As I head to his house, I really start to worry. I’m debating whether I should call Nina to see if she knows where her brother is, but as I pull up to his house, I see his car in the driveway.
A bit of relief settles over me, but I know the worry is not going to go away completely until I see him myself.
Parking my car on the side of the street, I head to the front door and knock.
Blake’s mom answers, a surprised look at seeing me, but then a small smile forms on her lips.
“Hi Mrs. Clark. Is Blake home? He was at the football game but the girls said he left.” I ask, shoving my hands in my pockets and looking over her shoulder with hope of getting a glimpse of him.
“He’s up in his room.”
“Oh.” My eyes find hers again. “Is it okay if I come in and see him?”
She chews on her lower lip, looking like she’s thinking about it, but when she shakes her head, my heart sinks. “He’s not feeling very well, honey. But I’ll tell him you came by.”
“Ah, yeah, okay sure. I’m just glad he’s okay.” My smile is fake as anxiety fills my chest.
As I walk back to my car, I feel like a weight is pressing down on my chest. Getting in, I look at the house through my window to where his room is. The light is off. Why couldn’t I go see him? Maybe he’s sleeping?
She said he wasn’t feeling well. Now I can’t help but worry. What is he sick with? I just want to see that he’s okay.
On the drive home all I can think about is whether he’s really sick, or if he’s upset with what he saw.
The idea of him thinking I’d want to be with anyone but him makes me want to puke. The only man I want is Blake. He’s been all I can think about since the day he turned around to glare up at me with those deep blue eyes at the coffee shop.
My sleep is shit. I stay up until my eyes burn, worrying about Blake. I texted him a few times, not wanting to call because of the late hour. He eventually replied that he was feeling sick, headed home after the game ended and that he’d see me tomorrow.
He said he’d see me tomorrow. That's a good thing right? He’s not mad at me.
I wanted to call and tell him whatever he thought he saw wasn’t what it may have looked like. But then I’d be soundinglike a crazy boyfriend, when we’re not dating. Not that it matters to me, dating or not, I wouldn’t talk to another man in that kind of way. I meant it when I said I’d wait for him to be ready and that I’d go at his speed in everything.
Closing my eyes, sleep eventually finds me.
***
“This is stupid. I’m stupid,” I grumble, standing at Blake’s door with a coffee in one hand and a bag of chicken soup, a few muffins and a black stuffed cat. I got the man a fucking stuffed animal. I saw it at the register while I was paying for my gas on the way here. It reminded me of Raven, and I know how much Blake loves her.
God, I’m a big dope. He’s going to think I’m weird.
The door opens and my heart nearly leaps out of my chest. “Mrs. Clark. It’s me again.” I laugh awkwardly. “I waited until noon so I didn’t wake anyone up. I hope that’s okay. Is Blake home? How is he feeling? I brought him soup.” I hold up the bag like a babbling idiot.
She smiles, huffing out a soft laugh. “That’s so sweet of you. Yes, Blake is home. Come in and wait. I’ll go let him know you’re here.”
“Okay.” I nod, stepping into the house.
I’m a nervous wreck as she heads upstairs to Blake’s room.
She comes back down a minute later. “He’s awake and says you can go up.”
“Thanks.” I smile, nodding. Taking off my shoes, I head up to Blake’s room. “Knock knock.”
Blake is sitting on his bed, his sleep clothes still on. His glasses are off and his black hair is messed up from sleep. He looks so damn cute right now.
“Hey.” He smiles. “What are you doing here?”
I cautiously make my way over to his bed and sit on the edge. “I got worried when I didn’t see you with the girls last night. I came by to check on you, but your mom said you were sick. And then you texted the same thing, and I hated the idea of you being sick and had to check on you again.” I put the bag down on the bed and pull out the soup container. “Hope you haven't eaten lunch yet, because I brought you soup.”
His eyes widen and his lips part in surprise. He takes the soup container, eyeing it like it’s something fragile. “You brought me soup?”
