Page 43 of Undeniably Perfect

“I’m shopping for the perfect one, but hey, at least I’m living.” She turns toward the dining room where Kylie, Lanie, and Tabby are laughing about something. “I like her, KJ, a lot. She’s good for you.”

I turn back to the pasta as I grate Parmesan on it and sprinkle some fresh cut basil. “I know.”

“You gonna do something about that, then?”

I look back at my sister. “Yes, I am.”

She nods. “Good. Good talk.”

I roll my eyes, but I can’t fight the smile that forces its way on my face. I hug Di. “I love you, sis.”

“Love you too, you big dummy.”

“Are you guys coming? I’m starving!” Kylie whines.

“Coming!” Di yells as she takes the salad. She turns back to me as she walks past the island. “Don’t fuck this up.”

Chapter Nineteen

Tabitha

“I’m exhausted. I think I’ll head up to bed,” I say to the Moore clan as we all sit around the dining room table. I can barely keep my eyes open. It’s been a fun, but very long day.

“We should probably head out,” Di says looking down at her watch. It’s only nine, but I feel like I’ve been going for two days straight.

I hug everyone good night and head up to my room.

I don’t even remember my head hitting the pillow.

The next thing I know, I feel the bed dipping.

“Tabby?” a voice says. You know that moment when you are just waking up and you aren’t sure if you are dreaming or if something is real? Yeah, that’s this moment.

“Brix, I’m sleeping,” I mutter.

The voice laughs, and I feel something cool against my forehead. My eyes flutter open. I’m greeted with a very concerned-looking Kent.

“What’s wrong?” I ask. I start to assess my body and realize that I feel pretty crappy like I got hit by a truck.

“I think you’re sick, kitten.”

I swallow and it hurts. “I think you might be right. I blame that ridiculous polar plunge thing.”

I sit up in bed and my head suddenly feels like it’s been filled with rocks.

“Whoa…” Kent says as his hand grabs my arm to steady me.

“How could I be sick so fast?” I groan, placing a hand on my forehead and pulling the covers up farther because I’m freezing.

“I think you have a fever. Hold on,” Kent announces as he runs into the bathroom. He comes out a moment later with a thermometer.

“Open,” he commands. I allow him to slide the thermometer between my lips.

We wait until it beeps. He pulls it out to check.

“One-oh-one. You’re gonna have to stay here today. I’ll call in the reinforcements and come back to check on you later,” he says.

“Kent…don’t worry, I’ll be fine. Plus, you have a game tomorrow night. You need to rest after practice.”

---