Page 77 of Dance with Me on New Year's Eve

“Uh … I’m sick. You don’t want my germs.”

“I do, actually,” he said. At least that’s what it sounded like, but I must have heard wrong over the pounding in my head.

“Sorry about canceling this morning. Or yesterday morning, sorry,” I said slowly. “Hazel made me take a sick day.”

“She sent me over with some files.”

“What? What files?”

Jeff stepped toward me, and I stepped aside. He took the opportunity to walk into my apartment. Awareness zinged through me. Why was he in my apartment?

“First, let’s get you some medicine. You look like you haven’t had any, at least not for a while.”

I scratched my head, feeling my tangled hair. “I think … maybe yesterday?”

“We have to know for sure, not maybe. Otherwise, you could overdose.”

I laughed weakly. “You’re kinda cute, Jeffrey.”

Did I actually say that? I was too tired to care. I thought I detected a tiny wisp of a smile from him, but I very well could’ve imagined it.

“Thank you. But I’m serious. Are you sure you don’t remember?” The frown was back.

“Don’t be mad,” I pleaded.

“I’m not mad, Roxy. I just—”

“Wait, I have an idea. I’ll be right back.” I padded to my room and over to the nightstand. I picked up the box of NyQuil, realizing it was unopened.

“Jeff, good news!” I said as I turned to go find him in theother room.

But I nearly slammed into his chest before putting my hands out, landing on his chest, which was … firmer than I thought it would be. Not that I’d ever thought about it.

Liar.

I bounced back, letting my hands fall to my sides. “Oh, I didn’t know you’d followed me in there.” I frowned, my hands tingling for some reason.

“What were you doing?” he asked, and then he touched my forehead with the back of his hand before moving to my cheek.

And I couldn’t talk. What I suspect was a mild fever before was now burning up. “I … what?”

He removed his hand from my face and watched me closely before his lips twitched. “I was checking for fever. It’s probably mild. But are you all right?”

“I’m … you’re baiting me, aren’t you? Sometimes you’re so mean.”

“Only sometimes?”

My eyes flashed. “See, you’re doing it again!”

He sighed. “If you say so.”

I rolled my eyes. “That’s code forI disagree but don’t want to deal with this argument.” When his eyebrows rose, I realized I’d said that out loud. Or I’d slurred it aloud. For some reason, this seemed hilarious, so I burst out laughing.

He shook his head, but with a hint of a smile. “Listen, Roxy, I do need to know if you’ve had any medicine recently. Was there a reason you came in here?”

“Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you … uh, last night, I took the last one. See, there’s the empty one on the floor. Andthisbox here on the nightstand is not open.”

He nodded slowly. “OK, I see. That’s some pretty advanced logic for someone who is so unlike herself that she said I was cute.” And then he smiled.

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