SID: I’m not feeling well. Going to stay in tonight.
I barely registered Alex and River’s bickering. I was so caught up in her text. I reread it for the tenth time, and my thumb hovered over the Send button, my response dangling in limbo.
Me: What the fuck, Sid?
It had been three days since we’d committed to being together. Three days since I’d been laid bare, and she’d offered back scraps. Scraps I’d taken and would take again. Tipping my head back, I stared at the stucco ceiling, kneading my fingers into the muscle between my neck and shoulder. I took a deep breath in and exhaled, puffing out my cheeks. Seriously, Sid, what the fuck?
I clicked my phone off and left my message unsent. I wasn’t expecting her to set a ticking time bomb on our relationship, but I’d accepted it anyway. She swore to be mine until the end of the semester. Then boom, radio silence. I was busy. She was busy. Fair enough, but three days without seeing her?
I dug my palms into my eyes and let out a low groan. My girl was freaking out, and if I didn’t stop her, she’d make a run for it. I stood abruptly, and Alex and River looked up at me with matching wicked grins.
Alex started in. “What’s got your panties in a bunch? Not used to being ignored?”
I looked between them with a scowl and landed my jab. “How’s Mia doing?”
They both looked down in unison, not meeting each other’s gaze.
I smirked. “That’s what I thought. If you poke my soft spots, I’ll start poking yours.”
They ignored me, sitting in a heavy silence that had me taking another look between them, but I had enough to deal with without taking on their issues. “I’m going out.”
Unease sat like a stone in my gut when I parked in front of her house. One part of me didn’t want to pressure her, but the other wanted to shake her senseless. I dragged my hands down my face and let out an exasperated growl. Don’t be such a pussy and go talk to her.
I knocked on her door, calling out to her, “Sid, open up.” Rap, rap, rap. “Sid, you can’t avoid me forever. Answer the door.”
The door swung open, and I found Mia’s eyes shooting daggers at me. “Shhh, she’s asleep.”
I shouldered my way inside. “You lack creativity today. Where is she?”
Mia pushed a palm to my chest, making me pause. “You are such a conceited ass. Why are you here?” Her tone had my head tilting, taking an extra second to look at her. She was wound tight, lips pressed in a firm line.
I threw my hands up in exasperation. “I’m sure she told you what went down between us, and now she’s fucking ghosting me.”
Mia’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open.
“She didn’t tell you?” Knowing how close these two were, it pissed me off that she was hiding it.
Hurt crossed Mia’s expression at the same realization. She huffed out a breath before continuing. “I don’t know what any of that is about, and it does kind of… and I mean only kind of explains this dumbass display of assholeness, but she really is sick.”
My guts rolled at the thought of her being sick enough that she couldn’t answer my texts. “What’s wrong?”
“She’s rocking a high fever and only wakes up to cough. This is the longest she’s slept since yesterday.”
“Where is she?”
“She’s in her room, but Jax, I’m serious. So, god help you if you wake her.” She looked downright intimidating, staring me down.
I didn’t wait for any more threats and headed right to Sid’s room. She was bundled up in her covers, sound asleep. There was stuff everywhere. Her books and clothes were on the floor. As if she’d gotten home and was too exhausted to do anything but dump it where she stood. There was a small garbage bin beside the bed, overflowing with tissues, and her nightstand was covered with cough syrups, Halls, and ibuprofen. I sat as softly as I could to not wake her and palmed her forehead. Jesus Christ, she’s hot.
I pulled out my phone and started googling what to do with a fever, but it basically said to take some ibuprofen and wait it out. Carefully, I eased off the bed, and shame created a pit in my stomach. When I should’ve been taking care of my girl, I’d been cussing her out.
I’m a fucking asshole.
Not sure what to do with myself, I picked up her things, sorted her books neatly like she liked, and organized her pens in that precise way of hers. I moved on, collecting the clothes from her floor and throwing them in the hamper, then walked into the kitchen. Ignoring the look Mia sent me, I grabbed a garbage bag and strolled back into Sid’s room. I changed the garbage near her bed and carried the laundry bin out, slowly closing the door behind me.
Mia grabbed the bag from my hands and tossed it into the kitchen’s larger one. “How’s she doing?”
“She’s burning up but asleep.” I tugged my hair with my free hand. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
Mia frowned, but I could see the corner of her mouth tip. “I’m sure she did, but you went off into your own pigheaded brain. Glad you’ve pulled your head out of your ass.” She nodded toward the basket. “What are you doing with that?”
“What does it look like?” I shifted the basket to my hip.
She gave me a skeptical look. Damn, Mia had a good poker face. She finished sizing me up. “We go to the laundromat down the road.”
“I’m bringing them home. Text me if she wakes up.”
She smirked and gave me a small nod of approval.
I’d already fucked up the last few days when Sid needed me. I wasn’t messing around now.
