Page 152 of Time Stops With You

“Where? In your office? I’ll get it.”

When I slip my hand away, he grabs on. “Don’t go.”

“Cullen, I won’t take long.”

He shakes his head but doing so seems to make his situation worse because he grimaces. After a deep breath, he whispers, “Don’t worry about me. I’ll call Sara to bring it up. Go spend time with your mom. I’ll wait in here until I’m better.”

“I’ll stay until you call Sara then,” I say.

Cullen frowns and I get the feeling he hadn’t actually planned on calling anyone.

Stubbornly, I fold my arms over my chest and stare down at him.

He gives in, dialing his assistant. “Yeah.” Cullen winces in pain and rubs his chest again. “The bottom drawer on the left. Thank you, Sara.”

I listen to the one-sided conversation and take the phone from Cullen when he hangs up.

“When is Sara coming?” I ask.

“Soon.” He breathes out.

“Cullen, you’re sweating so badly.” Nerves tighten in my stomach when I see him squeezing his eyes and looking strained. Using the heel of my palm, I gently dot at his temple.

“It’s just vertigo. It’ll pass.”

“Your vertigo has never been this bad.”

“I’m a little tired.”

“You went to the hospital, right? What did the doctors say?”

“They said I should rest more,” Cullen mumbles, still keeping his eyes closed.

“That’s all?”

He nods.

His pain seems too severe. I don’t know if I believe him.

There’s a knock on the door. “Nardi?”

“Yes, mom.”

“Someone just stopped by and brought a bag of medication?”

I look at Cullen in surprise. “That was fast. Sara must have raced up those stairs.”

“She’s always been efficient,” he answers weakly.

Is that it?

“The door’s open, mom.”

My mom shuffles in and Cullen tries to sit up straight.

“Mrs. Davis. I’m sorry about intruding on your visit.”

“No worries, young man. I’m thrilled to meet Nardi’s boyfriend. She never tells me about her relationships. I have to pry through Josiah and he givesawfullydry details.”

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