Page 62 of Elf-ish

“Angelica,” Julia whispers, like she worships the name.

“Don’t say it like that.”

“I’m only repeating you. It’s beautiful.”

“She’s beautiful,” I grunt, swiping over my hair and cupping the back of my neck.

“Oh, Jude.” The sigh in my sister’s voice is too much. It’s almost as if she’s proud of me for some reason.

“Look, are you going to help me or not?”

She laughs outright at my distress. “Okay. Here’s what to do.”

I quickly make a list, finding I’ve already done most of what she tells me.

“Monitor her fever, and if she still has it tomorrow, I’d take her to an urgent care.”

Urgent care? That sounds serious.

“Does Dad know about Angelica?”

“Of course not.” Once again, my tone is too harsh. Julia isn’t the issue. My racing heart is. I want to take care of Angelica. I want her to feel better. And then, we need to talk.

As the quiet lingers between Julia and me, I swallow down my pride and ask a question that’s been on my mind.

“Do you think it’s too late for Tucker and me to have a relationship?” I’d taken to calling our dad Tucker once I learned about the convoluted relationship we have.

“No, Jude. I don’t think it’s too late.” Again, a smile fills her voice. This one sounds motherly, which is ironic considering she’s younger than me. But Julia has always been my rock. I never faulted her for being the true child of our parents. My once-shy and innocent little sister until she surprised us all and went off to California.

I could ask Julia how to fix the divide between Tucker and me, but I only have one concern right now. When I hear the bathroom door close, I turn toward the open doorway to Angelica’s bedroom.

“I’ve got to go.”

“I’m proud of you, Jude. You actually sound like you’re growing up.”

“Funny.”

“No more lost boy for you,” she teases, as if I’m Peter Pan, which is something she teased me about as a child. Never wanting to grow up. Always causing mischief. Only I was more like Captain Hook, grumpy and angry. Envious.

“Yeah, yeah. Gotta go,” I state again.

“I love you, Jude.”

My shoulders relax a little. “Love you, too, cupcake,” I tease, using her husband’s nickname for her.

The line goes dead with my sister’s chuckle echoing in my ear.

Returning to my nursemaid duties, I check on my patient. When I enter Angelica’s bedroom, she’s exiting the bathroom. Her body is hunched forward like it took all her effort to walk the few steps.

“I’m so cold again,” she grumbles, climbing back into her bed and bringing her covers up to her chin. She visibly trembles, although her forehead feels warm.

“We’ve got to get that fever down.”

Angelica hums while her eyes close.

I do the only thing I can think of next. I strip out of my clothes, down to my boxer briefs, and climb into the bed behind her, tugging her back to my chest.

“What are you doing?” The rough grumble sounds like it takes all her energy to speak.