“Some.” She wiped her tears with the heel of her hand and huffed a watery breath. “You. Are. Infuriating.”
“I’m fine. Promise. ButI’m dyingfor a fresh glass of water.”
Harper swatted my arm.
“Too soon?”
She shot me a dirty look and got to her feet. She refilled my glass from the small kitchen. I pushed myself up to sitting, slowly. My pulse kicked up a notch with the small movement, but Harper didn’t needto know that.
“My hero,” I said, taking the water gratefully.
“I still think I should call someone and have you checked out.”
“You can check me out. Any time.”
She tilted her head, giving me my favorite glare. Like she couldn’t decide if she was going to kill me or kiss me.
“That was weak,” I admitted. “But it’s the best I could do, under the circumstances.”
She sat beside me on the couch. “Why did you take that stuff if you knew it was going to give you a bad reaction?”
“New prescription from my father. Thought they might be different. And because I’m so bloody tired of muscling through.”
“Because you have no help. When was the last time you were evaluated—”
I shook my head. “Not tonight, please. I’m exhausted. But I’m happy. Because you’re here.”
“Don’t sweet-talk me. You scared me to death. But you do look better, though that’s not saying much.”
“There she is,” I said softly.
“Come on. You should get to bed. The girl at the desk said I have until eleven to finish my business and get out before curfew.”
“You have business?”
She nodded.
“Don’t like the sound of that.”
Harper’s lovely face was still drawn with tension, her eyes shadowed, and a sadness lurked in their brown depths. A deep grief that had nothing to do with me.
Slowly, I got off the couch. Harper hovered near me but didn’t touch me. Not a good sign. In my room, she took in the two full-sized beds, one to each side of the spacious room: two desks, two dressers, two closets.
“Yourdormbedroom is bigger than mine,” she said. “Where is your roommate?”
“Easton? He’ll be along shortly. He’s a vampire. He can stay up and keep an eye on me, if it makes you feel better.”
“None of this makes me feel better,” she said while I rummaged in my dresser.
“It’s like I said,” I said, finding a pair of sleep pants and a T-shirt. I went to the adjoining bathroom, leaving the door open. “Different pill, same shitey reaction.”
I changed into a white V-neck shirt and plaid sleep pants. When I reemerged, I didn’t miss how Harper’s eyes widened slightly, and her pale cheeks—more pale tonight—took on some color. I’d been given a hundred flattering glances, but somehow only hers meant anything to me.
“I’ve dressed on my own, see? Although, now I’m thinking I should’ve played this up more.” I wagged my eyebrows. “Might’ve gotten a sponge bath out of it.”
“In your dreams.” She pointed at my bed. “Get.”
“I’ll never tire of you bossing me around.”
