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“Yes, Nurse Laney,” Alex teases, but his lids are heavy and despite sleeping for the last twelve hours, he still looks exhausted. “The only thing that’s missing is you wearing a sexy nurse’s uniform.”
“When we get out of here, I will be happy to wear a sexy nurse’s uniform and make all your fantasies come true, but for now, you get me in some old dude’s clothes that are too big and smell like mothballs.”
Alex takes a big drink of the water and then lays back down on the mattress, letting out a hard sigh. I hate the way it sounds. It sounds like worry, as if he’s thinking about what might happen if he doesn’t get better or if we don’t get rescued. Even if he doesn’t ever say it out loud, I know he has the same fears as me. He just keeps them bottled up inside, holding onto everything so I don’t have to worry. But I still do.
I shake two of the ibuprofen into my hand and walk them over to Alex. I really don’t want to argue with him about taking them and I hope I don’t have to since I agreed to give him a sponge bath.
“Take these and then I’ll be happy to strip off your clothes and put my hands all over your body,” I say, letting the fake seduction drip from my words. He knows I’m only doing this so I can reduce his fever, like he cares. He’s always up for me touching him even if it has ulterior motives.
“I was checking, and it seems like you need to start with my dick,” Alex says, and I can’t help but burst out laughing. He’s really laying it on thick here.
“Really? That feels a bit like what some arrogant dude who wants to get laid would say,” I joke back at him.
“Drop the arrogant part and you are one hundred percent right.” He winks at me, but I can still see the exhaustion written all over his face. With his heavy lids and his pale skin, the last thing he needs is to exert himself.
He pulls his shirt over his head, tossing it to the side, he stands up, swaying a little almost like he’s going to fall down. Steadying himself, he limps slowly over to one of the chairs that surround what is basically our kitchen table.
“I’ll sit here so we don’t get the bed wet,” he says, his voice sounding weaker than it did just a few seconds ago.
I dip the small dish towel into the bowl of water I have, it’s basically melted snow that has been sitting near the stove. It won’t be warm, and it shouldn’t be. We need to bring his fever down and warm water will not work. This is probably going to feel like complete torture.
“You ready?” I ask, clenching my teeth as I bring the wet towel toward his body. I take in a deep breath and as soon as the towel connects with Alex’s skin, he lets out a yelp.
“Holy fuck, that’s cold!” He shoves my hand away; his body begins to shake almost immediately as goosebumps dot his skin.
“I know, but we need to try this. It should help reduce your fever. You could get even more…” I start but trail off not wanting to say what I’m thinking out loud. Saying it out loud makes it feel too real, makes it feel like it could become our reality.
“I’m not going to get worse, Laney,” he says, reaching for me and pulling me onto his lap. “I have the best nurse around and she’s going to take care of me.”
I lean down and kiss him. His lips are dry, and I can only hope the water he drank starts to take effect. The fever feels like it’s working harder than he is when it comes to drinking.
“Let me get you some more water and then we’re going to try the towel again,” I say, standing up, but leaning down once again to kiss him.
The room falls silent while I fill the water bottle and when I return to where Alex is sitting, he looks up at me, swallowing hard, he nods his head.
“Okay, let’s try this again, but this time I won’t yell out.” He smiles, clenching his fists at his side, he scrunches his eyes shut in preparation. “Go for it.”
This time I drape the towel over his shoulders, letting it rest there while his body shakes, making me feel terribly guilty. He looks miserable. Hopefully the ibuprofen is working too.
Alex takes a long drink of water, holding it in his mouth for a second or two before swallowing. I imagine everything feels incredibly cold to him.
“Sit with me,” he says, again pulling me onto his lap. “Tell me something. Anything,” he adds, like he’s trying to distract himself.
Tell him you love him, Delaney!
I take in a deep breath, trying to think of something to say, because telling him I love him feels really fucking scary. Not just for me, but for him too. It’s a lot.
“How about you tell me some of the best memories you have of your mom?” I say, smiling at him as I shift the towel so it’s not resting on his chest.
“Okay,” he replies almost immediately. “First, you’re only the second person to take care of me when I’ve been sick. You and my mom.”
23
ALEX
Delaney laughs softly. “And let me guess, you were a total mama’s boy too, right?”
I pinch her ass, my head resting on her shoulder because I barely have the energy to hold it up. I really don’t want to worry her any more than I already am, but fuck, I feel like shit.
