“It was kind of a rollercoaster day. Really high highs and the lowest lows,” she says softly.
I hand her another cracker, and she rests her head on my shoulder as she eats it.
“You two fighting?” Kyle asks.
My head jerks up at him, but he doesn’t appear to be fishing for anything. Just asking questions.
Mikayla lifts her hand and rubs her temple and then takes a heavy breath.
“Like I mentioned, I was very emotional yesterday, and Caine was subjected to the downside of that.”
Kyle furrows his brow and tilts his head to the side. “How so?”
“I lost my father this year. And things with my mom have been, well—bad. I told her that I no longer wanted her in my life. When I was crying, Caine said something I misinterpreted, and it turned into a big stupid thing. I was feeling emotional and misunderstood him.” Mikayla takes my hand, and I curl her fingers around mine. “We hashed it out. But then got into another argument.” Mikayla lets out a heavy breath and sits back. This time she does look at me. “I don’t think I was in an overly emotional state at thatpoint, but I definitely didn’t handle it well.”
“You’re navigating a new relationship, and you’re living together, which is highly unusual. Add that to your already stressful life and Caine’s got his own shit, I’m sure it feels like a lot,” Kyle says.
“Thanks,” I say sarcastically.
Kyle smiles in response.
“I worry I’m overly attached,” Mikayla says. “I think he’s gonna wake up and tell me that his earlier statement about him not being boyfriend material was right, and I’m not worth the hassle,” she says. Her voice is very quiet, but I can hear her. And so can Kyle.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I tell her.
But I hear the frustration in my voice. I don’t know how many more times I can say it.
“Caine,” Kyle says, raising his hand to me. “Can I say something that’s unsolicited? And I realize I’m not a relationship expert by any means?”
I nod, and so does Mikayla.
“I’m a doctor, so this purely comes from my experience and what I’ve studied. Mikayla lost her father and her mother in one year. I’m not sure what your relationship is with your brother, but that won’t change my view on this. Two very important people are gone from your life. Mikayla, you need to mourn the death of your father, which I’m guessing you haven’t been emotionally ready for because of your mother, and now you need to mourn the loss of your mother.In my view. Mikayla is naturally suspicious of this new relationship,” he points his finger at me then her, “because she’s used to loss. High levels of stress have been known to cause illness. You’re crashing. Mikayla, your body is telling you it’s overcapacity.”
“Are you telling her to break up with me?” I ask. He wouldn’t… would he?
Mikayla squeezes my hand and looks at me. It’s as though she can feel my anxiety, the flip of my stomach at the very idea. Her breaking up with me wouldn’t solve a damn thing!
“He’s suggesting I see a therapist and that I need to rest,” she says. “I’m not breaking up with you; that would make me feel worse,” she adds.
I can see the dark circles under her eyes getting darker as her energy wanes. She sighs and sits back, shutting her eyes.
“If you decide to work for me, as I’m sure you already heard me and Caine talking about ‘cause we were not discreet, I want you to start after Thanksgiving. Give yourself a month. I can make-do. But for now, let me get you both toothbrushes and toothpaste,” he says.
It’s three AM by the time we finish brushing our teeth, and every limb in my body feels heavy. I can barely keep my eyes open. I lower the bed, so we recline, and shut my eyes.
Then I hear her voice, low and husky. It’s almost unintelligible. “I love you,” she whispers.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Mikayla
I ache all over, and the urge to pee is so strong I may go in my pants! A deep heaviness presses down on me as I open my eyes. Fuck! I have to get up. For two nights I slept at the clinic. Two long freaking nights of being woken up and poked and prodded until my fever broke.
The dreams were next level! Having a fever makes your brain go loopy apparently, well,at least when you have a fever as high as I did.
I dreamt of fairies and Greek gods! One came in the form of Caine and told me he would never leave me. It was so freaking insane! If I hadn’t known how fevers could impact the mind, I’d have told you they were real. But we all know Caine isn’t a Greek god, though the man is Adonis himself.
Caine brought me home yesterday, but apparently, I’m still supposed to stay in bed. I could pretend to be annoyed that I’m forced to be here, but let’s be real, I have little to no energy or strength. So, that’s where I am right now… in bed, still tired and achy, but home. It’s eleven o’clock in the morning, and I’m still in bed with my bladder screaming at me that it needs to go… NOW!
