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“Yeah, I’ll stick to the over-the-counter stuff.” I grimaced again. “You know, the stuff that doesn’t smell like ass.”
“I’ll have you know that anise is used in a lot of dishes and desserts—things you probably eat all the time.”
“I can tell you I’ve never eaten or put anything in my mouth that smelled like that. Seriously, it’s going to make me gag.”
She started cleaning up her mess on the counter, and I shooed her off. “I’ll clean that up.” When she began to protest, I told her in my no-nonsense voice, “You’re getting in bed.”
“I don’t want you cleaning up my mess.”
“Dammit, you’re not going to clean up when you should be in bed. Come on”—I handed the mug to her and sneered—“bring your anus tea with you.”
She chuckled and shook her head. “Anise.”
“Tomato, tomahto,” I said, leading the way to her room, so I was upwind from her and her stinky ass tea.
I got her tucked into her bed, made sure she was comfy, glared at the tea she swore would make her feel better, and asked, “What medicine do you have?”
“Tylenol.”
“That’s all you have?”
“I never get sick.”
I rolled my eyes. “You seriously have nothing here other than Tylenol and tea?”
“Nope,” she said and took a sip of her tea. “Ahh,” she let out after she swallowed.
“Finish your tea and get some sleep.”
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll sleep on the couch.”
“You should sleep in here with me.”
I looked at her tea with skepticism.
She chuckled, then cringed. She was in pain but was being a sport about it. Marisa was just like me, saving face and keeping up the pretense that she was stronger than the illness she was fighting. “I’ll take the tea to the other room,” she said. “I promise you won’t have to smell it anymore.”
I snickered in response. “Honestly, it’s not the tea. I’d love to join you. But you need to get a good night’s sleep. And if you’re next to me, I don’t think I’d be able to keep my hands to myself.”
Her smile was wistful as she peered up at me through her lashes. “Promises, promises,” she said, echoing the words she said to me the first night we slept together.
I raised my eyebrows, daring her to challenge me.
“Okay, okay. Fine. Sleep on the couch. But don’t come cryin’ to me if your back hurts because of it.”
“Call out if you need me.”
“’Kay.” Her voice sounded childlike and innocent.
I smiled before bidding her, “Good night, sweetheart.” I bent and kissed her forehead.
“Night.” She sounded sleepy as she snuggled deeper into her blankets.
I left the door slightly ajar, went into the next room, and got to work. She needed provisions, and she needed them stat.
* * *
