AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He smirked and dropped his hand. “Just remember that when you’re fixing me chicken soup in a few days, and we’ll be fine.”
“Deal.”
* * *
Another shower felt heavenly,but it also made me lightheaded. The last thing I needed was to pass out naked and have Mark find me that way. After slipping on fresh pajamas, I frowned at my reflection. Holy nightmare. I looked like death puked up, well, death. Good thing Mark and I were only friends. And I didn’t care what my friend thought of my appearance. Yeah, right.
Staring in the mirror was doing nothing for my self-confidence as I tried to look at myself through his eyes. Then I thought, nope. Not going there.
I pulled out the blow-dryer, intent on getting some of the dampness out of my hair. But within minutes my nausea came back full force, together with a heat rush right to my head. I turned the dryer off and splashed cold water on my face. Feeling like I might be sick, I opened the cabinet door below the sink in search of some Pepto. I’d thought I had some in here somewhere in a travel bag. When I unzipped the pouch of the bag, however, it was full of tampons. Desperate for something to help quell my stomach, I dumped the entire contents of the bag and finally found the small bottle of stomach-relief pills in the bottom. After shaking a few out, I swallowed them with a bit of water and then sat at the base of the toilet with my cheek on the cool porcelain of the tub. I sure was thankful I’d earlier scrubbed this bathroom top to bottom.
Please don’t get sick. Please don’t get sick.
My watering mouth wasn’t exactly an encouraging sign, but it didn’t stop my half prayer, half mantra. As if I could give my stomach the pep talk necessary to stay put. Upon hearing a soft knock, I glanced up to see Mark’s face pop in.
“Jules, you all right?”
I nodded, unable to verbalize a response.
He didn’t hesitate to take action, grabbing a wash cloth, wetting it with cool water, and then placing it on my forehead. His gaze next hit the floor.
My glance tracked his, and I realized what he’d found. The twenty-plus tampons strewn about as if the box had exploded.
I glanced up at the ceiling, asking the universe why me?
“Um, do you want me to give you privacy?”
Great. Now he was probably thinking that, on top of being sick, I needed an entire box of tampons to stop my monthly flow. “No. I was searching for Pepto. The feminine hygiene products are only to push my humiliation to the brink of ridiculous whenever I’m around you.”
“You’re humiliated around me?” He frowned at my admission.
“Repeatedly, but not by anything that’s your fault. If anything, I’m shocked you haven’t permanently hid from me.”
That pulled a smile from him. “Now where would be the fun in that? You feeling better? Want to try getting into bed?”
“I think so.” I let him help me up and didn’t complain when he wrapped an arm around me for support during the few feet into my bedroom. There I found he’d already stripped the sheets and had another glass of water on the nightstand.
He lifted up the comforter and sheet, and I slid in, barely able to keep my eyes open. Virus plus hot shower, blow dry, and tampon explosion equaled complete exhaustion.
“Let me go to the store. When I get back, I’ll sleep on the couch. If Tristan gets up, don’t worry.”
His hand rubbed my back, causing me to sigh with bliss. “Why are you doing this for me?”
“I like you.”
I opened my eyes and saw him quickly amend his words.
“Like a friend. I meant I like you as a friend.”
I couldn’t keep myself from teasing him. “Oh, good. I was worried you might like, like me.”
His lips twitched. “Don’t worry. Only one like.”
My body relaxed, enjoying the fact that he hadn’t stopped his massage, moving it up to my shoulders. Maybe I could blame my sickness later, but all of a sudden it didn’t feel like a single-like situation. “So maybe we can be good friends, then.”
His voice sounded decidedly sexy. “I’d like that.”
“Can I ask you something?”
