“Kel, it might be best if you stay out of this one. I think she and I need to work it out.”
“She’s my best friend, which means I can pry like I’m doing with you.”
She had a point. It would be unlike her not to pry.
“Fine. I should let you go, though. I need to talk to her.”
“Yes, yes. You should go. Make haste.”
Cole snorted. “Love you.”
“Love you more.”
They ended the call, and Cole stretched his arms above his head. It was time to stop procrastinating and talk to Ava.
He walked to his door and opened it, immediately hearing the sound of vomiting. He jogged to the bathroom and peeked inside to find Ava kneeling in front of the toilet.
“Oh no. It got you?” he asked.
“Go away.”
“Nope.” He stepped inside and grabbed her hair, pulling it back as she wretched.
“Seriously. You don’t need to see me puke. It’s not flattering.”
He snorted. “Pretty sure I’ve seen it all. We’ve been friends forever.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
Before he could reply, she wretched again. He waited until she was done and then helped her stand.
“I’ll get you some ginger ale. Come to the couch when you’re ready,” he said.
He walked to the kitchen and filled a glass with ice and then poured ginger ale over it. Cole didn’t expect her to actually come to the couch. He thought she would go to her room and lock him out, so he was pleasantly surprised when she laid down in the living room. He set the glass on the coffee table within her reach, along with a bowl in case she needed it. Then he pulled a blanket off the back of the couch and laid it over her.
“Want to watch a movie?” he asked.
“Sure,” she said, her voice muffled by the pillow she rested her head on.
Improvement.
He sat down on the other couch and found her favorite movie, an old romantic comedy. Without asking for an opinion, he turned it on.
“I like this one,” she murmured.
“I know.”
Halfway through the movie, she was back in the bathroom, and he dutifully held her hair back as she wretched.
“Why are you doing this?” she asked.
“Because you’re my best friend, and you deserve to be taken care of too.”
She didn’t say anything else. Once she finished, he helped her up again and back to the couch. She fell asleep shortly after, and Cole finished the movie while keeping an eye on her.
