Page 45 of Give In To Love
“I went to my classroom management class, but about halfway through, it felt like my head was slowly being filled with concrete and I could barely keep my eyes open. I came back here, emailed the rest of my professors, then crashed.”
I smoothed his hair back from his forehead. He’d let it grow longer for his role in the musical. “I’m going to run to the dining hall and get you some soup.” I made to stand, but his hand shot out from beneath the covers, holding me in place with surprising strength.
“No. Don’t leave me.”
I chuckled. “It’ll take me like twenty, maybe thirty minutes. You’ll be okay.”
He gripped my arm tighter. “Stay. Text Tyler and ask him to bring something.”
“Baby, that’s silly. I’m sure your brother is busy. I’ll just run over and…”
“No.” His voice held a whiny quality I’d never heard from him before. “Just call him. Pleeeease.” He widened his eyes like a puppy dog, and I swear to god, he rolled out his bottom lip in a pout.
“Wow. You’re pitiful.”
“I really am.” He nodded his head and pouted harder, leaning into the act.
I sighed and pulled out my phone, shooting Tyler a text.
Your brother is begging me to have you bring him some soup
I’d go, but he won’t let me leave
A response came in almost immediately.
Tyler
He must be sick
How did you know?
He almost always gets sick the week after a show, and he’s always such a damn baby about it
I wanted to agree, but a sense of loyalty to my boyfriend stopped me from confirming. Another text from Tyler came in, saving me from responding.
I’ll be over in fifteen. I was headed that direction anyway
TY!
NP. Good luck with him! lol
I pocketed my phone and returned my attention to my pitiful patient. “Tyler says he’ll be here in fifteen.”
His only response was to close his eyes and burrow his head into my thigh.
* * *
Tyler was rightwhen he said TJ was a damn baby when he was sick. For someone who was usually so sunny and cheerful and carried himself with confidence, he was absolutely helpless for the next three days. As far as I could tell, he was suffering from the common cold. His nose was runny, his throat scratchy, and he ran a low-grade fever. He stayed in bed all day Tuesday but managed to make it to his Wednesday classes, though he dramatically threw himself on the bed upon entering the room, climbed under the covers, and took a two-hour nap.
There was a part of me that found his behavior eye-roll-inducing. Growing up, I hadn’t had anyone in my life who’d been particularly nurturing, so when it came to being sick, I’d mostly taken care of myself. On the other hand, it felt awfully nice to be needed. To be the one taking care of someone else for a change. It felt…good.
He was definitely feeling better by Thursday. He still had a bit of a sniffle, but his color was much better and his good humor was back. Tyler joined us for lunch after our Ad Psych class, and the two of them spent most of the time giving each other shit, as was their habit.
We were just finishing up when TJ’s phone rang. I caught a glimpse of the number with a three-one-two area code before he picked it up off the table and excused himself to take the call in the lobby.
“Was he expecting a call?” Tyler asked.
“Not that I know of.”
