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DAWSON MEETS ME AT the baggage claim, even though I didn’t check anything. He greets me with a handshake and welcomes me home as we walk out to his car. The second we climb in, I ask the question I’ve been dying to know.
“So, how is she? Really.”
He looks down and shakes his head. “I don’t know, man. Something’s off with her but she won’t tell me what.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, we got into a fight the other day because I don’t like that Caleb is always there. She’s barely talked to me since.”
I get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. “You don’t think something is going on between them, do you?”
“I wish I knew. The only thing I do know, is that whenever someone comes around, they stop talking like there’s some big secret between them.”
Swallowing down the lump in my throat, I exhale and shake my head. “It’s probably nothing. If Kayleigh wanted to be with Caleb, she would have picked him two years ago.”
“I really hope you’re right.” He says, unsure. “I’d hate to see her be that stupid. I mean, I like Caleb, don’t get me wrong. But you and her are on another level. It’s like the atmosphere shifts to something so much more whenever you’re around each other.”
I chuckle softly. “And here I thought I was the only one who noticed that.”
“Not even close.”
WE PULL UP TO the apartment building around ten. He wishes me luck and the two of us go into separate doors. Walking up the stairs, everything is quiet. There are no signs of life from my apartment. However, when I open the door, I see why. Kayleigh is lying on the couch, snuggled under a blanket and sleeping soundly.
Being as silent as I can, I tip toe over and kiss her forehead. As much as I’d love to have her jump into my arms, the last thing I want to do is wake her while sh
e’s sick. See idiot? All that worrying for nothing. She’s alone.
Just then, almost like I jinxed it, I hear the toilet flush and Caleb comes walking out of the bathroom. He freezes when he sees me.
“Oh, hey H.” Already, he sounds sketchy. “Kayleigh didn’t mention you were coming back this weekend.”
“That’s because Kayleigh doesn’t know.” I answer, keeping my voice down in order not to wake my sleeping fiancé.
He nods and glances at her, seeing she’s still out cold. “Well, I’ll get out of your hair. I’m sure you have all this handled.”
I don’t respond. He grabs his jacket and heads out the door. Although, I don’t miss the look on his face as he does.
I go into the bedroom to change into sweats. When I’m done, I grab a beer from the fridge and sit down on the couch – impatiently waiting for the love of my life to wake up. The smell of Caleb’s cologne is all over this place, and it makes me uneasy.
Twenty minutes later, I’m watching sports center when I hear a small gasp coming from my right side. I turn my head to see Kayleigh, blinking up at me with her big eyes. Smiling, I bend down and kiss her forehead.
“Are you really here, or am I just dreaming again?”
“Again?” I question. “Does that happen often?”
She sits up and rubs her eyes. “All the time. It’s great, but really disappointing when I wake up.”
The blanket falls and my stomach drops. She looks like she’s lost ten pounds since I’ve seen her last, and that was only a week ago. I knew she was having a hard time keeping things down, but I never thought I’d be able to see a difference. How sick is she?
“Sorry.” She apologizes, wrapping the blanket around her. “I look horrible, I know.”
I shake my head. “Baby, you’re beautiful. I’m just worried about you.”
It looks like she wants to say something, but instead she smiles sadly and looks down at her hands. Not being able to resist anymore, I reach over and pull her into my lap – needing the physical contact. She cuddles into my chest and sighs.
“I’m glad you’re home.”
I place a kiss on the top of her head and rub calming circles into her hip. “Me too.”
