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“Fine,” I mumbled before pulling my purse out of my locker. I trudged slowly to my car, each step more painful than the last.
The image of my bed was the only thing that helped me get home. I was too weak to even make it down the hall to my bedroom, instead opting for the couch. I’d fallen onto it and passed out before my head had even hit the pillow.
The door opened and then slammed shut, startling me awake. I tried to sit up, but my aching muscles wouldn’t cooperate. I opted to roll to my side and through sheer force of will cracked my lids open to see Lawson striding through the living room.
He flipped on the light, but skidded to a stop when he spotted me on the couch. “Piper?” His brow drew together, and he changed his direction, coming to crouch beside me.
My throat felt like it was made out of sandpaper, but I managed to croak, “Hey, Lawson.”
“You look like a burrito. Are you okay?” His voice was laced with concern.
I shook my head, the movement pure agony. “Not feeling great. But I’m okay. Just need to nap.”
His eyes roamed over my face and gently, he placed the back of his hand on my forehead. “Jesus, you’re burning up.”
“Yeah, think it’s time for more medicine,” I agreed, the chills wracking my body causing me to shiver uncontrollably. “You mind getting me some water to take it with?”
Lawson pushed to his feet. “You need to go to the doctor.” He pulled the sleeve of his shirt back and checked his watch, cursing. “They’re probably closed by now.” He dropped his arm and pushed a hand through his hair.
“I’m fine. I promise. Just get my water and let me sleep it off.”
He strode away, and I let my eyes shut. They were too heavy to keep open anyway. I could hear him in the kitchen, rummaging through a drawer before the refrigerator door opened. A few seconds later, his footsteps became louder as he returned with my water and pills.
I managed to pull an arm out of the stack of blankets I was under and took the cup of water from him. It burned going down, as though it were acid, and I winced.
“You need to be seen. Let me take you to the hospital,” he pleaded, but I shook my head.
“Here I thought I was the doctor and you were the computer guy.”
With a heavy sigh, he took the water from me and set it on the coffee table.
“Hey, coaster,” I grumbled.
He shook his head. “Damn, you’re stubborn. Even sick, you’re a pain in my ass.”
He pulled the blankets back up around my neck, and over the tops, rubbed my arms, creating a friction that helped ease my shivering.
“Thanks, Law. I’ll be fine when I wake up,” I promised.
He gave a curt nod of his head, his forehead still lined with worry. I watched as he shuffled over to the other couch and settled in, pulling his phone from his pocket and putting his wireless earbuds in.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Feel like working from the living room today,” he replied. “Get some sleep.”
“Kay,” I murmured, letting my eyelids flutter shut.
“Piper?”
His voice was soft and sounded far away.
“Yeah?” I croaked, the words barely more than a whisper passing through my dry lips.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I tried to sound convincing, but I knew as soon as the words came out that they didn’t hold any weight.
I felt like I was dying. My entire body ached worse than it had when I’d fallen asleep and the shivering had become uncontrollable.
