“I’m okay, Worthington, really,” she promised as Kyle raced back into the room.
“I really wish you’d let me be the judge of that, Julia,” Kyle said as he eased onto the mattress next to her and pressed a thermometer against her forehead. “You’re feverish.”
“Pulse is racing,” he said after pressing his fingers against her wrist again before he donned his stethoscope. “Sorry, this will be cold…and your heart rate is up.”
“Because I don’t feel good.”
“What are you feeling?” Kyle asked.
“Sick,” she whined.
Kyle flicked his eyebrows up. “Mind being more specific?”
“Yes. I just want to close my eyes and lay here quietly.”
“Okay,” he said with a bob of his head. “You can lay quietly in a hospital then…well, after you answer all their questions.”
Julia pressed her head into the pillow as she snapped her gaze to him. With her pounding head and nausea, she wanted to be left alone, but she understood his concern. She grabbed his hand and squeezed. “Fine. Headache, nausea, mind fog. I donotneed to go to the hospital, though.”
“I will be the judge of that.”
“Kyle, people do get sick. Not all of them need to be hospitalized.”
“You’re not just anyone, Julia,” His voice softened, his gaze intense. “You matter to everyone in this house. We can’t take risks with you. But, okay. No hospital…for now. As long as you follow my advice.”
“If that advice is to lay here quietly until I don’t feel like throwing up everything I had at lunch, that’s not a problem.”
“Well, yes, it involves that, but it also, you need some water. Acetaminophen for your headache and fever. Maybe a cool cloth for your head.”
She bobbed her head, the sensation making her stomach roll and her head throb.
“I shall arrange everything, sir.”
“Thank you, Worthington,” Kyle answered as the man hurried from the room.
“You don’t have to stay. I’m fine. And I’m not going to move,” Julia said.
“I’m staying right here. I’m not leaving your side until we’re certain you’re out of the woods. I’m not taking any chances.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and tapped on it.
“Please tell me you’re not calling the hospital.”
“I’m not. I’m texting Dad.”
“What?” Julia asked, her eyes going wide. “Don’t do that. He went to the office. He doesn’t need to be disturbed because I have a tummy ache.”
“You nearly passed out a few minutes ago, Julia. You do not have a simple tummy ache. And you’re lucky I’m not insisting on the hospital. I don’t like this sudden sickness.”
Julia shifted, trying to get her stomach to settle. “Because no one gets food poisoning.”
“I’m not sick.”
Julia heaved a sigh. “We didn’t eat the same thing, Kyle.”
“And you didn’t eat anything that would cause this,” he answered.
“People get sick sometimes,” she answered. “It’s perfectly normal.”
Worthington returned with water, the fever reducer, and a cool cloth. After she’d taken the pills, she settled back into the pillows as Sierra stormed into the room.