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He stirred, sat up, and blinked his eyes. He turned on a small lamp next to the bed. “Katie? Are you awake?” He placed a hand on my forehead and whispered, “Thank fuck. Your fever’s gone.”
Even though talking felt like rubbing sandpaper against my throat, I asked, “Where are we?”
“Shh. Let me get you something to drink first. I have a sports drink that should help you a little.”
I wanted to say screw the drink and demand he tell me what was going on.
But then I tried to move, and it felt as if my limbs were made of stone.
Nolan returned with a cup and straw dangling over the side and set it on the nightstand. He said, “Let’s get you up, baby. And then you can have some of this.”
Too tired to protest, he had to haul me upright. I bit my lip to keep from groaning.
Once I was nestled against the pillows at my back, Nolan caressed my cheek. For a few beats, he merely stared at me, his eyes filled with…relief?
After picking up the glass, he put the straw to my lips. I took a few sips, the cool liquid soothing my throat a little, and I sighed. “Thank you. What happened? Where are we?”
He sat down on the bed, his hip against mine, and took my hand. “You were really sick, and I came to check on you.” He explained about taking me to the clinic and the doctor’s diagnosis. Then he added, “I brought you here, to my place, so I could take care of you.”
“Nolan, you didn’t have to.”
He cupped my cheek. “Shh. Of course I had to. You’re my responsibility.”
“But—”
“No buts, Katie. It’s okay to ask for help sometimes. Especially with me. For now, just let me be your nurse. You can consider it your Christmas present.”
“What happened to my big surprise?”
He winked. Despite how tired and sick I was, it still made my heart skip a beat.
“I’m teasing you. Besides, I can’t wait to see your face when you get your actual present. Although you can’t have it until you get better, so that means you have to rest. Let me take care of you, baby. Stay here with me until you’re stronger.”
I should ask him to take me home. Being sick wasn’t anything new, and my family would return in a couple days.
However, just sitting with Nolan and having him near made me feel better. Maybe staying at his place would speed up my recovery.
Plus, it’d be good practice for when I went to L.A. for New Year’s and had to sleep under the same roof as him. Yes, that was the main reason I should stay.
Liar.
I replied, “Okay, I’ll stay. But I draw the line at you helping me to the bathroom.”
“Deal.” He cleared his throat and then added, “Would you mind if I slept in here for tonight? Your fever just broke, and I want to make sure you won’t relapse or get worse.”
Imagining Nolan in bed with me made my cheeks hot. “Well, it’s not as if you’re going to ravish me in this state, so I don’t see why not.”
He leaned forward. “You’re still fucking beautiful to me, baby.”
His words made my throat tighten. I so desperately wanted them to be real. But I knew they weren’t. He probably was trying to cheer me up, nothing else.
“Katie?”
“Fine, you can sleep in here. Although if you get sick, you can’t blame me.”
“I rarely get sick, so I’ll take my chances.”
He knocked on the headboard—his bed was solid wood, with designs carved into it.
