Chloe must’ve fallen asleep because the next thing she heard was the rattle of bags outside her room.
“It’s just me,” Sean called.
“Don’t come in here. Someone needs to run our restaurant.”
“Oh, I’m not coming anywhere near you, pal. But I brought some food and Mom sent that tea she swears by. She said to tell you she was knee-deep in cake batter but she’d swing by later this afternoon.”
“’Kay, thanks. Bring me the Tylenol. You can just drop it by the door—and some cold water too.” Man, her throat was a raging fire.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
She didn’t have the energy to respond. Had Liam’s head throbbed like this? Had his body felt like one giant ache? No wonder he’d slept his life away. She was inclined to do the same.
“Wow, you look awful.” From a safe distance Sean tossed the Tylenol and water bottle onto the bed.
“How’d you get in?”
“Please. Everyone knows where you keep your spare key.”
She probably ought to move that now that she had paparazzi in her life.
A knock sounded on the front door, then a voice called, “Chloe? I’m here.”
Sean’s eyes shot to Chloe’s. “You didn’t tell me Meghan was coming.”
“Meghan’s coming,” she deadpanned. But why would that matter to Sean? She thought back to that inkling she’d had when Meghantold her about collecting sand on the beach with Sean for her window display.
Her brother had already left, presumably to greet Meghan and, from the sounds coming from the kitchen, help her unload some things. They were conversing too quietly for Chloe to make out the words.
She frowned. He’d better not be leading her friend on. Meghan had been through enough recently. Last thing she needed was another broken heart.
Chloe grabbed the Tylenol, took two, then lay back against her pillows and closed her eyes against the thumping in her temples.
She might have dozed because when she opened her eyes it was nine thirty and Meghan was at her bedside wearing a face mask.
“I didn’t want to wake you, but I figured the sooner we get this medication in you, the better. How are you feeling?”
“A little better. Thanks. You’re a lifesaver.” Chloe took the pill with the orange juice Meghan had brought. “Where’s Sean?”
Her friend was suddenly busy with all the vitamin supplements she’d brought. “Um, he had to leave a while ago. Said to tell you he’d check on you later.”
Chloe’s gaze sharpened on Meghan’s face—or what she could see of it. Did her friend have feelings for Sean? Should Chloe warn her off? But Meghan already knew all the gory details of Sean’s so-called love life. She would know what she was getting into.
“How would you like some positive news?” Meghan shook vitamins from one of the two hundred bottles she’d brought. “There’s an article up on one of the gossip sites I thought you’d like. Want me to read it?”
“Sure. It’ll be a great distraction.”
Meghan handed Chloe the juice and no fewer than seven pills. Chloe frowned at her.
“Trust me.”
Chloe choked them all down and fell against her pillows.
“I’ll fill a pill organizer so you know what to take.” She whipped out her phone and tapped the screen a few times. “Now, listen to this. The article’s called ‘5 Reasons Liam’s New Love Is Good for Him.’”
“Oh brother.”
“No, it’s good. Listen. ‘Number one: she’s down-to-earth. Maybe she’s penned a bestselling novel and has a movie in the making, but Chloe Anderson is also a restaurant manager who has worked a full-time job since graduating high school. We think she’s already having a grounding effect on Liam. Number two: she’s a small-town girl. Born and raised in Stillwater Bay, North Carolina. Not only does Chloe have small-town values, but she exhibits southern charm to boot. Her good, old-fashioned virtues will help center Liam.’”
