over his shoulder and a toothbrush in his mouth. When he leans against the doorframe and continues to brush his teeth, I nearly combust at the sight.
