Page 21 of Tucker
Mystomach gives a loud growl and while there’s no way I want to eat and chancepuking again, I do need something to drink. I step out my door and right into awall of muscle.
Tuckerlooks down at me. “How are you feeling?”
“Alittle better maybe. Thirsty.”
Hehands me the glass of ice water in his hand and I down it. Water has nevertasted so good. “Thanks.”
Inotice he’s holding a bag in his other hand as he follows me back into my room.Reaching in, he produces a bottle of sports drink, tissues, a bag of suckers, anda pack of anti-diarrheal pills.
Chuckling,I hand the pills back. “I don’t have the shits.”
Hiseyes lock onto mine, amusement shining in them. “Trust me,” he says, handingthem back.
“Great,there’s something to look forward to.” I pick up the suckers. “They makesuckers to help a sore throat?”
Tuckershakes his head. “I don’t know if they work. I just asked the pharmacist forsomething.”
Hewent to the drugstore for me.
“Thanks,”I reply, grabbing a cherry sucker and tearing off the wrapping. At least I canget the taste of death out of my mouth. “Did you turn my phone off?”
“Yes,it kept beeping and I didn’t want it to wake you.”
Shit.Ely. I grab my phone and wait for it to power on. “What time is it?”
“Justpast five.”
Ihave two missed texts from Ely telling me how much he’s looking forward totonight and that he’ll pick me up at eight. With a sigh, I send him a textexplaining I have a stomach virus and apologizing. I get a text back inseconds.
Ely:Don’t be sorry. I hope you feel better. Raincheck?
Me:Definitely. I’ll call you when I’m better.
Tuckersits on my bed, his legs stretched out in front of him. “So, do you feel up towatching a movie?”
Tuckerhangs out with me most of the night, until I insist he go to bed. When I wakethe next morning, he’s standing in my doorway. “How do you feel?”
“Better,”I reply, stretching. “I think I’ll lie in the tub a while.”
Helooks torn as he asks, “Do you think you’ll be okay by yourself today?”
It’sthen I realize. It’s Saturday. “Yep. I’m good. Go do your top secret Saturdaystuff.”
Hislook says he isn’t amused. “I’m fine, really. Thanks for helping me, but I’mgood.”
Aftera brief pause, he gives me a terse nod and leaves. I’d love to know where hegoes every Saturday, but just like him trying to snoop into my dating life, Irealize it’s none of my business.
Aftera few days, I’m feeling back to normal. Ely calls and asks if I’d like to goout on Wednesday night. There’s a band playing at a local bar and since it’sthe night before Thanksgiving and most people are off of work, it’ll probablybe full of partiers blowing off some steam. It sounds perfect.
Tuckerdoesn’t comment when he sees me getting ready for my date, and he stays in hisroom when Ely shows up to get me. I can’t worry about his reaction right now.He’s made it clear he isn’t interested in me, especially since he’s beencalling mekidagain. So, he certainly doesn’t get to decide who I goout with. When the doorbell rings, I glance around the empty living rom. Asmuch as I want to go out and have some fun, a big part of me just wants to hangout with Tucker.
I’drather he were the one taking me out, but that’s just not going to happen. I’mstarting to feel like a stupid schoolgirl infatuated with her older brother’sfriend.
“Leah,you look beautiful,” Ely says, when I greet him at the door.
“Thankyou.”
Ihad my hair trimmed and nails done so I feel beautiful tonight. He walks me outto his…smart car. Okay, I’ve never actually met someone who owned one of these.He’s more dedicated to the environment than I expected. It’s absolutely tiny,though, and it seems to have trouble with one of the steeper hills that leadback to town.
