Page 23 of If All Else Sails
I really need to sit. Or lie down. Heat pulses through me. Sweat drips steadily down my spine. I’vegotto get the air-conditioning looked at.
If not for me then for Josie.
I squint at the thermostat, but the numbers swim. Definitely broken.
“Then stop making this harder on yourself,” Josie says, but I’m no longer certain what we’re talking about. I nod anyway, my head suddenly an anvil atop my noodle neck.
“What’s the bathroom situation?”
I blink away the sweat dripping into my eyes.Focus, Wyatt. Bathrooms...bathrooms...
“There’s only one,” I manage, my voice thick and my mouth dry.
“Wonderful,” Josie mutters, looking back toward the window and the water beyond.
My vision has gone hazy. Swaying, I almost lose my balance and just keep myself from collapsing in a boneless heap. The heat is suddenly unbearable.
My body is lava. No—magma.
I’m beyond grateful when Josie yawns again and starts to slump. “Okay. Well, we’ll revisit this thrilling conversation when I wake up.”
I barely manage to scurry back when she steps forward to grab the doorknob. Her eyes are half lidded as she says, “Goodnight, Wyatt.”
“It’s still afternoon,” I say, and as she closes the door in my face, I can hear her laughter just beyond.
It’s the last thing I hear from her as I shu?e toward my room, where I plan to collapse into bed.
But the floor feels wiggly. So do my legs. Like I’m walking on the deck of a boat.
Something is wrong. Am I feverish? I almost call out to Josie, but I tell myself it’s just the air-conditioning. When did I last eat? I haven’t been sleeping well. It’s probably just exhaustion. And an HVAC problem. I’m fine.
I’m not fine. I need to stop and rest. When did this hallwayget so long? I’m trapped in a funhouse mirror. Sweat rolls down my back.
Unable to take another step, I slump against the wall and puddle onto the floor.
Just a tiny nap.
No—not here. I’ll crawl to my room if I have to. I try to drag myself there.
My fingers brush the doorframe, but I’m not going to make it.
Even my eyeballs feel hot as they fall closed, and my last thought is that I need to wake up before Josie sees me like this.
“Wyatt?” Josie’s voice is suddenly very close.
I open my eyes. When did I shut them?
I’m lying on the floor in the hallway and it’s dark. Is it night?
“M’okay,” I mumble.
Something cool touches my face. A hand. Josie’s hand.
Josie is touching me.
I shiver.
“Wyatt, you’re burning up.”
