Chapter 64
HARPER
The next three weeks fly by in a blur of excitement and anticipation. My big sister is getting married, and I’m going to be there.
“Are you all set?”
“I am,” I say. “My clothes are packed. I just need to add my wash bag.”
He drops a kiss on my nose.
“It’s going to be strange seeing people after eight months,” I say.
“You’re going to have a lot to talk about,” he says, his hands resting on my waist.
“Hmm,” I say, wrapping my arms around his neck, my nails grazing the short hair at his nape. “I’m going to miss you.”
Pulling me against him, he smiles. “You’ll be too caught up in the moment to miss me.”
I grunt.
“And you’ll be too busy trying to catch a thief to miss me.”
For the past three weeks, since news of the stolen designs broke, Alex has been firefighting.
Lawsuits, cease-and-desist orders, major buyers threatening to pull out. It’s been one thing after another, as he and the legal team have worked to recover some of the financial losses and protect the brand’s reputation.
He groans. “I’m sorry, these past few weeks…”
I cup his cheek. “Hey, relationships aren’t only about the good times, and remember I’m only a phone call away.”
He rests his forehead against mine.
“What time is your flight?”
“Tomorrow morning at ten.”
“I have plenty of time to show you how much I’m going to miss you,” he says, his mouth descending on mine.
* * *
I awaken with a start.
“Oh, shit.”
Flying out of bed, I barely make it to the bathroom before the contents of my stomach come back up.
I retch and retch until it feels impossible to retch anymore.
Fuck.
Dropping back onto the tiled floor, I lean against the wall.
The light comes on, and Alex appears, squatting down in front of me.
“Brooke?”
I groan, shrinking away from him.
A cool hand rests against my forehead.
“You’re burning up.”
“I ache all over,” I moan.
My stomach cramps, and I quickly realise it’s not only sickness I’m suffering from.
“Out, please,” I groan, dragging myself up off the floor and onto the toilet.
The last thing I want is Alex seeing…
He helps me upright before stepping back.
“I’ll be right outside the door. Call me when you need me,” he says, moving the bathroom bin next to me.
My stomach clenches violently, making me double over and rest my arms on my knees, as my body expels whatever is wrong with me from both ends.
Alex appears moments later, ignoring my protests.
“Remember, relationships aren’t only about the good times,” he says, throwing my earlier words back at me.
I moan, the pain and nausea almost unbearable.
“It’s okay, I’ve got you,” he says, helping me into the shower to clean myself off.
He towels me down, dressing me in fresh sleepwear, before manoeuvring us back into the bedroom and tucking me in.
“I’ll be right back,” he says.
I nod.
He returns moments later with a plastic bucket, placing it on the floor next to the bed.
He smooths the hair back from my face.
“My flight,” I moan.
“We’ll see how you are in the morning,” he says.
He doesn’t verbalise what we’re both thinking, that in my current state, there’s no way I’m getting on a plane anytime soon.
* * *
My hand shakes as I hold the phone.
“Hey, rebel,” Kat says, her face appearing on my screen. “Where are you? You’re missing spa time.”
Her eyes meet mine through the screen.
“What’s up? You look shocking.”
“Food poisoning,” I groan. “Or a stomach bug.”
My stomach heaves, and I drop the phone, barely making it into the bathroom before the water Alex gave me makes a reappearance.
I return and pick up the phone, knowing how shocking I must look.
“Oh, Rebs,” she says.
I choke down my sob.
“I’m not going to make it,” I say, unable to prevent the tears streaming down my face. “There’s no way I could get on the flight… oh, Kat, I’m so sorry.”
Kat’s eyes glisten, and she bites her lip.
Pen appears.
“Hey, Harps. No tears,” she says sternly. “Elijah and I will set you up with a live stream for the wedding. You can spend whatever time you can with us from the comfort of your bed. You won’t miss a thing… apart from the humidity maybe, I promise.”
I sob out a “Thank you.”
“Now get to a doctor. I don’t mean to be rude, but you look terrible.”
Kat comes back onto the screen, her fingers reaching towards me.
“Feel better. I’ll stream you in when I’m getting ready. Make sure you don’t miss a second.”
“Love you, sis,” I say.
“Love you more. Now do what Pen says.”
I disconnect, dropping back on the bed. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this pathetic or weak in my life. The constant vomiting and diarrhoea have left me with bruised ribs and a tender stomach. Even on a private jet, I’d struggle. The mere thought is more than I can take.
Alex returns with another rehydration drink in hand and some dry toast.
“How are you feeling?”
“Terrible.” I groan.
“If it makes you feel any better, it looks like a number of staff members have come down with norovirus.”
“Noro-what?”
“Norovirus, a highly contagious stomach bug.”
I drop back against the pillow.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“What are you sorry about?”
“I’ve probably given it to you.”
“If you have, you have. No point worrying about it.”
He places the plate and the drink on the table next to the bed.
“Try to eat something. On the bright side, if it is norovirus, it usually lasts one to three days.”
“Great, a positive,” I say with a groan.
“Rest up and shout if you need me. I’m going to work in my office,” he says, dropping a kiss on my forehead.
“Thanks,” I say.
My chest constricts at his thoughtfulness. No one apart from Mum has cared for me the way this man has in the past forty-eight hours.
He smiles. “Rest up.”