He pauses and studies me, like he’s making sure I’m okay to be on my own. “Fine, but only because you have enough energy to yell,” he says, and I roll my eyes. “But I’m coming back after to check on you.”
“Fine,” I repeat back to him, “but we’re starting the PR boot camp the second you get here, so be ready.”
“Okay.” He spends a minute grabbing his watch, wallet, hat, and keys from the side table and slipping on his shoes, and then he comes over to the couch and leans down like he …
Like he wants to kiss me.
I go still as he jerks back.
“Uh, sorry, I was just, uh,” he stammers. Puts his hand quickly on my head. “Just checking for a fever. I’m gonna go.”
“Yeah. Good thinking,” I say, ducking my face practically into the soup bowl.
“But I’ll be back,” he says, walking backward to the door.
“Cool.”
“Be careful. I mean, don’t, uh, overdo it.”
“Got it,” I say. “See ya, buddy.”
“See ya, pal.” He groans but doesn’t correct himself.
The door opens.
Closes.
And I melt into a puddle on the couch.
He almost kissed me.
I’m a disgusting, sweaty mess of sickness, and Lucas Fischer wanted to kiss me goodbye, even after he spent the last eighteen hours taking care of me.
I smile to myself. My phone buzzes with a text, and I grab it automatically.
My face falls.
I have dozens of missed texts, but the most are from my family.
Mom
How’s our girl this morning?
Jake, have you heard from her?
Scottie’s Boyfriend
not yet
she said she’d text when she woke up
Mom
Oh no. She still hasn’t sent anything? Can you check on her?
Scottie’s Boyfriend
i flew back into Chicago last night
