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THEY’RE FIGHTING.
Reed is standing between Cade and Darius, using his hands to keep them apart. I’m sure I heard my name mentioned, but I’ve been so out of it that I can’t be sure. Why would they be fighting about me? The last thing I want is to come between them.
Upon hearing my voice, Reed drops his hands, and instantly each of their body languages changes. Shoulders drop, expression soften, and their focus is now on me instead of each other.
“Laney?” Reed says, crossing the room to drop to a crouch beside me. “Baby. How are you feeling?”
“I-I’m not sure.”
He places his hand to my forehead, and a tentative smile touches his lips. “I think your fever has broken.”
“That’s good, right?”
He takes his hand away. “Yeah, it’s good.”
“How long was I out?”
“Twenty-four hours. We took turns sitting up with you to make sure you didn’t take a turn for the worse.”
I wonder what they’d have done if I had gotten even more sick. It’s not as though they’d have been able to call an ambulance.
“That was good of you,” I say.
Reed takes a lock of my hair in his fingers and tucks it behind my ear. “You gave us a scare.”
The tenderness of his touch makes me want to cry.
“Sorry.”
“I made you some broth,” Cade says. “Do you think you can manage a little?”
I gaze up at the big, tattooed man. “You cooked for me?”
Pink touches his cheeks, and he shrugs. “It’s only broth.”
“I think I can manage some. Thanks, Cade.”
Darius brings me a glass of water. “Broth is good, but you need to hydrate, too.”
I am incredibly thirsty. My throat burns, and every time I swallow it’s like eating glass. I cough a couple of times and groan.
“I’ll get you some Tylenol,” Reed says.
Darius holds the glass to my lips, and I take a couple of grateful sips. It’s cooling and soothes my throat.
“Thank you.”
Reed returns with the pills, and I take them with the water. Then Cade brings me the broth. I’m not really hungry, but I’m sure it’ll do me good, and I can’t stand the thought of seeing the disappointment on Cade’s face if I refuse it.
My leg still hurts like a bitch, and I ache all over. I barely have the strength to sit up. I’m nowhere near better yet, but at least now I can tell the difference between being asleep and awake. I go back over the conversation I overheard as I was emerging from unconsciousness. Darius was accusing Cade of having feelings for me. Could that be right? Cade hasn’t always been exactly kind toward me.
I smile.
“What?” Reed asked.
“You three are flapping around me like mother hens.”
“We’re taking care of you, that’s all.”
