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“You were worried about me.”
“Yes. If something happens to you, another Yarrow might show up on my doorstep, and I’ve already gotten used to you.”
She smiled. “Can’t get rid of us, can you?”
Careful not to touch her, he sat on the edge of the bed. “I’m not so sure I want to.”
Setting the cup next to her, she pulled the scone from its paper wrapper. “I can’t believe the flu hit me this hard. I was fine yesterday. You should probably not get too close… I don’t want to get you sick.”
“Impossible. Strong immune system.”
“Up for Galway after this?”
“Fuck, no. You’re not going anywhere but home from here. You’re only functioning because of an elephant’s dose of fever reducers. Rest. Recover. We’ll go when you can walk six feet without needing to catch your breath.”
“That’s not true.” But her strained breathing told another story. “Fine. One day of rest, but that’s it.”
“Deal.”
“Oliver…” The pause held while she broke off a piece of scone and popped it into her mouth. Swallowing, she met his gaze. “How did you manage to leave the house?”
He stuck to the facts. “I wasn’t thinking about leaving—only about getting you to a doctor.”
***
He left his safe space to take her here. The realization was humbling.
Reaching for his hand, she threaded their fingers together. “Thank you.” Tired of lying by omission, she tightened her hold. “I need to tell you something. Right before I used the restroom, I saw someone I recognized. But he left before I caught up to him.”
His gaze snapped to hers. “Who?”
“Not Kyle,” she assured him. “Someone else. A friend of his. He was speaking to a nurse. I don’t remember his name, and the name he gave the nurse—Sean—doesn’t ring a bell. He disappeared down a stairwell, and I didn’t want to go after him. The nurse said he was asking about Kyle.”
“Why would he be asking about Kyle here?”
“No clue, but she said she didn’t know him.”
He lifted to his feet. “I’ll be back.”
“Oh no, I’m not letting you go after him either. He’s probably long gone now anyway.”
“What does he look like?”
“Stocky. Average height. Brown hair. Irish.”
Her dizziness and exhaustion returned in a tidal wave. Having the flu sucked. She wanted to close her eyes and sleep for days. She wanted to go home, to Oliver’s house far away from here, and snuggle up in his silky soft sheets that smelled like him.
“The nurse said they’ll release me soon. Can we go home now?” Her stomach clamped, and she set the scone aside.
Oliver considered her. “I’ll go see what’s taking so long.”
“Don’t rush off on a wild-goose chase.”
“I’ll be back.”
***
On his way to find the nurse who had checked them in, he went to the stairwell.
