“No, you’re not,” I insist. “When did you start feeling unwell?”
He sighs and shrugs again. “I don’t know…I guess I felt off when I woke up this morning.”
My stomach drops and guilt swirls in with my anxiety. I missed it. How could I not notice that he wasn’t good this morning? Fuck, what is wrong with me? I could’ve kept him home and kept him from getting this bad.
“Come on.” I grab his hand. “What are you doing, running around with wet hair when you have a fever? We’re going to dry you off and then you’re going to bed. I’m also calling a doctor.”
No girls’ night out for me. I’ll let the others know once I get him settled.
He starts to roll his eyes again, but then shivers take over his body. I start tugging him through the penthouse toward his bedroom. Despite his protest, he follows me without resistance. We make it to his bedroom and I sit him on his bed before going into the bathroom to grab a towel. When I return, his head is nodding back and forth and he’s blinking heavily.
Standing between his legs, I use the towel to get as much of the excess moisture out of his hair as possible.
“Geez,” I murmur. “You’d think you were a little kid making a dumb decision like leaving home when you’re sick.”
“Sorry,” he mutters.
Shit, I shouldn’t be scolding him right now. “Don’t be sorry. Just take care of yourself, okay?”
He nods, then surprises me by wrapping his arms around my waist and dropping his head to rest against my chest. I freeze, uncertain what he’s doing.
“You smell good,” he mumbles. “Your skin is cool. Feels so nice.”
I hesitate a moment before slipping my arms around his head and hugging him while running my fingers through his hair.
After a few moments of just holding each other, I whisper, “Come on you, into bed.”
He nods and leans back. I pull the sheets back on the bed and help him into it.
Once he’s tucked in, I gaze down at him, my chest tight. This man has become my strength and seeing him like this is… gut-wrenching. I see a flash of hospital corridors and Colson’s pale face lying in a bed with monitors all around him and my chest tightens. Anxiety claws at me and makes my stomach twist. The panic tries to rise and take over, a voice in the back of my head telling me that I’m going to lose him… just like I lost Colson…
No! I can’t think like that. Can’t jump to the worst possible scenario and let the panic win. Not when Jayce needs me.
That thought grounds me. Helps push my spiraling thoughts aside so I can focus on reality. On taking care of Jayce because he needs me right now.
Hurrying into his bathroom, I dig through the cabinets until I find a thermometer, and when I use it to take his temperature. It’s 102.2. It’s time to get some help.
I dig my phone out of my pocket.
“What’s the number for your doctor?” I ask.
“Uh…it’s on the desk,” he grumbles. “There’s an address book…”
I can’t help but grin. “An address book? Didn’t realize you were such an old man.”
He groans, but there’s a smile on his face. “I … like writing things by hand.”
I walk to his desk and pick up the address book, flip through it, and find the number for his doctor.
It rings a few times before a female voice answers, “This is Doctor Ramses’ office. How can I help you?”
“Hi, uh, I’ve got Jayce Vaughn here,” I begin, but she quickly cuts me off when she hears his name.
“I’ll transfer you to the doctor. One moment.”
Blinking, I glance at Jayce, but he’s already starting to nod off.
The line clicks. “This is Doctor Ramses. You’re calling about Jayce Vaughn?”
