Page 216 of The Rebel Billionaire

He helps me upright before stepping back.

“I’ll be right outside the door. Call me when you need me,” he says, moving the bathroom bin next to me.

My stomach clenches violently, making me double over and rest my arms on my knees, as my body expels whatever is wrong with me from both ends.

Alex appears moments later, ignoring my protests.

“Remember, relationships aren’t only about the good times,” he says, throwing my earlier words back at me.

I moan, the pain and nausea almost unbearable.

“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” he says, helping me into the shower to clean myself off.

He towels me down, dressing me in fresh sleepwear, before manoeuvring us back into the bedroom and tucking me in.

“I’ll be right back,” he says.

I nod.

He returns moments later with a plastic bucket, placing it on the floor next to the bed.

He smooths the hair back from my face.

“My flight,” I moan.

“We’ll see how you are in the morning,” he says.

He doesn’t verbalise what we’re both thinking, that in my current state, there’s no way I’m getting on a plane anytime soon.

* * *

My hand shakes as I hold the phone.

“Hey, rebel,” Kat says, her face appearing on my screen. “Where are you? You’re missing spa time.”

Her eyes meet mine through the screen.

“What’s up? You look shocking.”

“Food poisoning,” I groan. “Or a stomach bug.”

My stomach heaves, and I drop the phone, barely making it into the bathroom before the water Alex gave me makes a reappearance.

I return and pick up the phone, knowing how shocking I must look.

“Oh, Rebs,” she says.

I choke down my sob.

“I’m not going to make it,” I say, unable to prevent the tears streaming down my face. “There’s no way I could get on the flight… oh, Kat, I’m so sorry.”

Kat’s eyes glisten, and she bites her lip.

Pen appears.

“Hey, Harps. No tears,” she says sternly. “Elijah and I will set you up with a live stream for the wedding. You can spend whatever time you can with us from the comfort of your bed. You won’t miss a thing… apart from the humidity maybe, I promise.”

I sob out a “Thank you.”