Page 78 of Destined To Fall

“You seem to know him well enough.”

I ignore her haughty tone and lean across the desk, making her shrink back and fidget.“Well, when is he going to be back?”

“I…I don’t know. He didn’t say. He just called this morning and told me to tell his father he won’t be in.”

I push back from the desk and head for the elevators.“Wait, should I tell Mr. Thatcher—Maxwell—that you were here?”

“No,” I growl out over my shoulder.

Jeremy sick? Let’s see about that.

An hour and a quick wardrobe change later find me banging on Jeremy’s apartment door. After knocking for a solid two minutes, there’s still no answer.

“Jeremy, I know you’re home. Open up.”

I hear some groaning and shuffling on the other side before the lock finally clicks, and the door opens a smidgen.

“Vivienne, go away,” Jeremy croaks through the crack.

“Are you avoiding me?”

“What? It’s not always about you, Viv. I’m sick.”

“Then open the door.”

He groans and pulls the door back.“Jesus, Viv. You’re gonna kill me.” Jeremy’s already ghostly face pales further as he takes in my naughty nurse outfit. He wavers, and I lunge forward to catch him before he connects with the floor.

“Easy, tiger. What’s wrong with you? You legitimately look like you have the plague.”

“You know what that looks like firsthand?” he puffs out, seeming to struggle.

“No talking.”

“But you asked me a question.” He starts to laugh but coughs instead.“Viv, go home. I don’t wanna get you sick.”

“Too late now. You’vebreathed all over me.”

“It’s like conversing with a brick wall,” he mutters.

“I talk back. I just refuse to listen to nonsensical babble.”

“How’bout we both stop talking?”

I smile as I help shuffle him back to bed. He groans in pain, collapsing on top of it, and fights not to cough up a lung.

“See, you need me.” I fight off Jeremy’s shooing hands as I get him back under the covers and tuck him in.

“I wouldn’t have been out of bed if you hadn’t been trying to break down my door.” He sighs as if he’s just run a marathon and takes a slow, shaky breath. I worry my lip as Jeremy struggles to breathe.

“Okay, I’m good. Go home. Before there’s no turning back.”

“I think it’s too late for that.” I say softly. Jeremy frowns, but coughs again before he can speak.“Well, that’s it. I can’t leave now.”

I head to his dresser and start rummaging through drawers.Hmm, boxer briefs. I finally find what I need and pull it out.

“What—”

I slip off my heels and step into the sweatpants, folding them over at the waistband so they stay up. ThenI slipon a T-shirt over my dress. God,it smells good, like Jeremy. Clean and woodsy.

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