Page 59 of Inside the Maelstrom: Part One
Didn’t matter really, because the advice was the same: fluids, rest, and ride it out. If it wasn't better in three days, go to the hospital. If I hadn’t peed in two days, go to the hospital. If I started to see Jesus, avoid the light, and you guessed it, go to the hospital.
There was a knock at the door, and I closed my eyes, pretending to sleep so I didn’t have to look any of them in the eye. I almost hoped I was contagious so I could justifiably keep them at arm's length.
“Viva?” Otto’s soft voice whispered into the darkened room, and I lay so still, I probably looked like a corpse. “Viva, I know you’re awake. Your breathing is too light.”
Fuck. “Knowing how I sound when I’m asleep is just creepy, you know.”
“Come on. I ran you a bath. It’ll make you feel better.”
Actually, that did sound nice.
“But first, you need to drink this,” he crooned, closer now, and I pulled back to see him holding out a bottle of what looked like watered-down Gatorade.
My stomach flipped, and I covered my head with the blanket. “I don’t want to puke again.”
“You won’t. Come on now, sit up.” He pulled back the blanket and manhandled me into a sitting position. I was dressed in one of Sampson’s shirts that he’d sacrificed to the gods of food poisoning.
Taking the offered bottle with arms that still shook, I drank it down slowly. Thankfully, it stayed where it was supposed to be. For now, at least.
“How’s Hendrick?”
“Whiny,” Otto grumbled. “You’re a much better patient.”
I kept sipping slowly, exhausted. “I’m sorry.”
He hugged me close, and I was fairly sure that despite my shower with Sampson yesterday, I still stank like sweat and other things I didn’t want to think about. “You have nothing to be sorry for. Absolutely nothing.” He scooped me out of the bed and set me on my feet. It was like walking on jello, but I managed. When I made it to the main bathroom, the tub was filled with an opaque liquid and rose petals.
I burst into tears.
“Shit, what’s wrong? Do you need to go back to the bedroom?”
I didn’t know how to tell him that being sick had just cracked my normally apathetic exterior. My emotions were running closer to the surface, and right now, I was overflowing with emotion for Otto.
“No, it's beautiful. Perfect. Sorry I’m being a crybaby,” I said, wiping my face on the sleeve of my shirt. “It’s just so nice.”
Otto reached out and pulled me into his arms, wrapping me in a hug that encompassed me completely. “You deserve nice things. I’m sorry if we haven’t shown you that over the last couple of weeks.”
Well, thanks for the extra miles I’m about to get out of my tear ducts, Otto. I just nuzzled into his body and let him hold me up for a while. He slipped his hands under the hem of the shirt, and pulled it up over my head.
It left me standing in a pair of Otto’s underwear. Yes. I’d even borrowed their underwear. Because have you accidentally pooped yourself in a lace thong? I had, and 100/10 did not recommend. He hooked his fingers in the waistband, tugging them down smoothly. Then he scooped me up and laid me in the bath.
I couldn’t help the sigh that left my lips. It was perfect. It smelled divine, but it felt even better. I let my eyes close as my body floated in the water and all the gross feelings washed from my skin.
There was a small step that ran around the edge of the bath, and Otto sat down on it. “Want me to wash your hair?”
I opened one eyelid and gave him a small smile. “I’m beginning to wonder if you have a fetish for bathing with your lovers.”
His crooked grin and dimples did something to my insides. They felt like they were in a tumble dryer, all warm and fuzzy. “Is that going to be a problem?”
I shook my head. Otto made me feel cared for, and I wasn’t sure a man had ever made me feel that way before. It was wonderful and terrifying in equal measures. I floated in the water as he washed my hair, which was lank and gross, and I had to resist the urge to purr.
“Sampson and Evan have the other bodyguards at the bookstore looking for Nemo’s book. They weren’t impressed, but honestly, it wasn’t like we were going anywhere with both you and Hendrick so sick.” He paused, his fingers still threading through my hair. “I was worried.”
I didn’t apologize again, because it wasn’t like I could have known those dumplings were bad and we both knew it. They’d tasted fine.
“Tell them I said thank you. I know this isn't what you guys signed up for. Any of you.”
Otto shrugged. “We didn’t really know what we were signing up for. Maybe Hendrick? But Sampson and I were just along for the ride.” He tipped my head back slightly, pouring water from a small cup over my hairline. “Mostly, it's been amazing. I don’t have any regrets.”
