Getting to take care of my best friend, be with him, and love him as more than just a friend felt almost too good to be true. But I sure as fuck would not look a gift horse in the mouth.
“You look so happy, it’s making me nauseous,” Hunter grumbled as he dropped into his seat next to me in our sports medicine class. “Why do you look like you’re shitting rainbows?”
I snorted a laugh. “Jaxon and I sorted through everything last night,” I told him. “So you can tell Samuel he can stop being annoyed by our pining.”
Hunter grinned at me. “Welcome to the gay side. Should I get you a little rainbow pin?”
I shoved his shoulder and rolled my eyes. “Oh, fuck you,” I muttered. He snickered but quieted down as the professor walked into the room. I set my phone on my desk to keep an eye on it, just in case Jaxon had an issue with a migraine or double vision again. It’d cleared up by the time we got up for classes, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t make a sudden appearance once more. And if he needed me, I wanted to make sure I could get to him as soon as possible.
Class went by without a hitch, and soon, I was telling Hunter I’d see him at practice and heading to my next class a few buildings over that I shared with Jaxon. But when I walked into the classroom, he wasn’t there yet, his seat empty. I frowned because he always made it to class before I did. Quickly stepping back out, I searched the hall, not seeing him anywhere.
Then, my phone rang, his name on my screen. I quickly swiped to answer, my heart in my throat. Something was wrong. I could feel it in my gut.
“Baby?” I asked, moving out of the way of others so they could access the classroom.
“I have a migraine,” he said quietly. “And it’s making me sick as fuck. And the… the… goddammit,” he swore, sounding frustrated, tired, and in pain as he tried to think of the word he needed. “The goddamn head doctor.”
“Neurologist,” I said gently, scanning the hall for him, even if I knew in my gut I wouldn’t spot him. “Tell me where you are, baby. We can deal with everything else in a minute.”
“Bathroom nearest the classroom,” he told me. And then, he began throwing up, the sound loud over the phone as it echoed through the bathroom. I broke into a run, shoving through the crowd of students flooding the hallway until I reached the bathroom. I shoved open the door, then found him on his knees in front of the toilet in the first stall. Another student was standing near him, holding a wet paper towel to the back of Jaxon’s neck. And Jaxon was in tears, his glasses on the floor next to him.
“Move,” I snapped at the guy, not realizing until too late that I’d snapped at him when he was merely trying to help Jaxon. He quickly got out of my way. I dropped my bag to the floor, then crouched beside Jaxon, running my hand over his hair. “I’m here, baby. It’s okay.”
“Hurts,” he croaked, reaching up to clench his head.
My heart aching for him, I brought him to my chest, then wrapped my arm around his head. With my other hand, I searched in his backpack for his meds and his bottle of water.
“Hey, you,” I said, looking up at the guy who was hovering awkwardly near us. “Grab this and open it.” I thrust it in his direction, and he quickly grabbed it while I twisted off the lid to Jaxon’s migraine meds.
“Jax, I need you to open up.” He groaned and shook his head. I pressed a kiss to the top of his head. “I know you don’t want anything, but you need to at least try to take this pill, okay? If you throw it up again, I’ll get you to the hospital.”
“No,” he moaned, then pushed me away to throw up again. I clenched my jaw, fucking hating this. How the fuck was I supposed to help him? I was helpless. No amount of comforting would make Jaxon feel better, would make this go away, and comforting him was all I had in my fucking arsenal.
The stranger passed me back the water without a word.
“Thanks,” I said quietly. “For trying to help him.”
He nodded. “Migraines are absolute shit,” he said. “I hope he gets some relief soon. The emergency room might be a good place for him right now. They’ll inject something through his IV, and he’ll sleep it off.” With that, he turned and headed for the sinks to wash his hands. And I grabbed my phone, calling Samuel.
“Aren’t you in class?” he griped when he answered. I could hear an air compressor in the background before the noise abruptly stopped. More than likely, he’d gone into his office.
Jaxon retched, and Samuel cursed.
“He needs a hospital,” I told him, “and we both walked to campus.” It’d been a fucking good day for Jaxon, and he’d been so sure he could make it through the day. He’d wanted the exercise and fresh air. “Can you come get us?”
“Yeah,” Samuel said. “Give me about ten minutes. I’ll let you know when I’m close. What building are you guys in?”
“Reids,” I told him. “There’s a parking lot right out front of it with ten-minute parking.”
“On my way,” he assured me before he hung up. Jaxon sagged against me, his skin sweaty and pale. I held him close, tucking him against my body.
“Neurologist called,” he croaked. “Appointment tomorrow. Email.” He shut his eyes, drained and just downright exhausted. And he was still so sick. He turned his head against my chest to block out the bathroom light.
“I’ll check your email once we’re at the hospital and you’re getting help,” I told him. “Just rest. Samuel is on the way.”
He nodded. “Sorry I’m a burden.”
I shook my head, tightening my arms around him. “You’re never a fucking burden, baby,” I said quietly. “Never. Get that shit out of your fucking head.” My lips pressed to his hair. “You’re mine. That’s the only thing I ever want you calling yourself if you can’t manage a compliment, understand?”
