While guys waste no time hitting the showers, I return to Eve. She has her iPad packed away in her purse and hugs her sticker-covered water thermos. She looks tired and pitiful. It’s adorable.
“Ready to go?” I hold out a hand.
Her hum sounds scratchy and congested. She gets up on her own and follows me out. An icy gust of wind makes her hide behind me. I turn around and draw her into my arms to warm her up. She presses closer, accepting my help. I finally have her back in my arms, though not the way I’d like.
“Your dad’s going to let Mr. Boucher know. You don’t have to worry about calling out sick.”
“Thanks,” she mumbles against my chest.
“I’m taking you home so you can rest.”
As we get in, I text Benson. I was planning to spend some time with him and Jess at the brewery. I let him know something came up.
Eve is quiet on the ride to her place. She doesn’t comment on the detour I take when I start to head for my apartment first. It’s how I know she’s more out of it than she let on.
I think she was planning to power through the day, and now that she doesn’t have to, it's hit her all at once.
“You know it’s okay to slow down when you don’t feel good?” I give her a sidelong glance.
She hums, head resting against the seat. Her eyelids grow heavy. I don’t know if it registered.
My mouth quirks. I pet her head, enjoying the contented sigh she makes. It’s nice to provide her relief.
We pull in the driveway. She doesn’t move right away.
“Tired?”
She nods. “I was up until…” She scrunches her face. “Four? I don’t remember. I was going to stop, but I wanted to finish. Hyperfixation is a real bitch sometimes. I’m basically delirious at this point.”
I squeeze her knee. “Come on, Evie. Let’s get you into bed.”
She stares at me for a beat like she didn’t hear me right. Her tongue darts out to swipe her lower lip. I want to follow it with my thumb.
“You want to take me to bed?” she whispers.
I do, but for a much different reason. A heavy exhale leaves me.
We get up to her apartment above the garage. My hand hovers at her lower back to keep her from losing her balance on the steps as she trudges up them with sad little groans. Once we’re inside, I grab a fuzzy pink throw blanket from her couch and wrap it around her.
“Go get in bed. Do you have a space heater? It’s cold as shit in here.”
“Over there.” She points to a small one in the corner.
I carry it, pausing on the threshold to her bedroom when I’m hit with familiarity from the sexy photos she’s sent from here. Clearing my throat, I help tuck her in and sit on the edge of the mattress.
“Better?” I rub her arms through the covers.
She nods. “You didn’t have to bring me home. Thank you.”
“Can’t have you getting sick.” I feel her head again. “I’m going to get you some cold medicine. Do you need anything else?”
Her hand pokes out. “My hand is sore.”
“Your hand?” I massage the ache for her. “Can’t have that, either.”
She melts with a sigh, lashes fluttering. “From drawing for so long without a break. Mm, feels nice.”
My dick likes those tantalizing noises she makes as I work her palm. I swallow thickly, forcing my thoughts away from that path.
