Page 91 of Before This Ends (Before)

CHAPTER33

emma

Iglance back into the rearview mirror after shifting my car into Park and find Winter with her head resting back against the seat, her eyes closed, and her cheeks flushed. When I got to the school to pick her up, the nurse let me know numerous kids have been out with the flu, and she most likely caught the bug from a friend in her class. Then she told me the good news is the worst of it normally only lasts about seventy-two hours, so she will hopefully feel better by Monday, when it’s time to go back to school.

Taking my bag off the passenger seat, I push my door open and get out, then open hers. She doesn’t even twitch when I reach across her to unbuckle her seatbelt, nor when I lift her out of the car. But I notice immediately that she feels warmer than she did when I picked her up from school. Adjusting my hold on her so I can close the door, I instantly realize it’s going to be difficult to get my cell out of my bag while carrying her. And I’m going to need it to get onto the elevator.

“Crap.”

“Bad word coin,” she mumbles sleepily, making me laugh.

“Sorry.” I step up onto the sidewalk and happen to glance toward the end of the block as Miles’s SUV turns the corner. “Daddy’s home,” I tell her quietly, relieved I won’t have to put her down to grab my phone.

“I don’t feel good.”

“I know, honey.” I rub her back as Miles parks behind my car, then a moment later, he pushes open his door and unfolds from behind the steering wheel. When he reaches us, he drops a quick kiss to my lips, then carefully takes Winter out of my arms.

“I’m going to throw up,” she whispers, shoving her face into his neck.

“Breathe in through your nose,” I tell her, rubbing her back again, and I look up at Miles. “Do you have Tylenol and a thermometer?”

“We’ve got both.”

“What about Gatorade?” I take my cell out of my bag and use it to open the doors to the elevator.

“No, but I’ll run out and get some in a bit.”

I nod and chew the inside of my cheek when she makes a noise that sounds like a whimper and a groan.

“The nurse said the flu is going around,” I tell him as we step onto the elevator.

“Yeah, a couple of the guys at work have kids who are sick right now,” he mutters as I smooth her hair away from her face. She feels hot—too hot. “Em.”

“Hmm?” I trace Winter’s brow.

“Baby.”

“Yeah?” I drag my eyes off her to look at him.

“She’s okay.”

“I know.”

“It could still just be a bug. I’ll get her in the shower and cool her down, then give her some meds. No big deal.”

“Okay,” I whisper, following him off the elevator. When we get into the apartment, he carries her to her bedroom, and I follow right behind them.

“Will you start the shower for her?”

Moving around him, I go to her shower and turn it on, making sure it’s not too hot or too cold. A minute later, she comes in and starts to get undressed.

“Do you need help, or do you want me to wait outside?”

“I’m okay.”

“Okay, I’ll be in your room if you need me.” I leave the door cracked an inch just in case she calls for help, then walk to where Miles is digging through her dresser for something for her to wear.

“She was totally fine this morning, wasn’t she?” I ask, wondering if I missed something between breakfast and when I dropped her at school. He had an early-morning meeting and left before she even finished eating, so we were on our own.

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