She shook her head. “I think that fever is really getting to you.”
I laughed, but stopped short because it hurt. I closed my eyes as Nicole stood and got the plate of soup, taking it to the kitchen. I heard the water behind me, but couldn’t even tell her not to wash the plate. When I felt her presence near again, I opened my eyes. She had a glass of orange juice in her hand.
“You have to drink this,” she said. “And then you’re going to get up and shower.”
I groaned. “Is this your way of telling me I stink?”
“No.”
“Is this your way of getting me naked?”
She tried to stifle a laugh by pressing her lips together. “No.”
“Is this your way of getting me in the shower and having your way with me because you’d have to give me a bath since I’m so weak right now?”
She laughed. “No.”
I glanced up at her. She was so fucking beautiful. I hadn’t really paid attention to the red dress she was wearing, or the way it curved out at her hips to accentuate her small waistline. I hadn’t noticed she’d worn her hair loose or the way it draped over her shoulders and covered her tits.
“You’re so fucking beautiful,” I said before I could stop myself. Her eyes widened slightly. She took a seat across from me, placing the cup on her lap. From the way the orange liquid moved in the glass, I could tell her hands were shaking.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“I don’t tell you that enough, but you are. I never told you that enough,” I said. “Before, I mean. Before I pushed you away and you married that fucking asshole. I should have told you how beautiful you were.”
“Victor,” she whispered, “just . . . drink this.”
My head felt light, as if at any moment I’d pass out again. It was definitely the Nyquil.
“This isn’t me telling you these things because I’m drugged,” I said. “I’m not him.” Not that I knew what he was like when he was drugged, but I felt the need to add that. “I liked you, Nicole. I really did.”
“Before?” she asked in a low voice. I nodded. Before, during, after. I really fucking liked her.
“But your dad was my boss, and I couldn’t . . .” I yawned. “I couldn’t take that chance.”
“I know. Priorities,” she said and smiled.
She didn’t seem upset about the admission. I didn’t really expect her to be. Nicole never saw me as her long-lost lover. She’d been whole before I found her at the club, and whole after I left her at the office.
“I had no idea you wanted to get married,” I said, yawning again.
“You wouldn’t have settled down even if you had known,” she replied, shrugging.
“It had nothing to do with you. That was all me,” I said. She sighed.
“That was a long time ago. A lot has happened since.” She stood from her seat and leaned down to place her hand on my forehead. I closed my eyes at the feel of it, tried to inhale the fresh scent she carried with her. “Do you just want to go to sleep then? Not shower? You should still drink this.”
She brought the cup to my lips and I took a sip, cringing as the cold liquid hit my sore throat. When I was finished, she stepped away and put the cup down.
“I should probably—” she started, and I realized, to my horror, that she may be about to leave me here by myself, and I really wanted her to stay. I wasn’t sure which one of those things was worse.
“Stay,” I said. “Stay with me.”
She let out a sigh and sat down beside me, and without a second thought, I put my head on her lap. She started running her fingers through my hair so softly, sleep didn’t stand a chance.
“I have some designs to work on,” she said. “Do you mind if I get my sketch book and do that here?”
“Please do. I want to see them,” I said, looking into her eyes. She nodded and gave me a small smile as she continued to touch my hair. “I always liked watching you sketch.” That was the last thing I remember saying before I fell asleep.