Silas hadn’t picked up when the guard had tried to buzz him to check my story, and my knocking didn’t seem to fare any better.
“Silas! Open up! It’s Adeline,” I shouted at his door and then pressed my ear against it. I thought I could hear some shuffling inside.
My fist hit the wood again, and when the door was flung open, I found my fist hovering in front of the guitarist’s chest.
He looked at me through squinty eyes, his face tinged with a pink glow.
“Adeline?” His voice was a deep rasp. “What are you doing here?”
“Making sure you don’t die alone. Get inside.”
I pushed him back into the apartment, my worry escalating when I felt how warm his chest was. Leading him to lie on the couch, I kneeled on the carpeted floor and took out all the things I had brought.
“Have you taken any medicine? You’re running a fever.”
Silas’s three-seater couch was much too small for him, and his feet hung over the far side. He shook his head, letting his eyes drift close.
“No medicine. I’m fine.”
He wore an adorable little pout as he tried to wave my hand away.
“You have to take this, Silas. We have an album to finish, remember? You need to get better by Monday.”
This seemed to get through to him, and he propped his mouth open to accept the pill.
“Here, sit up for a second so that you can drink some water.” I wrapped my arm around the bulk of his shoulders, helping him sit up.
“Who called you?” he asked.
“Ezra. Told me you weren’t looking great this morning.”
“Nosy bastard,” he grumbled without any energy behind it.
I found a blanket stuffed into the far corner of the couch and spread it over him. “I brought some soup.”
“Not hungry.”
“Okay, but you’re going to have to eat something today. Get some rest. I’ll be here when you wake up.”
His long hair spilled over his shoulders as he gave me the tiniest nod before passing right out.
It was past eight when Silas woke up. While he slept, I managed to examine all of his guitars and pedals, even playing around with a few in the soundproof music room.
He seemed confused to see me before recognition spread over his face. “You’re still here.”
“I told you I’d stay.”
At that, he gave me a small smile. “Yeah, I guess you did.”
He ate his soup in silence while I made some tea. Given what had happened the last time I was at his place, I was glad this didn’t feel awkward.
“Your sister left today?” he asked when I handed him a cup and sat down on the coffee table across from him.
“Yeah. She texted me a little while back to let me know she arrived at her dorm,” I said, looking down at my steaming green tea.
“How do you feel?”
The loneliness I had managed to stave off for the past few hours nudged at me again.
