Page 64 of Chasing Sunrise

He left the room and came back with a bottle of aspirin. She held out her hand, and he dropped two into it.

“You should’ve been a nurse.” She swallowed the aspirin.

He smiled.

She sank onto the mattress and pulled the covers to her chin. “How did you show up at Tango Charlie’s last night?”

“The manager called your emergency contact.”

“Cartwright called Barry, and he called you?”

“He did. Barry asked him for my number from your phone.” His brows rose. “Evidently, you’ve spoken to your ex about me.”

No reason to deny that. “Didn’t really have a choice. In case you didn’t know, you’re like a big celebrity. The Star Breeze ran a picture of us together. His girlfriend saw it, and they both asked what was going on. I told them we’re friends.”

“I see.” He stepped out of the room. He didn’t seem mad or upset. Had her behavior last night completely turned him off? If that were true, would he still be taking care of her? Wouldn’t he have called Quinn for help?

Thoughts swirled in her head like a whirligig.

She closed her eyes, unable to process anything else.

Fatigue enveloped her, urging her to the darkness.

~

The next time Amandawoke, her stomach growled. Her phone read three a.m. After brushing her teeth with a new toothbrush in a cellophane wrapper on the bathroom countertop, she took the longest shower of her life. She slipped into a robe hanging on the back of the door, and dried her hair with a towel as she walked down the short hallway. Two lamps lit the cream-colored living/kitchen area. The kitchen side had a long butcher-block island with stools and blue appliances. On the other side, two huge windows flanked a fireplace. A few chairs and two sofas faced a small TV. Big and small mounted stuffed fish hung on the walls.

Kasey yawned and sat up on the couch.

Embarrassed, she said, “I can’t believe I slept so much.”

Sleepy-eyed, he shrugged. “Aftereffects. You feeling better?”

“I am, thanks.”

“I went to the grocery store and loaded up on supplies.” Rising, he stretched his arms over his head before going to the freezer. He grabbed a freezer pop, cut off the top, and handed it to her. “Electrolytes. You need to rehydrate.”

“Aren’t these for children?” The cold popsicle tasted sweet and soothed her throat.

“They’re for anyone who needs to replenish fluids in their body. Trust me, these got me through college. I also got watermelon.” He pulled a cheese pizza from the refrigerator and preheated the oven.

“That looks homemade.”

“It is. I made it earlier.”

“I’m sorry to have missed your dough tossing.”

“You did miss a show.” He smiled. “Pizza’s good for a hangover.”

“Did I smell something cooking earlier?”

He lifted a green Tupperware container from the counter and opened it. “I baked my grandmother’s chocolate chip cookies.”

“Yum.”

Poor Kasey, he’d obviously had to do something to keep busy while being cooped up taking care of her. He’d done so much for her.

“Is my car still at Tango Charlie’s?”

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