Page 45 of Friend Me

“That’s it? It’s done?”

His hands shook when he set the device on the counter. He cleared his throat. “Yeah.”

“Now can I call 911?”

“No, I’ll be fine.”

“It says right on there to seek immediate medical attention.” The words were printed above the evil-looking needle.

“I’ll be fine. I’ve been through this a few times.” His face was sweaty and pale, but he was breathing easier now. His lips had already turned from blue to pale pink.

When he stood, I stretched my arms toward him like I could catch him if he fell. “Really, I’m fine.” He pulled up his jeans. “Sorry about all this. I’ll call you a ride home.”

I crossed my arms. “I’m not going home. I’m not leaving you alone tonight. What if your symptoms come back? Or you have a reaction to the medicine?”

“I’ll be okay. Really.”

I didn’t move. “I’m staying.”

“Fine.” His lips twitched. “Mind if I go lie down?”

“Oh. Sure. No problem.” Now it wasn’t just my hands that were useless; it was my entire body. I backed out of the bathroom and trailed him through another door into his bedroom. He slid open the closet door and pulled down a pillow and blanket. He carried them to the living room, which had a single long couch set up in front of a coffee table and a television. The apartment was small, not quite as big as our house’s tiny first floor.

He tossed the pillow onto the sofa and flopped down onto the cushions. “You take the bed.”

“Absolutely not. You just had a medical emergency. You’re sleeping in your bed.” Tyler was stubborn, but not as stubborn as I was. I grasped his hand and tugged until he stood. “Go on. I’ll give you a minute to settle in.”

Frowning, he trudged into his bedroom. I called home to check on Dad, and then I spent a few minutes in his bathroom washing my face and brushing my teeth with his toothpaste and my finger.

When I walked into the bedroom, he flashed me a sleepy smile, and my heart rate finally slowed. “Feeling better?”

“Yeah.” The covers were tucked up to his chin. “I’m breathing fine now. Really, you can go home.”

“Not a chance.” I sat on the other side of the bed, on top of the covers, and stretched out beside him, covering myself with the blanket he’d thrown over the couch earlier.

“What are you doing?” The smile had disappeared.

“There’s plenty of room here. I’m going to make sure you sleep okay.”

“Really, I’m—”

“I know, I know, you’re fine. Still, I’m staying.” I didn’t know what I’d do if anything happened to my friend. And I was not about to find out.

He flicked off the lamp, and we lay there in the silence.

“We’re never going back to that place again, you know,” I said.

“The ice cream place?” He chuckled. “Shame. My ice cream was really good. Until it tried to kill me.”

I laid a hand on his chest so I could feel his heartbeat. It seemed fast, but it was steady. He set his hand over mine. “Too soon?”

“Definitely too soon. No more jokes. Go to sleep.”

His fingers tightened. “Thanks, Marlee. For taking care of me.”

I knew he didn’t mean only his allergy attack. He’d taken care of himself just fine. He meant with awful Raleigh.

“Anytime.” And I would take care of him anytime. Just like I’d do with Alicia. I shoved the thought of what could’ve happened to him out of my brain. I knew I’d have trouble sleeping if I thought about that scary cab ride.

Instead, I watched his chest rise and fall in the dim light that filtered in at the sides of the blinds. His breath steadied and slowed and soon, mine did, too.

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