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He points toward the customer waiting room.
“What, her? Chloe? There’s no romance there. She’s just a friend I know from high school.”
“Alright, whatever you say.” He moseys on back to his office, but not without sneaking a glance at Chloe again. He looks back at me and winks.
What the hell? What’s gotten into my boss?
I shake my head as I get her keys and receipt. When I hand them to her, her fingers brush over my skin, and I hiss at the contact, pulling my hand back toward myself in protection.
“Oh, damn, sorry, Ty. I didn’t mean to touch your sunburn.”
“It’s alright,” I say through gritted teeth. Maybe I need to get this checked out. I have a feeling blisters are gonna form soon, and then I’m really gonna be in pain.
“Have you thought about getting your sunburn checked out? It looks pretty bad.”
It’s like she read my mind.
“Yeah, probably after my shift if it’s still bothering me.”
“I don’t think you should wait that long.” She looks at me with worry. I haven’t seen that look from her in a long time.
As if she cares about me.
Does she still?
I shake the thought away. “I’ll be fine. Have a good rest of your day. And let me know when’s a good time to replace those brakes.” I turn and walk away from her, but just as I do, the room spins, and the edges of my vision go black.
I collapse to the ground, unable to keep myself standing as I grow more and more dizzy. It’s like I’m on the Tilt-A-Whirl, and I can’t get off. Even when I close my eyes, everything still spins.
“Tyler!” Chloe yells as she rushes to my side. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just a little dizzy, but I’ll be alright.”
“Wait right here.” She takes off running. It feels like forever before she finally comes back with Don.
Don touches my forehead. “You’re burning up, kid. C’mon, let’s get you to urgent care. You probably have sun poisoning.”
“I can take him,” Chloe offers.
“You sure?” Don asks.
Their words flow in my ears and right out the other side. I can’t concentrate on anything else except the room spinning and the sudden pounding in my head. It’s like someone turned a jackhammer on and is drilling away at my brain, right through my skull.
“Yes. Can you just help me get him to my car?”
All I remember is being pulled to my feet as they speak to me, but all it sounds like is someone yelling directly in my ear.
Then everything goes black.
ChapterEleven
Chloe
“You have second- and third-degree burns on your back, which led to sun poisoning. It happens sometimes with sunburns to this extent. A fever developed, and the dehydration caused you to pass out. Expect most of your skin to blister over the next few days. I’m going to prescribe you some burn cream, along with a bath soak. I also want you to stock up on Gatorade. You need to drink as much as you can over the next few days. For now, I’ve got an IV going to replenish your fluids. After it’s done and you rest for a bit, you can head home.” The doctor finishes her speech as she makes a note on her tablet. “And next time, wear sunscreen.” She gives Tyler the mom look and leaves the room.
“Well, this sucks,” Tyler says from the small bed he’s currently lying in.
“That was scary. You went down hard. Thank God Don was there to hold you up.”
