Page 47 of Some Things Never Change

He shrugged nonchalantly. “Always.”

“How come I never knew about this?”

“You just never pay attention.”

I continued to give him a look as I pulled out my phone. Right away, I started texting Anthony about Andy’s sensitive stomach. If this was true, then I would’ve known about it earlier.

“What are you doing?” Now I could feel Andy’s questioning gaze on me.

“Texting Anthony to confirm if it’s true or?—”

Before I could finish my sentence and finish typing out my text, Andy reached out and placed his hand over mine to stop me.

“It’s not something Anthony would know. He’d never let me live it down if he did.”

True, his twin definitely wouldn’t have.

I slid my phone back into the pocket of my workout leggings. “Neither would Jonathan nor I.”

My comment made Andy smile. I smiled back as I pushed his damp fringe out of his face to take the wet compress off of his forehead. I placed the back of my hand on his forehead. He was slightly cooler now, and I let out a sigh of relief. I doused the compress in the bowl of cool water, squeezed out the water, and put it back on his forehead.

“You need to get some rest, Andy.”

He nodded his head slowly as he began to blink slower. I helped tucked him in as he rolled into a ball on his side. I watched as he passed out within a few seconds.

As I watched him sleep, like a creep, I suddenly remembered there was a bad flu going around in our office and many of my coworkers had called out sick. Even Cindy called in sick last Monday and had been out all week because she wasn’t feeling well. She bemoaned over texts about how she and James couldn’t go back home for the Lunar New Year because of her flu.

Andy mentioned something similar happening at his office as well. Both he and Cindy probably caught whatever that horrible virus was. He had always been tough as a mule and hardly ever got sick growing up. In fact, it was always Jonathan and me that were the first to get sick, meanwhile Andy and Anthony hardly ever did. I had never seen him get anything more than a mild cold or cough, so it surprised me to see him in this state.

I was grateful today was a Sunday morning instead of a weekday, so I could properly take care of him. Even though today was Valentine’s Day, it wasn’t like Andy or I had plans. Eric, Cindy’s husband’s friend, and I got in touch earlier last week and both of us agreed it was best to not have our first date on such a holiday.

Not only would most restaurants be overcrowded with lovers, it would also put too much pressure on us. We were barely getting to know each other and the less pressure, the better. Besides, I would rather spend this day doing absolutely nothing with Andy than be with some guy I barely knew.

Chapter

Twenty

“Andy?” I called out from the back door leading into the house from the garage.

While he slept for half the day, I made him the same rice porridge our Hmong moms used to make for us whenever we got sick as kids. It’s easy to digest and would be easy on his body. I also spent much of my time cleaning our place. We hadn’t had much time lately so most of the house was in disarray. It wasn’t until I was done when I realized I needed to go to the store to get more flu medication, some orange juice, and plenty of fresh fruits with vitamin C for Andy. He woke up while I was out and texted me, asking where I was.

Some show on the TV in the living room came to a halt. I heard his footsteps shuffling from the living room as I quickly toed my sneakers off while balancing everything I was carrying. We had a small shoe rack and house slippers at the back door foyer where the washer and dryer stood. I was trying to put my house slippers on without having to put everything down.

Soon enough, he met me where I was with a small smile. His eyes immediately brightened up the moment he saw me. “Hey,” he said weakly. His voice still sounded nasally, raspy, and horrible.

I refrained from asking how he was feeling so he wouldn’t have to talk. He tried to help me with the reusable grocery bag slung over my shoulder.

“No, it’s okay! I got it,” I said, a little out of breath.

I walked down the hall and into the kitchen, setting the enormous vase full of flowers I was also carrying onto the counter before heaving the tote bag full of groceries up there as well. A big red heart built out of Legos was sitting in the middle of the island. Andy and I both rushed to finish it in time for today.

I turned to him as he came to my side. Now that he was closer, I could smell the clean scent of his men’s body wash with hints of citrus and cedar. He must have hopped in the shower when he woke up. He was donned in a fresh set of clothes consisting of a black, fitted long sleeve shirt with gray sweatpants, and the soft throw I usually leave on the couch over his shoulders.

“Are you still running a fever?” I asked. There was still a dusty pink flush on his cheeks and neck.

Before he could answer, the back of my hand had already reached up to touch his forehead. He was warm, but he wasn’t burning like this morning. I let out a sigh of relief. I pulled my hand away just as he blinked, fanning his long dark lashes across his cheeks and drawing my attention to them. We stared at one another as he gave me a tender—almost loving—gaze. I felt my chest constrict with emotions as my heart began to beat a little harder.

Andy lazily blinked again, closing and opening those beautiful eyes as he watched me. I consciously held my breath until he pulled his eyes away. He stared at the big, beautiful mixed bouquet sitting in the vase I had just put on the counter for a long moment as his face contorted into an unreadable look.

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