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She sighed. “I’m fine, really. But to save the door, there’s a key in a fake rock to the left of the porch, near the house.”
I found it. “Where’s your room?”
“Just leave the stuff downstairs. I’m all sweaty and gross. Trust me, you don’t want to see me.”
“Katie.”
She sighed. “Fine, but it’s your nose that will suffer. I’m at the top of the stairs, the third door on the right.”
“I’ll be there in a second.”
I clicked End and unlocked the door. Soon I found the right room and knocked before turning the knob.
Inside, it was overly warm and smelled of camphor. I barely paid attention to the floral wallpaper or the giant map on the wall with pins in it. I walked over to the bed and my heart clenched.
Katie lay on her back, her eyes closed, breathing heavily. She was also far paler than normal. I placed a hand on her forehead and mentally swore—she was burning up.
Her eyes fluttered open, and at her unfocused look, I made a decision. After moving my hand to cup her cheek, I said, “You’re not well, baby. Let me take you to the clinic.”
“I’ll be fine. I always heal pretty quickly. I just need some water and some sleep.”
“You have a fever, you’re sweaty, and you’re having a hard time breathing. You need to see a doctor.”
I set down the care package and looked around. Finding a throw blanket at her little desk, I picked it up and threw back the bedcovers.
Katie shivered. “That’s fucking cold. Just let me sleep.”
I took her hand. “If you’re as well as you say, then squeeze my hand hard.”
She tried, but there was barely any pressure. My stomach churned at how weak she was. What if something happened to her? What if she died from her stubbornness and I never saw her again?
No. I wouldn’t let that happen. “You definitely need to see a doctor. I’m going to carry you to the car and drive you.”
The fight went out of her—another bad sign. “Okay.”
I helped her sit up and wrapped the blanket around her. Then I lifted her into my arms, and she leaned heavily against me, her head resting on my shoulder. I held her tight and kissed her forehead. “Come on. Let’s get you better, baby.”
I could barely hear her reply. “Nolan, I’ve missed you.”
My heart skipped a beat. We hadn’t seen each other in person since the day of the proposal. And as busy as I had been with my job, every night I had stared at my phone, wanting to talk to Katie. To the one person who wouldn’t ask for juicy details about the actors I’d worked with that day. No, instead she’d ask if the food was better, or if the make-up artist had finally proposed to their partner, or about the little things that had happened during the day, as if it were any other job.
She was the only person who ever seemed to see me and not just my fame.
After kissing her forehead, I whispered, “I’ve missed you too, baby.”
I carried her down the stairs and settled her into my car. The entire drive into Starry Hills, I kept looking at Katie. She was asleep; her face was really pale, and she kept shivering.
By the time I pulled into the parking lot of Dr. Washington’s clinic, my nerves were on edge. Even more so once I had Katie in my arms again. As soon as I entered the building, I barked, “She’s really sick and needs a doctor!”
The person behind the reception came over. “This isn’t an emergency room. Should I call an ambulance?”
I readjusted my grip on Katie. “But Dr. Washington said she’d see emergency cases if they didn’t require surgery. My fiancée is ill. Really ill. Please. I just want the doctor to see what’s wrong. And the county hospital is so far away.”
Katie murmured something incomprehensible, and I hugged her tighter against me.
The receptionist sighed. “Let me check with the doctor.”
Since it was so close to Christmas and people were probably traveling or with family, the waiting area was empty. I whispered into Katie’s ear, “Hold on, baby. Let’s get you better. You’ve been dying to see what I got you for Christmas, and you need to be healthy before I can give it to you.”
