I eat what I can of the soup and wash my pills down with water. My stomach makes a horrible rumbling sound. I don’t think my body and the antibiotics agree with one another. I lay back on the couch and close my eyes. I have another chapter due, but I don’t have the energy to do anything and everything is starting to hurt, leading me to wonder if I have the flu too.
Even my fingernails hurt. I didn’t think that was possible, but I am experiencing it right now.
“You feel that bad, huh?” Killian takes one look at me and scoops me int
o his arms. I’m hoping he is simply carrying me to bed, but he takes me to the bathroom and sits me on the sink and strips me down for my bath.
I really do have the best non-boyfriend boyfriend.
**
By day three I am starting to feel human again. Killian went above and beyond to get me an extension on my chapter for my creative writing class. He saved me. Apparently, Professor Larson has a soft spot for his witty and charming ways. Exactly like the rest of the female population. He’s off helping Ben with his car or something, so I am eating in the cafeteria alone. That is until I look up and find Hayley standing across from me.
“Can I sit?”
“Sure. As long as your pal, Jackie, isn’t going to join us.”
Hayley drops her tray and it makes a loud noise. “She’s not my pal, but I do have to have someone to hang out with since you ditched me over something stupid.”
“You lying to me about how well you were acquainted with Killian upsetting me wasn’t stupid.”
“It was way back in the past.”
“Whatever. I don’t want to fight.”
“Good. Mom wanted me to ask you if you’d like to go with her to the home’s dinner for Thanksgiving.”
“When is it?”
“Next weekend. They have it early so families can accommodate their schedules to attend.”
“I’ll think about it.”
She gives me a dirty look. “It’s not James’ fault he is screwed up. Did your mom ever tell you what sent him spiraling when he wrecked?”
“No. But she said he hadn’t had contact with me in a year at the time.”
“Well she lied to you.”
“What do you mean?” I don’t even know why she is stirring up the past. It won’t change anything.
“He had been fighting with her for a year for joint custody, but her folks knew the judge well and she always got her way. Finally though, he found someone who would listen and help him with his case. He was awarded supervised visits. He showed up at the park to see you and when you asked who he was she told you he was nobody special. You were afraid of him because it had been so long since you had seen him and it broke his heart that his little girl, the one person he loved in the world didn’t remember him and screamed when he tried to hug her.”
“Shut up.”
“Why? Does the truth heart, Liri?”
“Why are you acting this way?”
“I had it good with Liam until you came along. If Killian hadn’t opened his fat mouth, I would still be with him.”
“I can’t control what Killian does any more than anyone else can and as far as Liam goes it was his choice to end things when he found out what a liar you were.”
“I feel sorry for you. When Killian gets tired of you and how pathetic and dorky you are you won’t have anyone to turn to.” She shoots me a bitchy smile and leaves.
“What a bitch,” I utter to myself. So much for family.
I grab my tray and dump it. As I am going out the door I bump into Hunter. Geez. What is with today?