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He grunted. “We’ll set timers on your phone and write it all on the calendar on the side of my fridge.” He shrugged as if this was the most natural thing in the world. I knew he kept track of the team, so maybe staying organized wasn’t a big deal for him. I poked at the bag again. Then, it occurred to me that I hadn’t let Neil know I was okay, and I swore, dragging my phone out of my pocket.
I went through my missed calls, which was easy because there weren’t any, and I didn’t have any missed texts, either.
“Did you talk to Neil?”
Albion glanced at me. His lips parted, and then he cleared his throat. “No, I’m sorry. I should’ve.”
“It’s okay,” I said, scowling at my phone. “He knew I left in an ambulance.”
Albion didn’t say anything, just kept driving.
I texted Neil everything that had happened and all the stuff the doctors had said and even asked if he was doing okay.
I waited.
We were almost back to Albion’s apartment when my phone buzzed in my hand.
Neil: Guess I better find a job.
I read the text twice, then shut off my phone, powering the whole thing down.
Albion raised an eyebrow in my direction, but I ignored it.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Sighing, I turned my phone back on, then waited until it went through all the powering up crap, and finally I was able to show him the text. He read with quick glances while he was driving.
“Well, that is the biggest issue he’s facing,” Albion said, but he didn’t sound very nice.
My face heated. “I know you don’t care that I’m sick, but he should. He’s my family.”
When I glanced at Albion, I flinched because he looked ready to start shouting.
“Why do you think I don’t care?” he asked, voice gravelly and low.
“Do you? You’ve been here, I’ll give you that, but you haven’t talked about it.”
“What’s to say?” He shook his head. “I want you to be okay. You’re staying in my apartment, and I already cleared working from home for the next two weeks so you don’t have to be alone while you’re recovering.”
My world narrowed down to him, and I could barely think. “Really?”
He cleared his throat. “I don’t want to leave you alone.”
After that, I was too busy being shocked, and he seemed like maybe he’d embarrassed himself. We didn’t say a word, not even when he put his arm around me as he walked me inside and into the elevator. He kept hugging me until he sat me down on the couch. I fought back a grin.
Albion didn’t look me in the eye, but he proceeded to grab pillows and blankets and set me up on the couch like a little prince. My stomach squirmed with happiness and guilt at the same time.
I started trying to slide off the couch to the floor, and he tapped my knee and glared as he threw another blanket over my feet.
“I can do things,” I murmured. “In fact, you were even in the room when Dr. O’Quinn told me I could go back to having sex when I’m feeling up for it.”
He tucked the blankets more firmly around my feet. “You will let me do this,” he said seriously.
“Yes, Sir,” I whispered.
He nodded once, apparently satisfied with my answer.
For a few days, Albion essentially treated me as if I was the most precious thing on earth. He showered with me and washed me, made sure I took my meds at the exact times I should, cooked healthy food, and made my life easier than I’d ever had it—all in between running his team from his living room. He probably worked more hours than he did in the office, and maybe that was because he was worried about doing a bad job when Mr. Guidry had done him the favor of letting him work from home.
