Page 72 of Sassy Love
“I’m going out to grab some supplies, you need anything?”
“I’m fine. You go, she needs more than I can manage.”
“Be right back, okay?”
Grabbing my wallet, I slip outside and down the elevator. In the foyer, I tap my phone, hunting for the nearest pharmacy. Two blocks. Too easy.
Eight minutes later, I have a bag of Tylenol, ibuprofen, and electrolyte drinks in hand as I spill from the elevator and stride for apartment 406. Millie opens the door for me before I have a chance to knock. It’s then I notice the camera mounted to the left of the door. Lamont takes her security seriously, I see.
Smart girl.
“I had to take her a bucket.” Millie wrings her hands.
“Okay, you have something to eat and have a break. I’ll take care of Carlie.”
She gives me a sad smile and pats my jaw like we’re family. I tug off my tie and roll my sleeves up as I toe off my shoes and head into Carlie’s room. The bucket is empty when I reach the bed, and Carlie is still shaking with fever.
“Time for your medicine.”
“Yes sir,” she croaks.
I sit her up and hand her the pills, twisting the lid from one of the electrolyte drinks. She takes them and rests back on the pillows. “Thank you.”
“I’ll check your temperature in twenty minutes.” I set the drink on her bedside by the soup.
I turn to leave, and fine fingers wrap around my wrist. “Stay?”
“You want me to stay and cuddle, Princess?”
Instead of reaming me out over the nickname, she huffs a strained laugh and closes her eyes. I stand for a beat, wondering when that changed. When her eyes open and I haven’t moved, I nod to the bed. “Permission to come aboard?”
“Granted, but keep your hands to yourself.”
“Yes ma’am.”
The sweetest lopsided smile breaks on her face.
I climb onto the other side of her bed, sitting at the top and leaning on the headboard. “So, tell me about Mills, your not-grandma.”
She rolls her head on the pillows, studying my face before she says, “We met at the convenience store once. I didn’t know it at first, but she had no family here and nowhere to go.”
“Now she lives here with you?”
A pretty smile blooms as she says, “She does.”
“Never would have taken you for a softie, Miss Carlie.”
“Huh, who you calling soft? You’re the one taking care of your archnemesis.”
I hold her gaze for a moment before muttering, “Not anymore.”
“You think you’ve been upgraded to the friend zone, do you?” Delight consumes her weary eyes.
“Oh, absolutely, otherwise you’ll be getting my bill in the mail tomorrow for all this pampering.”
She chuckles, but it deteriorates into a cough.
“I’m so tired,” she rasps. “So cold.”
