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The weeks fly by, the hours blurring into days, the days into weeks. Liam becomes a good friend and introduces me to some of his local buddies. He shows me around the bars and best seafood restaurants. It feels like another world out here, but I’m soaking up everything this experience has to offer.
Travis texts me every few days. When I first arrived, we didn’t talk for two weeks, probably because he was hurt I left without saying anything. Then one night he sent me a picture of Gryff, with the captionWe miss you. I cried the moment I saw his sweet little face. Before I could respond, he sent a second picture of the two of them lying in his bed, and Travis sticking his lower lip out in a sad pout. I about lost it. I missed him so damn much, but I knew I had to stay strong. This was good for me, and I had to remember that. Travis and I were in a complicated situation, and all I wanted was to get to a neutral place again where it stopped hurting.
Now he sends me picture updates of how big Gryff is getting, and he asks how things are here. We don’t say much other than that, which is enough for us right now. I know we’ll have a lot to talk about when I visit for the holidays.
About halfway through my apprenticeship, I catch some kind of summer flu. It’s awful, but I work through it until I’m off on the weekend. It doesn’t ease up, so Liam surprises me with soup and crackers.
“You look pale, honey,” he says, placing a cold, wet washcloth on my forehead. “Are you hungry?”
I press a hand to the cloth and shake my head. “Not really. I just feel really queasy.”
“I’ll bring your trash can by you just in case.” I watch as he stands up and walks the few feet to my kitchen and grabs it. He’s tall and built. He has shaggy blond hair, which totally adds to the surfer vibe he gives out when he’s not in his suit and tie attire. He overdresses for work and claims it’s going to help him climb the corporate ladder before he’s thirty.
“Thanks,” I say, watching as he sets it down next to me. “I think I’m just going to try to sleep it off.”
“Yeah, good idea, hon. I’ll lay on your couch and wait for you to wake up so you can eat.”
“No,” I argue. “You don’t have to sit around and wait on me. I’ll be okay.”
“Nonsense. You need to get better so I have someone to go salsa dancing with.”
I let out a small laugh. “I never agreed to that in the first place.”
He tilts his head and frowns.
I groan. “We’ll see.”
He smiles and flashes me a wink. “Get some rest. I’m going to binge on your Netflix.”
I sleep for the next three hours, and when I wake up, it’s dark outside, and Liam is still watching TV on my sofa. He pauses it the moment he hears me rustling under the covers.
“Hey.” He smiles. “How do you feel?”
“Better, I think. I need to pee.”
He laughs and goes back to his show. I grab my phone as I walk to the bathroom and see that Courtney has messaged me three times.
Viola
Sorry, I was sleeping. I think I caught the flu.
I send back to her urgent messages.
Courtney
The flu? What are your symptoms?
I respond with everything I’ve been feeling this past week.
Viola
Vomiting, nausea, queasiness, headaches, hot flashes and sweats. Liam brought me some soup, so I’m going to try eating some of that and see if it helps.
Courtney
How long have you been sick?
Viola
