Page 84 of What Are The Odds?
“Levi?”
Her voice was husky. Not from sleep, from sickness. Dozens of tissues were spilled across the pillow beside her.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Not good.”
“I bought you some cold and flu tablets from the chemist,” Ava said.
I arched an eyebrow. “Chemist?”
“Drug store,” she supplied. “I’ll leave them here. I love you, Grace, but I can’t get any closer. I have a big test tomorrow.”
Grace muttered a thanks before closing her eyes. I looked around the small room. There was no way Ava would be able to avoid getting sick. There was nowhere to hide in this room.
“Come stay at my house, Hughesy,” I said.
She rolled over, turning her back to me. “No. I’ll get you sick.”
“You’re guaranteeing to take Ava and Stella down with you if you stay here.”
She grumbled something. But it didn’t sound like an affirmation.
“I’ll crash on the couch. You can have my room all to yourself.”
She shook her head.
“You can have my cloud-like bed all to yourself.”
That piqued her interest. She partially sat up. I refused to tell Grace the brand of my mattress topper. If she had one of her own, I wouldn’t be able to use that to lure her anymore. Hopefully the fact I came with the bed would always be enough to get her over the line. Taking that as confirmation, Ava went to the shared wardrobe and took out a duffle bag.
“I’ll pack a bag of her things.”
She started listing off things to pack. Change of clothes. Socks. Toothbrush.
“Grace has a toothbrush at my house,” I told her.
She grinned. She seemed to like that answer. While Ava worked on packing, I focussed on getting Grace out of bed. I peeled back the blankets. It was like a sauna underneath. Despite her temperature, Grace was dressed in oversized sweats. She reluctantly sat up, letting out a heavy huff.
“Shoes?” I asked.
She sent a glare in my direction.
“I can put my own shoes on, Holloway.”
I snickered. There she was. Once Ava finished packing Grace’s things, I looped the bag over my shoulder and guided Grace outside. She squinted at the sun before pulling on her sunglasses. With the added beanie and coat, she looked like an incognito celebrity. Maybe if that celebrity was on their way to rehab.
“Want me to bring the car around?” I offered.
“I’ll be fine.”
I interlaced my hand with her clammy one and walked in the direction of the parking lot. She silently followed my lead, occasionally halting to blow her nose or clear her throat. I hated seeing her like this. We passed a group of girls sitting at a picnic bench outside of the main lecture hall.
“Hey, Levi,” one called out.
I recognised her. Not enough to know her well, but enough to know I’d slept with her. I tightened my hand around Grace’s.
“Hi,” I clipped back.