Lucas sat with me as I folded Sid’s clean laundry on our couch. We both carefully ignored the fact that her underwear was now layered in a neat pile. I had no idea how to fold her thongs, and hell would freeze over before I asked Lucas for help.
Lucas’s brows pulled together, and his jaw tensed. “So… you gonna tell me what’s happening between you two?”
The laundry should’ve been proof enough, but I knew he wouldn’t stop until I said something. “We messed around. We’re…” I paused, searching for the right words for what was happening. “It’s complicated.”
“Seriously?” Lucas snorted. “Yeah, ’cause that ever works.”
I shot him a glare, effectively wiping the grin from his face. “It’s fine. We’re leaving soon, anyway.” I was careful not to admit that I wasn’t fine with this arrangement either. Softening my voice, I asked, “How’s Pips holding up?”
I knew it was hard for him to admit, but I could see how he looked at her when she wasn’t looking. Like he was terrified he would lose her.
“We’re good. We’ve got it all sorted.” He tried to pass it off like it was nothing, but we’d been friends far too long for that to fly.
I sighed, leaning back. “You know, it’s natural to worry when there’s a big change, but she loves you. You’ve got to know that.”
Lucas looked back at me and visibly relaxed. “Thanks, man.” He reached out and started folding one of Sid’s shirts.
A few hours later, I popped back into Sid’s place. I sent a text to Mia and Anthony before I got there, and Anthony was already waiting at the door. I lugged the laundry bin in with me. “How’s she doing?”
“Okay. She’s woken up a few times, but she’s back out as soon as she’s done coughing.”
“Thanks for taking care of her,” I said and stepped past the couch to get to Sid’s room.
Anthony reached out, grabbing my arm to halt me. “Shouldn’t I be thanking you?” His brows lowered as he got serious. “I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but watch yourself. She’s serious about not getting into a relationship.”
I took an involuntary step back. His words registered like a slap. “We both know it’s limited.”
He nodded, letting go of my arm, but his brows pinched in worry. For Sid or me? I didn’t know. “I’m not trying to be an ass here, Jax. My instincts tell me there’s something more happening between you. She’s a special girl.”
“I know, man,” I said and walked around him into Sid’s room.
“Jax?” Sid’s voice was weak between coughs.
“Hey, Trouble.” I sat on the edge of her bed and passed her the water I’d brought in earlier. She took a few sips, getting her coughing under control. I checked her forehead and breathed a sigh of relief: it was cool. Her fever was gone, but she still looked exhausted. “You’ve been having a rough go.” I tucked her hair behind her ear and waited until she looked at me. “You should’ve called me.”
Even in her tired state, she rolled her eyes. “Sure, I’ll remember that the next time I’m bedridden with the flu.”
I helped her lean forward and stuffed a few pillows behind her so her head was elevated when she slept.
“Stay.” She was drifting off again and grasped my hand in hers, pulling it to her chest in a possessive motion.
I got in the bed beside her and gently ran my fingers through her hair until she was asleep.
After Monday’s classes, I picked up some things on my way to Sid’s place. Mia let me in, eyeing the Ellie’s bakery bag.
“Don’t worry, I got something for you.” I handed her two sandwiches. “One of those is for Anthony. How’s our patient doing?”
Swallowing a large bite, Mia responded, “She’s been awake for a bit but still in bed. She’s doing mostly better, though. Not really coughing anymore.”
“Thanks.” I grabbed Sid’s food and headed into her room.
She covered her face when she saw me. “Jesus, Jax, you can’t be here.”
I grinned, pulling the covers from her head, seeing her crimson cheeks. “And why’s that?”
She gave up trying to hide under her covers and sat against the headboard. “Mia told me everything you’ve been doing. Thank you.”
“You haven’t seen nothing yet.” I hauled out her soup and a little bun. “Ellie assured me herself this soup can cure anything that ails you.”
She moaned as she took the first sip, eyes closing, and hummed around her spoon. “So good.”
Glad she felt well enough to eat, I pulled my laptop from my bag. I was extra careful with my notes this morning. This was the second class she’d missed, and I didn’t want her freaking out.
“I stopped to get notes from all of your classes. A few of your professors had them available, but I cornered whoever looked the smartest for your others.”
I took advantage of my fame to get it done. I usually avoided doing that like the plague, but I was grateful for it this morning.
She let out a gasp, looking at all the notes, eyes wide, mouth open. “Jax, you didn’t have to.”
“Forget it. What are friends for?” I elongated the word. “Feel up to watching some TV? The new High Tide episode’s out.” Without waiting for her answer, I crawled onto the bed, careful not to spill her soup, and flicked on her TV.
When Sid finished with supper, I wrapped my arm around her and tucked her against my side, feeling her melt against me. She smiled at something happening in the show, but I wasn’t paying attention. This was precisely where I was meant to be.
