Page 63 of Bad for Business
THIRTY-TWO
CAMILLE
Sun filtersthrough the curtains of my window as I blink my eyes open.
What time is it?
Why does my entire body hurt?
I groan, reaching for my phone on the nightstand next to the bed. My hand falls back to the bed before I can even reach my phone to check the time. I roll over, discovering that my entire body is covered in sweat.
Am I sick?
I close my eyes, trying to sort through the fogginess in my brain to figure out any reason I could be feeling this way.
It’s been a fairly low-key week here in the Hamptons. We’ve now been here for over a month, and I feel really good about the progress we’ve been making. Yesterday, Ryker and the rest of the Davenport Media board flew back to Manhattan for some important meetings, and I’m anxious for him to get back to tell me how it went. That meeting should tell us a lot about their feelings toward him and if they feel like he’s fit to take over after the summer.
A throbbing pain begins right between my eyes, and I have to close them from how badly it hurts.
Last night, the Sinclairs invited me over to their house for dinner, so I wasn’t alone for the evening. It was really nice of them, something I’m not used to. Back home, I focus on work so much that I haven’t made time for friendships. But so far this summer, all this time with Ryker has also led me to getting to know his group of friends better.
I’m really starting to like them…to get attached. A lot of them I’ve met before in the Manhattan scene, but I never would’ve dreamed of going to their house for an intimate dinner on a random weekday. Back in Manhattan, I never focused on making friends. It’s hard to maintain friendships when your entire life revolves around working. But something in me is changing this summer. I’m making friends. Iwantto make friends. I want to put in the effort to build relationships with the people I’m seeing every day, and while it’s terrifying, I’m really enjoying getting to know everyone. I’m allowing myself to get attached to them. All I can do is hope that even when we return to Manhattan, we can keep in touch.
I had the best time with Margo and Beck last night. I loved hearing Margo talk about how well her art is doing right now and the visions she has for the future. I even got to spend time with their baby, Celeste. I always thought I wasn’t good with kids, but it turns out I just haven’t been around them enough. I loved spending time with her. I loved spending time with everyone.
I had two glasses of wine at dinner, but they weren’t big. I’ve had far more before and felt fine.
This isn’t a hangover.
I’ve got to be sick.
I let out another groan before attempting to push myself off the mattress to grab my phone. The small amount of effort makes my entire body ache. There’s pain all the way to my bones. I try to push through it and reach across the table. Myfingers brush against the phone. I give a weak smile as I muster up the last of my energy to try and grab it.
Just as my fingers close around the device, it slips from my hand, and there’s a loud thump as it falls in between the bed and the nightstand.
“No,” I cry, my body falling back onto the mattress.
I lie there, trying to figure out what to do, when I realize my entire body is shaking.
I think I might have a fever.
My teeth chatter, which is weird because I’m covered in sweat, but all I feel is cold. I pull the comforter over me.
I’ll get my phone in a few minutes.
First, I’ll let myself go back to sleep. Maybe if I rest for just a little longer, I’ll wake up feeling better. Then I’ll get my phone…and maybe some medicine.
But first, sleep.
I drift off immediately.
I wake up to find the sun still filtering through my window.
Everything hurts. It’s even worse than before. My head pounds so badly it feels like I can’t even think straight.
I have to pee, but the thought of standing up sounds like too much. Maybe if I just try to sleep again for a little longer, I’ll feel stronger.
I can’t hold it any longer; I have to pee. I take a deep breath before pushing myself off the mattress. I’ve kicked off every single blanket. They sit in a large pile at the end of the bed.
