“Does anyone know you’re here?” Reid asked, letting me go. I felt the loss of warmth immediately and not just around my body. I shivered and wrapped my arms around my waist.
I shook my head, a wave of dizziness rushing over me. “No, I left my roommate a note telling her to go stay at her parents’ house and that I would call to explain everything when I could. I even left my phone. My aunt lives in Belize with her fiancé now so I came straight here.”
“Good girl. Here, use my phone to give your roommate a call. Let her know you’re safe and make sure she’s staying somewhere other than your place. Do not tell her where you are or what’s going on. The less she knows, the better for now. If you get the address where she’ll be staying, I’ll call the local police and ask them to keep an eye on her.”
“All right,” I muttered, sweat dotting my forehead.
His face appeared in front of me, concern furrowing his brow. “Hey, are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah, I just…haven’t had much to eat today and I need my medicine. Can you get me my bag from the kitchen table please?”
He walked into the kitchen to grab my bag and brought back a bottle of water, too. “Thank you.”
I retrieved my kit, pulling out a packaged needle, an alcohol wipe, and my insulin bottle; I shoved the rest aside.
Reid’s face twisted with pain.
“It’s only Type 1 but the oral medication hasn’t been very helpful so I have to take insulin, too.”
He studied me carefully, eyes darkening with guilt. My mother was Type 2, the worst kind. That’s how she died. It was the most painful experience of my life. Next to losing my brother.
And Reid had been with me through both.
He didn’t say a word as he reached out and gently grabbed the alcohol wipe and opened it. “Let me.”
I lifted my shirt, pointing to the side of my stomach. “Here.”
Reid swabbed the spot then unwrapped the needle as I told him how much to administer. “I’m so sorry, Gidge.”
My heart swelled at the endearment. He’d given me the nickname Gidget when I was younger because of how short I was, and because I always wanted to hang out with him and my brother.
“Sorry for what?” I asked, lowering my shirt once he was finished.
“Not being there for you. You deserved better from me and I’m sorry. I failed you.”
“You couldn’t have prevented this, Reid. No one could.”
He handed me the syringe and stood up. “I’ll go make you something to eat. Call your friend. Shower’s down the hall if you need it.”
Tears sprung to my eyes at the cold tone of his voice, but I didn’t let them fall. I watched as he walked through the entry of the kitchen, my prancing heart desperate to follow.
Instead, I swiped the phone to unlock it and dialed one of the only numbers I knew by heart.
“Hello?”
“Max.”
“Cass! Is that you?”
Relief flooded the line and my heart.
It was so good to hear her voice.
“It’s me,” I said.
“Thank God you’re all right. I’ve been worried sick about you.”
Guilt weighed heavy in my chest. I should have told her what was going on, but I knew I had to get here as fast as I could and without anyone else knowing my whereabouts. It might have put her in more danger than she was already in.
