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“So, what are your plans for the rest of the day?” I asked.
“I don’t know, watch television, vegetate, maybe practice my knitting. What about you?”
“I don’t have any plans at all.” I didn’t want to invite myself to stay, but I really wasn’t ready to walk away. Luckily, we were on the same page.
“Why don’t you stay for a while? We can watch movies or something.”
“That sounds amazing. I’ll even run out and grab us some lunch from the diner.”
“What? You don’t want to try my grilled cheese? I’m the best at opening cans,” he teased.
“I’m betting you’re the best at everything you do, but let’s save the grilled cheese for another day.”
We spent the rest of the day curled up on his couch, watching bad natural disaster movies and talking. At only twenty-two, Spencer had lived a lot of life. Some of it was pretty bad. It was no surprise that he seemed so much older in some ways, but still so young in others.
I hoped someday I got a chance to meet his family and let them know how much respect I had for them and for the way they’d treated my boy before I could be there to take care of him. I reminded myself again, for what had to be the fiftieth time, that this was still new and not to get ahead of myself, but I was pretty sure it was too late for me. I was a goner.
Chapter 13
Spencer
I was trying extremely hard to hold on to the high I’d started out the week on. After such a perfectly fantastic date with Nash over the weekend, it shouldn’t have been that hard, but work was kicking our butts.
I’d thought the worst was behind us once they called an official end to flu season. Not that you couldn’t get the flu at other times, of course you could, but by this time of year, the waiting rooms full of feverish, coughing people should have been behind us. But apparently not.
Everyone who came in was testing negative for the flu, but there was definitely a virus going around. Tanya had called out on Monday because one of her kids was too sick to go to school. Shay had fallen next, which had left us short-staffed for the rest of the week.
I’d hoped to see Nash again during the week, even if it was just for a quick dinner or maybe for lunch, which was why I said yes on Wednesday morning when he offered to bring dinner over that night, even though I was wiped out.
After treating people with this virus all week, I should’ve recognized the fatigue for what it was. But I hadn’t, and when the coughing started mid-morning, it caught me by surprise. And, of course, with the coughing came a scratching, irritated throat and upset stomach. It all sucked, but with Shay out sick, I was determined to stick it out, at least until Tonya walked up to me and shook her head.
“You look like crap, Spencer. Feeling okay?” I wanted to tell her that I was fine, but instead of words, all I managed was a coughing fit that took me a minute to get under control.
Once I did, I shook my head and let out a little chuckle. “I’m fine, boss. Honestly,” I said.
She reached up and placed the back of her hand against my forehead, shaking her head.
“No, you’re not fine. You’re burning up. And even if you wanted to stay and help, Spencer, we can’t have you waiting on patients.”
I wanted to argue that I couldn’t go home and leave her here so shorthanded, but I knew she was right. It didn’t really matter if the chances of anyone getting it from me since I wore a mask were slim, I would have to go home.
“I can’t believe how fast it came on. I was tired this morning, but other than that, I felt fine.”
“It was the same with both Cammie and Drew. Fine one minute and sicker than a dog the next. But either way, you go home, get some rest, and don’t come back until—”
“I’ve been fever-free for 24 hours.” I knew the drill. We’d been giving those exact instructions to patients all week.
“Right. And I don’t guess I have to tell you how important it is that you hydrate and get plenty of rest.”
“Trust me, Toyna, as tired as I am right now, that won’t be a problem.”
I went to the staff room and grabbed my bag out of my locker, not even bothering to change clothes. I hadn’t been to the store since last week, but I was sure I had something at home I could eat. But if not, I figured once the meds she gave me kicked in, I would probably feel good enough to go get something.
I was glad I didn’t live but a short drive from the clinic because the desire to do anything beyond seeking the solace of my comfy couch seemed beyond me.
I couldn’t believe I was going to have to cancel on Nash. I’d been looking forward to seeing him again ever since he left Sunday afternoon.
I knew all the rules for what to do when you were sick, so even though the last thing I wanted was to put anything, even water, in my stomach, I made myself a cup of tea as soon as I made it to my apartment. What I really wanted was to be home, curled up in my favorite chair with someone else there to baby me and take care of me.
