Page 25 of Interference
Brett has truly been amazing through it, though. He has been by my side every step of the way. He has even started to wear a hair tie around his wrist for when I puke so he can put my hair back and rub my back at the same time. It is so sweet when he isn’t being annoying, like right now.
“Maybe a couple of crackers?”
I glare at him from my curled-up position on the couch. “I threw up like fifteen minutes ago. I cannot eat yet. I will throw it up again, and I don’t think you realize just how much I loathe throwing up.”
He cracks a smile. “I couldn’t tell from how much you’ve been doing it.”
It’s a joke. I know it’s a joke, but I’m not in a joking mood.
“Well, blame your child for that. He or she will not let me eat. Or sleep. Or get comfortable. Or feel like myself. I feel like a huge vessel for this human to make it into the world that everyone has forgotten about.” I can’t help the pout in my tone.
“Is this about them replacing you on the team?” he asks gently as he sits on the floor in front of me crossing his legs.
Yesterday they announced that Ashley was taking my place on the team. It didn’t help that she came back to our apartment to celebrate, acting like she didn’t know I would be there. She doesn’t even know why I’m not on the team anymore, only that she got my spot.
I thought she was my friend, but now I’m starting to wonder.
“It’s everything. I want to feel better,” I groan.
I hear a key in the front door, so I sit up suddenly, fighting the nausea. Brett sits up suddenly too, gripping my cheeks.
Before he can ask if I’m okay, I press my lips to his, holding them there while I breathe through my nose.
Please don’t puke on him. Please don’t puke on him.
The chant keeps replaying in my head as I pull back to look at Ashley.
“Oh, I see. You get a break from the team and go full wild child. Must be nice,” Ashley says, dropping her things on the counter.
I look back to Brett and find him frowning.
“Sorry. I didn’t think you would be back so soon. We were about to leave for breakfast anyway.”
“Yeah. Let’s get going, buttercup.”
He helps me stand, keeping a hand on my back, rubbing in a soothing pattern. I grab my wallet and keys by the door before we walk out, leaving Ashley behind.
“That’s the girl that replaced you?” Brett asks quietly as we exit my building.
“Yep.”
“She seems like a peach.” I don’t miss his sarcastic tone.
“She was my friend, but I guess there’s no room for friends in figure skating,” I admit.
As soon as we are outside and around the corner, I stop.
“What’s wrong?”
I hold my hand up, trying to fight back the nausea. It doesn’t work. Within seconds, I’m bent over the bushes throwing up what little water I was able to keep down. Brett’s hands go to my hair, pulling it back into the hair tie as he rubs my back. After a moment, I hear something crack, then something cool is on my neck.
I focus on the coolness as I collect myself. When I stand, I wipe my mouth with the sleeve of my long-sleeved shirt, wincing at how disgusting it is.
Turning to Brett, I look at the pack in his hand. “Did you buy one of those medical cold packs?”
“Not one. A whole box.” He pulls two more out of his pockets. “I figured I’d keep them on me for situations like this. Do you feel better?”
I nod. “I’ll feel even better when I can change and lie back down.”
