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“Wow,” I say, seeing the large bed covered in a white comforter with fluffy pillows stacked up against a dark gray headboard. There’s a nightstand on each side of the bed and across from it is a tall dresser with a TV on it. “This is fancy.”
Easton laughs. “My mom hates it. She’s been wanting to redecorate this room, and the one next to it, but she hasn’t decided what she wants to do with them yet.”
I walk over to the bed and lay down. “Oh, God, this feels good. The mattress doesn’t even sink in.”
“It’s old. It used to be Jenna’s, but they got her a new one.”
This is what they consider old? I would’ve loved to have a bed like this. It’s twice the size of my old one, doesn’t smell like mold, and doesn’t sink in when you lay on it. And it’s high off the ground. My old bed was just a mattress that sat on the floor.
“You want me to start the shower?” Easton asks.
“Not yet.” I close my eyes. “I just want to lie here a minute.”
“Why don’t we at least get your coat off?” He sits beside me.
I sit up and he helps me take it off. I collapse back on the bed and roll on my side. “I don’t feel good.”
“I know.” I feel his hand rub my arm and his lips kiss my forehead. “My mom’s good at this stuff. She’ll know what to do.”
“I can’t go to a doctor. They’ll find out I’m alone and...” My voice drifts off. I’m too tired to even talk. I just want to sleep.
“We need to get fluids in her,” I hear Easton’s mom say. I feel her beside me, feeling my face. “And she needs to be under the covers. Easton, can you give us a minute?”
“Why?”
“She can’t be in these clothes. They’re damp from her sweating. It’s making the chills worse. Look how much she’s shivering.”
I didn’t know I was until she pointed it out. I’m freezing, but my skin is burning hot.
“I’ll be out here,” Easton says. I hear the door closing.
“We’ll get you feeling better in no time,” I hear Penelope say as she dabs my face with a cold cloth. “You think you can sit up?”
I push myself up to sitting. “I can’t take a shower,” I mumble. “I’m too tired.”
“You can take one later.” She holds a glass up to me. “Try to drink some water.”
Taking the glass with both hands, I take a sip of the water, spilling a little because I’m shivering so much.
“Sorry.” I try to hand her the glass.
“It’s okay. Try to take another sip.” She waits while I do it, then hands me two tiny pills. “This will help with the fever.”
I’m reluctant to take it, not sure what it is, but I’d do just about anything to feel better. I take the pills, swallowing them down with another sip of water.
Penelope takes the glass from me and sets it down on the nightstand. “We need to get these wet clothes off you.” She pulls my sweatshirt up.
“I can do it,” I say, trying to do it myself. I don’t even know this lady. I don’t want her undressing me. I get the sweatshirt off but the t-shirt under it gets stuck on my head.
“Let me help.” Penelope pulls it the rest of the way off. The air hits my sweat-soaked skin and I shiver. My bra is still on and feels wet and heavy. I undo it and rip it off, forgetting Easton’s mom is here. I really don’t care. She’s seen boobs before. She has them.
“This should fit,” she says, putting a shirt on me. It’s an oversized t-shirt made of the softest fabric I’ve ever felt. It’s smooth, not scratchy, and I like that it’s not clinging to my skin like my sweaty t-shirt was. I fall back on the bed, the change of shirts taking up the last bit of energy I had.
“Let’s get these jeans off,” I hear Penelope say.
“Just leave them,” I mumble, my eyes closing. I fall asleep, hoping I don’t wake up to someone waiting at the door, waiting to take me away.
12
