Except for criticizing him for name-dropping, nothing in Caitie’s behavior since being paired as team leaders for the project even hinted at any ulterior motives. Oh, she was hiding something, but everyone did. Noah’s gut told him he could trust her. But he’d thought he could trust Keven too.
The noise came again. He glanced at the alarm clock on the nightstand. Two in the morning. Was someone up? Carefully, he eased from his bed, trying not to wake Finn across the room. Noah went to the door and slowly turned the handle. He stepped outside and listened. There it was again.
Noah tiptoed down the hallway to the top of the stairs. Theglow from the city shone through the giant wall of glass, giving the room its only light. At first, he didn’t see the form on one of the couches. Until the sound of a groan was followed by retching and then another groan. Noah dashed down, slowing only when he recognized Caitie’s pink hair.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, kneeling beside the couch.
“Oh, go away.” Caitlyn started to roll away from him, but she groaned and clutched a small rubbish bin closer to her chest.
Noah watched helplessly as she heaved into it, but she must not have anything left in her stomach. When the convulsions finally stopped, she set it down with a sob.
“Can I—” he started.
“Go away.” The words came out mumbled, like she was having a hard time making her lips move.
But Noah couldn’t leave her to face this misery alone. “Do you hurt anywhere besides your stomach?” He pulled a throw over her shoulders.
“Everywhere.”
Could it be food poisoning? Noah didn’t feel the least bit queasy. He searched his memory of the evening meal. Caitie hadn’t done more than pick at her food. Now that he thought about it, she’d looked even paler than usual, her pink hair unable to add any color to her complexion.
“Were you feeling sick before dinner?”
“Yes. Ugh.” She reached for the bin again.
He wrinkled his nose at the smell as he handed it to her. When the fit ended, he took the bin from her and carried it to the bathroom, where he washed it out. Poor wee thing.
“Could it be the stomach flu?” he asked when he returned.
“I think it’s an allergic reaction, probably to the jalapeños since that was the only new food I ate.”
A jolt of alarm raced through him. He’d had a childhood friend from school who’d nearly died from anaphylactic shock.
“I’ll be right back.” Noah dashed to the kitchen and the medicine cupboard he’d noticed there. Fortunately, it held a bottle of antihistamines. He hoped she would keep one of them down.
“Here now, let’s see if this helps what’s ailing you,” Noah said when he’d returned to the living room. He sat beside her on the sofa and lifted her head to shift the pillow to his lap. When she sat up, he handed her the little pink tablet. “I’ve got a pill for you to swallow. ‘Tis an antihistamine and ought to help an allergic reaction.”
Wearily, Caitlyn took it and put it in her mouth. She accepted the glass of water he offered and took the smallest of sips. She didn’t choke, so he patted the pillow on his lap.
“Settle down, my dear,” he said. “You’ve got your bin and blanket. Now tell me what your symptoms are.”
Caitie lay down as instructed. “Are you my doctor now?” she asked, her voice soft and weak but carrying a touch of humor.
“Aye. Did I never tell you my da and his da before him are both doctors?”
She looked up at Noah and the depth of her blue eyes reminded him of their early acquaintance. He’d seen depth of character then. It was still there, even stronger.
“Were they disappointed you didn’t study medicine too?” Caitie asked.
Noah shifted his gaze. “They never said it, but I’m sure thinking they must have been. Many in the village have told me ‘twas a shame I didn’t want to follow in their footsteps.”
“Butyouwanted to be a game developer.”
“Aye.” He gave a soft chuckle, thinking to distract her from her discomfort. “I never thought I could until I met Kayn. Well, Finn met him first, working at Tasheton Castle where Kayn was staying. Finn was getting off work one day. Since Kayn had some free time, Finn invited him to the gaming night at my house.”
“Did Sona come with him?”
“No. ‘Twas just Kayn that night. We didn’t meet Sona and Granny until later. My granddad has often said ‘tis a small world. With how we all met proves it to me.” Noah glanced at Caitie.
