Page 34 of Sweeter Than Fiction

“Abby, you’re literally shaking. You can’t keep anything down, and you’re pale as a ghost. If you’re not better by morning, I’m taking you to the hospital.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she groans.

“I’m serious. I’m not having you get worse.”

When I look back at her, she’s already snoring. I tuck the blankets around her and get comfortable back in the chair. There’s no fucking way I’m leaving her alone.

I don’t consider myself to have any type of savior complex or any bullshit like that, but I know the second I leave, I will spend all night worrying about her.

Abby has told me about her friend Jenson that she hangs out with quite a bit, but besides that, I don’t think she has many people around. She still hasn’t told me what the deal is with her family.

I’ll be that person for her. I’ll be here when she needs me.

And tonight, she needs me.

Chapter Thirteen

Abby

My eyes slowly open, trying to take in the room around me. Without my glasses, my vision is blurry as shit, but I can tell I’m in the living room. Even the slightest movement has my aching muscles screaming at me.

I hate being sick.

My hand reaches out from the blanket, searching for my glasses on the coffee table. When I finally find them and slip them on, I’m surprised to see Don asleep in the armchair.

Did he stay the whole night?

I remember him coming to give me medicine and supplies, and I remember…oh my gosh, he saw me throw up. He held my hair back.

As embarrassed as I should probably be, I just don’t care right now. I feel so shitty that it’s hard to care about anything. I’ll be mortified later on when I feel better.

I don’t feel like moving, but I do need to pee. Slowly, I manage to get up and head to the bathroom to do my business. When I come back, I grab an extra blanket and gently toss it over Don. He slept with just his jacket draped over him all night, so I imagine he’s freezing.

I try to be as quiet as I can, but apparently, I do a shitty job because Don stirs in the chair.

“Abs?”

“Sorry,” I tell him. “I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“It’s alright. How are you feeling?”

“Like shit. But I think I’ll live.”

He stands up and asks, “What can I get you?”

“Don, you don’t have to wait on me hand and foot,” I say.

“I know. But I want to help you feel better. Can’t you just let someone take care of you for a little while?”

I think for a moment. “Uhm, I’m not sure. No one has really ever done it.”

“Really?”

I nod. “I’m used to going at it alone.”

“Well, sunshine, I’m here to tell you that you and I are friends. Friends are there to help each other when they need it.”

That’s a new concept for me. Sure, Jenson and I are friends—he’s the closest thing I have to a best friend. But he’s got a whole life going on, so we don’t spend a ton of time together. I know not to depend on him. Not because I don’t trust him but because I don’t depend on anyone.

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