Page 83 of Destined To Fall

“Sleep.”

Jeremy’s eyes remain closed, so I use the moment to put the compress back and move away from the bed, but I stop when a hand latches onto my wrist.

“Stay. Please. I like having you close.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Since I dumped the contents of my bag onto the bed, I quickly shove it all back in before walking around to the other side and settling down. Jeremy finally passes out, and I spend an unprecedented amount of time watching him sleep. He tosses and turns, mumbling incoherently as his forehead furrows, perspiration covering his body. I replace the compress three times before I finally realize that sleep and ice won’t be enough. His fever isn’t breaking, and his breathing still wheezes in and out with each labored breath.

A few finger taps,and a few knuckles knocking later, everything but the kitchen sink is delivered. I’m in the kitchen unpacking all the goodies when sleeping beauty stirs.

“Vivienne…?”he croaks.

“Hey,” I croon, coming to lean against the bedroom door.

“You’re really here. You stayed?”

“Well, you did beg, so…”

Jeremy groans, his head falling back to the pillow,and his eyes closing.

“Jer?” I gasp, rushing to his aid.

“I thought it was a dream.”

“You asshole.” I whack him in the arm.

“Ow! Invalid, here.”

“Yeah, sorry. But you deserved it.”

“For…?” Jeremy’s cheeks pinken, and I wonder what thoughts are running through his head.“What else did I say?”

“Nothing that made any sense.”

“Oh. Good, I guess. Then what did you hit me for?”

“For giving me wrinkles and possibly gray hair. I don’t do worry or stress. So quit making me do both.” He grins like…like a boy who’s seen his first pair of breasts.“What?”

“Nothin’.” He smiles brighter.

“Jeremy.”

“Even when I feel like I’m dying, you can still manage to make me smile. You worrying about me, it’s cute.” I roll my eyes, and he chuckles, but it’s lethargic.

“You need to eat something and take some pills. I made chicken soup.”

“And by made you mean…?”

“I ordered pho from the Vietnamese place around the corner.”

He scoffs or coughs. The two sound a lot the same.“What time is it? Wait, what day is it?”

“It’s still Wednesday. Just. You’ve only been sleeping for about three or four hours.”

“Three or four hours? How long have you been here?”

“Let me get you some food, all right? I’ll be right back.”

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