The Perfect First (Fulton U, #1)(75)

“Are you okay?” Dan pushed open my door.

“She’s fine. Let’s go. Her barfing is getting on my nerves.”

Always the caring maternal type. I’d never wanted to puke on someone more in my entire life. If I could have dragged myself across the floor to her, I would have.

“She doesn’t look so good.” The worry in his voice made me feel even worse. How had a kind person like him ended up with her? My mental musings over how people end up in relationships with shitty people were cut off by another round of puking. I shoved my head in the trashcan. At this point, I was seriously worried I might not live through the day.

Feeling around on my nightstand, I grabbed the bottle of water and squirted some into my mouth. The front door closed and I hung my head, resting my cheek against the cool bedspread.

“Do you only puke when I’m in your apartment?”

I jumped, nearly falling out of my bed. Reece shot across the room and grabbed hold of me, helping me back into the bed.

I groaned. “Why are you here?” I pushed him away and rolled across my mattress.

“The team bus just got back to campus. You didn’t answer your phone, and I was worried.” The bed dipped and he rested his hand against my forehead. “You’re burning up.” The mattress shifted again. His footsteps faded and the sound of running water filled the room.

He came back and laid a cool washcloth on my forehead.

“How long have you been like this?” He ran another cloth over my neck and shoulders.

“A day or so. I don’t know, they’re kind of running together.” I closed my eyes and rolled to my side, resting against him. He brushed his hand along my hair. Slowly, his fingers unraveled what was left of my braids.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“While you were two states away? There was nothing you could do.” I cracked one eye open and gave him the best smile I could muster, somewhere between a grimace and a wince.

He stared down at me and brushed the sweaty hair off my face, moving the cool washcloth to a different spot. “Don’t worry, Wild Child.” He dropped a kiss onto my forehead. “Sleep now. I’m here.”

The pain in my stomach eased and my eyes drifted closed. Reece was there, and it would all be okay.





*



I eased my eyes open slowly. My muscles ached like I’d been out running all night. I lifted the blankets and glanced down at my body. New clean pajamas had replaced the sweat-soaked ones. Reece shifted under me, his arms tightening around me. He rubbed his hand over his nose and turned his head on the pillow. He was still there. Sitting up, I braced myself for the dizziness and clenching pain in my stomach. None came.

An empty bowl with a spoon sticking out of it sat on the nightstand. Flashes of Reece feeding me chicken noodle soup and hot tea came back to me. At one point, I’d told him to go, but he’d said, “I’m staying until you’re better. Get over it.” And that had been the end of that conversation. I placed my hands over my face. So much puking.

Looking over my shoulder, I got a flutter in my stomach, but this time it wasn’t the relentless assault of food poisoning. His jaw was covered in scruff, and I resisted the urge to run my fingers through his disheveled hair. He had to be wiped after taking care of me for…how long had it been?

A phone buzzed. I searched around the room. I had no idea where my phone was. The glowing light of the screen was a beacon, but it was Reece’s phone. The light shut off before I could see who’d called. I nibbled on my lip. Wake him and let him know or let him sleep?

Spotting my own phone, I scooted over and grabbed it from the edge of the bed, plugged in and fully charged. Nearly forty-eight hours since I’d first been stricken down with the plague.

There were missed messages and calls from my dad, my mom, and Aunt Sophie, along with an invite from Marisa to go out dancing with her and her roommate. I replied to Mom, Aunt Sophie, and Marisa.

My first girls’ night out invite.

Me: I’m back from the dead and I’m in.

Marisa: Awesome!

I sent off a message to my aunt and mom, responding to my dad’s question last. The more time I put between our little talks the better. Reece’s phone buzzed again.

Strong arms wrapped around me from behind and he buried his head in my shoulder. “You’re awake.”

Leaning back against him, I soaked up his warmth. “How are you?”

“Relieved. You scared the shit out of me.” He turned me in his arms. His eyes searched my face as his fingers brushed hair back from my face.

“Sorry.”

“If you hadn’t gotten better by this morning, I was taking you to the hospital. You sure you’re feeling okay?”

“Better than okay. I feel like I slept for a month. My muscles are achy, but other than that, I feel back to normal.”

Reece’s phone vibrated across the table beside my bed.

“That’s the third call you’ve gotten since I woke up. You might want to check it.”

He groaned and let go of me, leaning back to snag his phone off the table. Unlocking it, he flicked his finger across the screen. His eyes widened and he shot straight up out of bed. “Shit! What the fuck is wrong with me?” Grabbing his folded jeans off my dresser, he shoved his legs into them. “I’m sorry, Seph. I totally forgot about the scout practice this morning.”