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“Whoa, Lola, you look like crap.” Rob enters her bedroom, a grin plastering his face. He winks at me and Connie then settles on the edge of Lola’s bed. I’m not sure I like the familiarity he’s showing. I scowl. Next to me Connie sighs.
“Sod off, Rob,” Lola grumbles, but I see the smile in her eyes before her gaze flicks to us both. “You should get on home, Connie. Malakai will walk you back,” Lola says, her voice a mere croak.
“I’m fine. I don’t need a chaperone.”
“Even so, it would make me feel better.”
Dr Fuller starts to pack away his equipment. “You really should have someone stay with you. Tonsillitis isn’t going to kill you, but you will feel shaky on your legs for a few days until the antibiotics start to kick in…”
“A few days? No, I need to get back to work tomorrow,” Lola protests weakly, trying and failing to push herself upright in bed.
“The hell you are, Lola,” Rob states. “You’re done in and you need to rest. We’ll sort something out between us.” He looks over at me and I understand what he’s getting at.
“I’ll stay and watch over you. Connie can run The Shack until you’re on your feet,” I offer. Beside me Connie stiffens.
“Wait, no. I meantIcould stay…” Rob’s voice trails off when he glances at me and the fixed scowl on my face. I’m pretty sure Lola’s cheeks flush a darker shade of pink, or perhaps that’s just her fever.
“No, you have a business to run, Rob. You don’t have to do that.” She gives him a weak smile, flicking her gaze between us both. Hmm, I think I’m losing my touch. I can normally tell when two people are hot for each other. Looks like Connie has been a bigger distraction than I thought. Wait, who am I kidding? She’sallI’ve been thinking about.
“But I can’t ask Connie to manage all on her own,” Lola continues. “It’s a lot of work. I’ll be fine after a good night’s rest.”
“Bed rest, three days at least. Doctor’s orders,” Dr Fuller states, brooking no arguments.
“But…” Lola begins, then winces at the pain in her throat.
“What about Ma Silva, I’m pretty sure she’d be happy to watch over you for a few days? Then Malakai can help out Connie at the Shack,” Rob suggests, avoiding eye-contact with me. Looks like he’s disliking the idea of me staying here with Lola as much as Connie is.
“Sure,” Connie says.
“No,” I disagree.
Lola chews on her lip, raising her hand to her forehead. Her fingers shake as she rubs at her temple. “That could work, if you think your Gran wouldn’t mind. I don’t want to put her out. I’m sure she has better things to do with her time than look after me,” Lola says, looking equal measures hopeful and uncomfortable.
Dr Fuller pulls out his mobile phone and hits dial. “Ma Silva wouldn’t mind at all. I know her and she wouldn’t want you to be laid up here on your own, unwell, with no one looking out for you. The woman’s a saint, and I’m pretty sure she’s looked after us all at one point over the years.” He walks out of the room to make that call.
“I agree. Grandma won’t mind at all,” Connie says softly. “Ican work with Malakai…” Her voice falters as she regards me. “If he’s willing, that is.”
“Yeah, it’s not as if you’ve got anything better to do, Malakai. Your boat is in the yard after all,” Rob says, raising his eyebrows and daring me to object. This isdefinitelymore about me not looking after Lola, than it is about me helping out at the Shack. I wouldn’t have put Lola and Rob together, but there’s definitely something there.
“You’d be doing me a huge favour,” Lola says, giving me a weak smile.
Fuck.
If I insist on saying no, I’m going to look like the jerk they all think I am, but if I agree, I’m going to need superhuman restraint around Connie.
“Well?” Rob insists.
Lola looks at me hopefully, but it isn’t her stare that has sweat sliding down my back, it’s Connie’s. The idea of being in close confines with her, even if that is only for a few days, is doing all kinds of unwelcome things to me. Jesus fucking Christ.
“Fine,” I hear myself saying, just as Dr Fuller returns to the room.
“All sorted. Ma Silva is on her way. She’ll stay for a couple nights until you’re feeling better.”
“Perfect,” Rob grins, winking at me. If I didn’t like him so much I might have to wipe that grin off his face.
“Perfect,” I echo, though the grumble in my voice tells everyone in the room that I’m less than happy about it.
Connie flinches but she doesn’t say a word, she simply heads over to Lola and grasps her hand. “We’ll take care of things until you feel better, okay?”
