Six | Eva
Six
Eva
My head felt like it was going to explode, the pressure almost unbearable. I pulled the extra blanket from the back of the couch and wrapped it around me as I shivered. My body was achy and desperate to rest, but every time I tried to lie down in bed, my nose would start running, which would lead to a coughing fit. It seemed the only way that I could get comfortable enough to try to rest was to pile every pillow I had in my apartment and stack them together so I was at the perfect angle on the couch.
The heater was turned up as far as I was willing to let it go since I didn’t need an absurdly ridiculous bill. I had taken my temperature a few hours ago and wasn’t surprised that I had a fever, given how shitty I was feeling. I took some Tylenol and placed a cold washcloth on my forehead, hoping the fever would break soon. The last thing I wanted was to have to go to the doctor when I could barely get myself off of the couch.
I squirmed until I got comfortable, thankful that I was tired enough to go to sleep. But just as I closed my eyes to try to get some rest, my phone dinged with a new text message. I had already talked to Regina this morning to let her know that I wouldn’t be in today, and she had assured me that she would let Ethan know.
It wasn’t that I was avoiding Ethan after he had blown up at me yesterday. It was more that I would rather stick a rusty nail through my eyeball than talk to him right now. When I went by his office to talk about what had happened with Brent, I was met with ice-cold silence and was ordered to go home. I knew where I stood with him after that.
I had planned to talk to him and assure him that Brent and I spoke about what was in the folder and that I had a thorough conversation regarding what was being proposed. It was beyond irritating that he chose to treat me as if I was some brand-new lawyer, straight out of law school, when I’d been practicing as long as he had, according to Google.
I didn’t bother picking up my phone to check it, nor did I bother with it when I heard it vibrating across the coffee table as it rang. My entire body hurt as I closed my eyes and tried to relax now that I had finally gotten comfortable. Within my reach was the TV remote, so I grabbed it and turned up the volume in an effort to drown out the sound of my phone as it continued to dance across the wooden surface. The sound of laughter from the show filled the room, allowing my body to give in and get the sleep that I so desperately needed.
My deep sleep was soon interrupted by the sound of someone incessantly banging on the door. Lacking the energy and strength I needed to deal with it, I lifted my hands and covered my ears as I tried to will away whoever was there.
“Come on, Eva, I know you’re in there. I can hear the TV.” Ethan’s voice crept under the door and echoed in the small room.
“Go away. I’m sick,” I muttered as loudly as I could so I wouldn’t have to get up and answer the door. That was way too much work right now.
“Open the door, or I will go downstairs and get them to give me a key. I’m not leaving until we talk,” he warned.
In the short time I worked for Ethan, I knew he was one of the most persistent people I had ever met. Little did he know, I was probably one of the most stubborn people he would ever meet. I rolled my eyes and shifted my position so my back was facing the door. Within minutes, my body relaxed, and I fell back asleep. I knew it must have been a fevered dream, but it was so peaceful that I didn’t mind—even if I was dancing around Times Square in my underwear to the soundtrack of Chicago .
I was sinking deeper into my dream, making my way through the city as I continued on my tour when I felt someone shaking my arm. I groaned and rolled over, surprised to see Ethan sitting beside me on the edge of the couch. His brow was pulled together in concern as he looked at me, his brown eyes glistening in the beam of sunlight that was forcing its way through the small gap between the curtains.
“I said go away,” I mumbled and pulled my arm away.
“I’m not going anywhere until I know that you’re okay,” he replied with a hint of frustration.
“You’re not the boss of me,” I retorted, my eyes still closed with my face buried in the pillow.
“Actually, I am.” He let out an amused chuckle as I felt the back of his hand press against my forehead before he muttered a couple of curse words and stood up. I could hear his voice off in the distance as he spoke, but I had no idea if he was talking to me or if he was really there. Everything was fuzzy as a chill spread through my body, making everything ache again.
Slowly, my dream started to fade as everything around me got darker. The room was quiet, and I could feel the weight of a blanket on top of me. I pulled my legs up under me and curled into the couch as I drifted in and out of sleep.