Page 35 of The Maxwell Brothers
“Apparently I didn’t properly get the water out of my ear when I went swimming with Paisley. I nagged her into doing it, and I forgot to do it myself. And now I have an infection. At least that was the doctor’s explanation.”
“Do you have everything you need?” he asked, voice full of concern.
I was melting already.
“Yes, I have my medicine.”
“Food?”
“I haven’t eaten since yesterday. Swallowing hurts my ears. Right now, I’m super proud that I had enough energy to answer the phone.”
“Okay. I’ll be at your place in half an hour.”
My eyes widened. “What? No. You don’t have to come here to check on me.”
“Yes, I do. You’re sick. I dropped off Paisley with Gran. I’m coming by your place.”
“Tate.”
“Lexi,” he countered.
“It’s really not necessary.”
“I’m coming over.”
Well, I couldn’t argue with him when he went all alpha like this, even when I felt perfectly healthy. Now I had no prayer of resisting him.
“Okay, thanks,” I whispered.
After hanging up, I got out of bed and headed to the shower. I’d only washed up in the sink yesterday since I’d been feeling a bit off-kilter, and I was a bit stinky. I moved at a slower pace than usual, but I was happy that I wasn’t nauseous anymore, only a bit dizzy.
I barely had time to dress before the doorbell rang. I hurried to open it.
Tate stood in the doorway with a paper bag and a smaller plastic one, looking me up and down. “You don’t look so well.”
“Thanks for making me feel better,” I said on a laugh. “But I need to sit. I only had enough energy to come open the door for you.”
Dizzy again, I went straight to the couch to sit down and pull a throw over me. I loved cuddling in blankets on the couch, even in the summer. The kitchen counter was opposite where I was sitting, and I watched Tate with fascination as he took out containers of food from the paper bag.
He’d brought me food? Wow, I couldn’t believe he was so thoughtful. That I was so important to him.
“I got you some stuff, okay? Easy things you can eat, like soup, so you can stay hydrated.”
“Thanks. That’s really nice of you. When did you even do this?”
“I stopped by a deli on the way here.”
He moved with efficiency in my kitchen, putting everything in the fridge. He looked up at me from time to time. My body buzzed every time our gazes crossed.
Once he’d emptied the bag, he came and sat next to me. The couch sank under his weight. Even though I felt shitty from my ear infection, I couldn’t help but notice his stubble and the way he smelled. It wasn’t just his cologne; he smelled like the outdoors.
“Did you go to a doctor?”
“Yes. They gave me drops and antibiotics. They can’t tell for sure when the pain will go away. Could be two days, maybe more. Apparently it depends on my body. I hate it when they say that.”
He chuckled, but his gaze was hard. “What is this about you quitting, Lexi?”
I sighed, unsure where to begin. I avoided his gaze. It was too much to handle right now. It felt as if he saw right through me.
