Page 53 of Passing Notes

My goodness.

It was Nick. He’d probably come in through my unlocked garage. Either that or he’d climbed up to my balcony again to rescue me just like freakin’ Romeo.

I buried my face in my arms. Since I didn’t have enough strength in my body left to care what I smelled like, I figured hiding was the right thing to do.

Couldn’t I just die in peace?

“In the living room.” My voice was a weak mewl.

“Ruby told me you were sick. Pindich and his secretary are covering the classes.” He bent and scooped me into the cradle of his arms as if I weighed nothing. “Let’s get you tucked into bed, sweetheart.”

“No, I barfed in my hair, Nick. I smell so gross.”

He inhaled and drew his head back to look at me with gentle eyes. “No worries. We’ll get you cleaned up first.”

My voice was barely a whisper when I said, “You don’t have to do this. I’ll be okay. Go home, save yourself from my germs. You don’t want to catch this.”

“Hush, baby. You’re sick, let me take care of you.”

I gave up and relaxed, sinking into the warmth of his arms as he carried me to my bathroom. I couldn’t help but notice how my head fit perfectly into the hollow between his shoulder and neck, like I was made to be right here‚ cared for by him, loved by him, taken care of by him. Damn it.

“Okay.” My emotions whirled and skidded along with the sudden recurrence of the churning nausea in my gut. “Oh god, put me down.”

Ever so gently, he set me on my feet in front of the toilet, bending to lift the lid as I knelt in front of it.

But nothing.

I sat back and leaned against the tub as my stomach seized and my head throbbed. I knew I was burning up with a fever when a flash of heat seared my temples and another cold sweat covered my body. I sat shivering as I fought against bursting into tears.

The back of his hand went to my brow. “You have a fever. Where is your thermometer?”

I flopped a hand in the direction of my medicine cabinet. I had no idea if I still had one in there or not. Sadie had been the one to stock my house with all the necessities that adults were supposed to have. She probably took it when she moved out.

“The kids?” I mumbled as I caught a case of the chills and shivered.

“With Morgan. I’m here for the duration, Clara. I won’t leave you alone.”

“M’kay. Thank you.” I flopped to my side, pulling down a towel to use as a blanket. “I’ll stay right here and go to sleep.”

“Do you think you can manage sitting in the tub? I can wash your hair for you, then put you to bed.”

I felt a bit ridiculous, but I wanted to say yes. The smell was making me gag.

“I’ll return the favor if I get you sick.”

“Nah, I never get sick. You owe me a date now, that’s what I want. Dinner, movie, a walk in the park—I don’t care as long as we make plans and do something together. Like we never could before. A real date.” He leaned over me to get the hot water started.

“Fine, I’ll buy you that steak at The Front Porch we talked about. Oh god, no more talk about food right now. Get out!” I shrieked as I shot to my knees and lost the rest of my breakfast in the toilet.

But he did not get out; he knelt at my side and pulled my hair back. “I got you. You’ll be okay,” he soothed. He was good at this. He must have had a lot of practice with Ethan and Sasha, or maybe Morgan when she was pregnant.

I nodded and drooped against his side.

“I hate this.” My voice was a pitiful little whine. All I wanted was to go to sleep but I knew I wouldn’t be able to, not with my hair and shirt a stinky mess.

He stood. “Take my hands. Stand up.”

He made quick work of getting me undressed and helping me into the tub where, true to his word, he washed my hair, got me cleaned up, then wrapped me in a towel. Then he led me to my room and helped me sit on the edge of my bed as he dug through my dresser for pajamas.

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