Page 230 of Finding Us

“Jade.” He jiggles the door handle again. “Open the door. Right now.”

“Please, Garret. Please just leave me alone.”

I hear him sigh, then walk away from the door. I hear his fist slam against something. And then I hear the TV, the volume turned way down.

I take off my shorts and get into bed wearing my bra and t-shirt. I’m too tired to change into pajamas. I’m still crying because I feel horrible for treating Garret that way. But I’m not ready to talk to him yet. I need to calm down and figure out why I’m such a mess right now.

I get up and unlock the door, just in case he wants to come in later. But I’m sure he won’t. He needs a break from me after I yelled at him like that. He probably won’t even talk to me tomorrow. I get back in bed and eventually fall asleep.

Two hours later I wake up. My head is pounding and I’m sweating but I have goosebumps everywhere. I draw the blanket up to my chin but it doesn’t help. I’m still freezing to the point that I’m shivering. My stomach starts to churn and my throat is hot and dry.

I know this feeling. I haven’t had it for a long time but it’s something you don’t forget. I have the stomach flu and it’s coming on fast. I rip the covers off me and race to the bathroom and throw up everything I ate earlier. Afterward, I want to rinse my mouth out but I can’t make it to the sink. My head is spinning so bad I can’t tell where I am in relation to the sink. I take off my sweaty t-shirt and bra and lie down on the tile floor. It’s cold and feels good on my hot skin.

I lie there until that sick feeling in my stomach rises to my throat and I throw up again. Based on past experience, I know this is how it’ll be for the next few hours. It’s like clockwork. My body will give me a little break and then I’ll get sick again. I really hate the stomach flu.

After my third time throwing up, I crawl out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom. I accidentally run into the nightstand and knock something off it. It makes a loud noise and I cringe because the sound makes my head hurt even more. I collapse on the wood floor.

“Jade?” I hear knocking. “What was that noise?”

“Nothing,” I mumble.

“Jade.” I hear the door open and the sound of Garret walking toward the bed. “Jade, where are you?”

“Down here.” My voice is weak and hoarse and my throat burns when I talk.

“Down where?” I feel his foot hit my leg and he almost trips. “Jade, what the hell are you doing on the floor?”

“I’m sick.”

“You’re what?” He kneels down and feels for me in the dark. His hand is like ice on my skin. “Shit. You’re burning up.”

“I have the flu.” I reach my arms up trying to find him. “Would you help me?”

He lifts me up onto the bed. “Why didn’t you come get me?”

“I didn’t want to wake you up.”

“If you get sick in the night, you wake me up. That’s the rule. Got it?”

I nod, weakly.

He turns the light on by the bed and a sharp pain shoots through my already-pounding head. I cover my eyes with my hand. “Too bright.”

“I need to get a cold washcloth. You need to cool down.”

I’m completely delirious. I’m not even sure Garret’s there. This could all be a dream. I reach for him and find him in the dark. “Don’t leave.”

“I’ll be right back.” He goes to the bathroom and returns with the cold washcloth, spreading it over my forehead. “What do you need? Did you take anything? Should I—”

I yank on his shirt. “I think I’m going to be sick again.”

CHAPTERFIFTY-FOUR

GARRET

Jade climbs out of bed and stumbles to the floor, crawling back to the bathroom, barely making it there in time. She’s really sick. I never get sick like this, but Lilly’s had the flu a few times so I’m familiar with the symptoms. When Lilly had the flu, I had to take care of her because Katherine refuses to be around sick people, especially if it involves vomit. I don’t like vomit either, but you just have to get over it. Besides, it’s way worse for the person who’s actually vomiting.

Back when Lilly had the flu, Katherine wanted to hire a nurse to take care of her. I didn’t want some stranger taking care of my sister when she was sick, so my dad and I took care of her and Katherine kept her distance. What kind of mother doesn’t take care of her sick kid? Jade’s mom didn’t take care of her either when she was sick. I don’t understand it.

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