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My mother’s face, Noëlle’s knowing eyes, Taylen’s disappointed look, Emmett’s concern, and the awareness that in less than forty-eight hours, everything will change back to how it was.

And the worst. I can’t tell anyone.

My mother thinks I’m working too hard. Emmett thinks I’m burnt out. Taylen thinks I’m avoiding him. Every single person who loves me has a different, incorrect story about what’s happening to me, and I can’t correct any of them.

By the time I put the keys in my door, my vision is starting to fuzz at the edges.

I push the door open and realize I must look like death warmed over because Fox is already in motion before I’ve fully stepped inside.

“You’re home early.”

“Migraine.”

“What do you need?”

“Just…need to lie down.”

“Okay.”

I drop my bag, kick off my boots, and shrug out of my coat before hanging it on the back of the nearest chair. My scarf goes somewhere on the floor. I don’t have the bandwidth to care.

Fox follows me toward the bedroom but stops in the doorway.

“Do you have anything for it?”

“There’s Excedrin in the bathroom cabinet.”

“Water?”

“Yeah.”

“Okay.” His voice is quiet. Careful. “I’ll bring the meds and water. Anything else? Ice pack? Heating pad?”

“Ice pack maybe. On the back of my neck.”

“Got it.”

I don’t bother with the rest of my clothes. Just climb into bed in my shirt and slacks and pull the covers over myself, curling onto my side with my back to the door.

Behind me, I hear Fox move, followed by the soft rustle of the curtains closing. Then the click of the bedroom door being pushed most of the way shut, but not all the way, so there’s still a thin band of hallway light bleeding in for my eyes to work with.

He comes back in and kneels beside the bed rather than stand over me.

“Here.”

I take the pills and the water without looking and then hand the glass back. He sets it on the nightstand within reach, then gently guides my hand to find the ice pack he’s wrapped in a dish towel.

“Thank you.”

“Do you need anything else?”

“No thank you.”

I hear him stand and move around to the other side of the bed.

Then the mattress dips.

I turn my face slightly. Fox is settling in beside me.