“Hi, guys,” Gabby said to the group. “Sorry to interrupt, but we need to pull Nicole away for just a minute.”
Nicole’s smile widened as she glanced at Gabby then back at the men.
“I’ll be back in just a bit,” Nicole said to them. “Can someone get me a soda?”
She took Gabby by the arm and turned her around so fast I barely had time to move out of the way. I scowled at her. Couldn’t she see Gabby was sick? You can’t tug around a sick person like that.
Sticking with the pair, I followed them from the porch and across the yard, in the direction of Gabby’s car.
“Thank you for that,” Nicole said. “It was really weird the way they were acting tonight. I guess mermaid sends off the wrong vibe. I hope he remembers talking to me, though. I liked it until his friends showed up.”
Impatience ate at me as I watched their slow progress. I wanted to pick Gabby up and carry her to the car. My concern hadn’t yet outweighed my fear of her reaction though.
“Yeah,” Gabby said. “He s-seemed okay. D-don’t trust his friends.”
“Are you okay?” Nicole asked, looking closely at Gabby.
Finally, she notices, I thought.
“I think I’m getting sick or s-s-something. Clay felt my head, but s-said I didn’t feel warm.”
“Is Rachel going to be home tonight? You said she’s going to school for nursing, right? She’ll probably know if there’s something going around on campus. The nursing students doing clinicals always seem to know.”
“Good idea.”
Halfway to the car, Gabby noticeably flinched and started shaking more. She needed to warm up. I ran ahead and started the car. Then, I got back out and waited for them by the door. As soon as they were close, I opened the door for Gabby. She was too pale with dark circles under her eyes.
Nicole kept an arm around Gabby as she helped her into the front seat.
“Do I look as b-bad as I f-feel?” Gabby asked with a weak smile as Nicole buckled her in.
Nicole glanced at me, but I couldn’t tear my gaze from Gabby as I circled the hood to get in. What had happened? She’d been fine all day. There hadn’t been any signs of illness. Not a single sneeze or sniffle like humans tended to display.
“Well, you do look like you’re coming down with something. I’m so sorry I begged you to come out tonight.”
“Don’t w-worry about it. It w-was r-really interesting.”
Nicole closed Gabby’s door and got in back.
I sped home because, despite the heat pouring from the vents, Gabby’s shivering had gotten worse. Her teeth chattered nonstop.
The dark house was a welcome sight when I pulled into the driveway.
“I hope you feel better,” Nicole said. “I’ll see you on Tuesday.”
Gabby only nodded as I parked by the porch. I immediately got out and walked around the front of the car as Nicole left. Gabby blinked slowly, miserably, as she watched me.
I opened the door and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Keeping a firm hold on her, I helped her from the car and across the porch. As soon as I had the door open, she slipped from my hold, stepped inside, and started to tug off the flannel. I followed closely, ready to help in whatever way I could.
“Clay, c-can you get my towel?” she asked, pausing outside the bathroom to drop the shirt on the carpet.
A shower? I nodded. It would help warm her faster. I quickly went to her room and grabbed the towel. The closing of the bathroom door made me pause. She’d barely been able to stand. Would she be able to shower on her own?
I brought the towel to the bathroom door then waited. Inside, I listened to the small, mewling noises she made. Each one broke my heart and tested the respect I had for her privacy and my need to care for her.
Unable to stand another second, I tapped on the door. Just let me in. Please.
“J-just a s-sec,” she said, her panic clear. “I’m not ready, y-yet.”
A second later, I heard her bump into something. Taking a breath, I cautiously opened the door.
She stood by the toilet. She’d managed to get her shirt, socks, and shoes off, but her pants were obviously giving her trouble.
“Hey!” An unnatural flush crept across her pale cheeks as she crossed her arms over her chest.
If I wasn’t so scared for her, I would have taken a moment to enjoy all the skin she’d bared. Instead, I tossed the towel on the toilet lid and moved past her without a glance. I turned on the shower so the water could heat up. Then with a burst of speed, I did what needed to be done. I moved back to her side, bent, and had her pants around her ankles before she could screech.
With my eyes averted, I remained by her legs to wait for her reaction and for her to step out of her jeans.
“Clay, g-get out!”
Her outraged demand just firmed my resolve to stay.
“Really, I c-can do the rest.”
I tapped her leg and motioned for her to step out of the pants. After a moment, she placed a hand on my shoulder and did as I asked.
“N-now out, Clay.”
I picked up the pants and stood, careful to keep my gaze glued to the wall tile, then shook my head.
“The h-hell you s-say!”
She almost made me smile. I set her pants on top of the towel then pulled back the curtain and held out a hand. While I waited, steam began to drift in the air, letting me know the water had warmed. When she took too long, I nodded toward the shower and tapped the tub with my boot. Couldn’t she see she’d be warmer in there?
“You’re s-staying until I’m in? So I don’t fall?”
I was staying because I couldn’t leave her. But I shrugged, willing to let her think what she wanted.
She sighed and, a second later, placed her cold hand in mine. Sure, she still wore her bra and underwear, but I highly doubted she’d appreciate my help with those.
As soon as she was in, I closed the curtain then hesitated. She wasn’t steady on her feet. Would she fall when she tried to remove the rest of her clothes? I waited, but she didn’t move an inch behind the curtain. And, I realized she wouldn’t until I was gone. With a worried sigh, I turned and left.
As soon as the door closed, I heard material hit the bathroom floor.
After listening to the water run for five minutes with very little additional sound, I let myself back in.
“Clay?”
She sounded worse. Weak. I grunted so she’d know it was me. Who else would it be if not me?
I grabbed the towel, held it out, and averted my eyes again. The curtain rustled, then a moment later the water turned off. She plucked the towel from my fingers but remained hidden behind the curtain. I stayed as I was, facing the door with my hand extended, ready to help.
After some more rustling, she grabbed my hand and stepped from the shower. I knew how badly she felt when she scooted past me, wrapped in only a towel, and shut herself in her room. I picked up the bathroom to give her time to dress, then waited outside her door.
A long pause and short breaths followed each rustle of movement. Her pain tormented me. Yet, I knew she wouldn’t welcome any further interference. The waiting became agony.
As soon as I heard her climb into bed and pull the covers up, I let myself in and turned off the lights.
In the dark, her teeth chattered loudly. I tossed her clothing on the floor, stripped out of my clothes, and tugged on a pair of shorts from the bottom drawer. She didn’t make any other sound, just the clacking of her teeth, as I pulled back the covers and slid in next to her.
“I really hope you’re wearing shorts or something,” she said with a slight slur.
Her concern over what I wore didn’t stop her from pressing her cold feet against my legs. She made a small noise, one of relief, and moved closer to me.
Seconds later, her breathing slowed. She slept. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her to my chest, holding her as I’d wanted to do for months. My heart broke that it was because she was sick.