Page 125 of An Engagement for Erica

“I stop at restaurants and get family-style meals and freeze them. Not the best but not the worst either.”

“You’ve got a point.”

Erica slurped up some spaghetti, the sauce hitting her in the corner of her mouth. “You’ve got something right there,” he said, pointing to his own lip.

“Sorry,” she said. “I’m starving and then we took a detour and I worked up more of an appetite.”

“You are the one that did that,” he said, twirling more pasta on his fork. She was still squinting her eyes though. “Are you okay?”

“Why?” she asked.

“Because you’re squinting your eyes at me.”

“I am?” she asked, her hand reaching up as if she had to feel it to know it was happening.

“Yes,” he said.

“I think it’s the light,” she said. “For some reason, it’s just making me squint. Did you put new brighter bulbs in or something?”

“No,” he said, frowning. “Do you have a headache?”

She stopped as if she had to take inventory of her body. “No. I mean I feel more lightheaded than anything, but I’m starving. It’s starting to go away.”

“Keep eating,” he said. “Do you want some more water?”

He noticed her glass was half empty.

“Sure,” she said. He stood up and grabbed her glass and filled it from the pitcher in the fridge and then turned to see her just sitting there staring with a panicked look on her face.

“What’s going on, Erica?”

“I think I’m getting a migraine.”

“Take a deep breath and don’t panic. You aren’t going to pass out, so don’t think about it.”

He watched her breathe in and out and her eyes shut. He walked over to flip the lights off. “Thanks,” she said. “I should take one of those pills. I haven’t had to yet.”

“Where are they?” he asked. “I’ll get it. You need to lie down.”

He’d read up on how to help ease migraine pain in case this ever happened. How to even spot the signs.

It’s like she didn’t realize it was even coming on, but he’d read light and smell sensitivity was normally the first sign one was coming.

“They are in my purse. It’s a foil package in the zipper pocket. I’ll get it.”

“No,” he said. “You’re not.”

He helped her to his room and made her get under the covers. She was already in comfortable leggings and a cotton shirt. He left the door open and found her purse in the family room, located the package, and brought it to her with water.

She put the pill in her mouth and then drank some water. “I’m going to lie here and hope it passes.”

“Are you feeling worse or the same?” he asked.

“Worse,” she said. “The side of my head is hurting but not so bad like last time. I think if I just shut my eyes and try to sleep some of it off it might help.”

“Do that,” he said. “I’m going to get you an ice pack for the back of your neck and a can of soda. I read the ice can help and the caffeine.”

“Whatever,” she said, sinking under the covers.

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