Page 57 of Open To Negotiation

“What—” another bout of coughing into her elbow, “are you doing here?” She rasped when she finished.

“You’re sick?” A cold sweat had broken out on my body, and I was forcing myself to focus on her face and stay here with her rather than getting pulled into the past.

“Yeah.” She sniffled. “Stupid James came—”

“James?” Seeing her sick was making my protective instincts go into overdrive and hearing another man’s name on her lips wasn’t exactly helping me calm down.

“The only co-worker I like,” she added with a small smile, even sick she was fucking beautiful. But her smile wasn’t enough to calm me down today especially with how dim the light in her eyes was. “He came to work on Monday sick. Guess he passed it on to me.” She finished on a cough again. “I seem to have it worse.”

“Let me in,” I demanded as she kept her hand on the door.

“Theo, I’m disgusting. Aubrey is going to bring me some soup once she’s off shift. I just need to sleep it off.”

“You weren’t answering your phone,” I accused her.

She sneezed and cleared her throat. “Sorry, I was sleeping. Plus, you don’t need to see me like this.”

“Quinn.” She looked surprised at the desperation in my voice. “You are sick,” I emphasized each word. “I need you to let me in.” It felt like someone was grabbing my chest and squeezing it.

The only other woman I’d ever cared about got sick and then she died. Quinn had a cold, not cancer, but try telling my nervous system that.

“Theo, I’m fine. I’m not going to d—” It was like a light turned on. Her eyes softened and she let out a sigh. She seemed to read my panic, even without knowing the full story she connected the dots. I hadn’t said what killed my mum, but I must have given her enough to guess. “I’m sick and you need to come in.” I nodded, grateful I didn’t need to explain why seeing her like this was forcing me into a place that I did not want to be in, especially picturing it being Quinn. “But what if you catch this?”

I shook my head and pushed past her to get into her apartment. It was the first time I’d been inside as I looked around her space. The TV was on at a low volume, tissues were piled in a garbage bin on the floor. There were dishes and a box of medication on the counter.

“Sorry, it’s a bit messy,” she said through a sniff. I looked back to see her fidgeting. “I haven’t been feeling like cleaning up.”

The second I got her settled and asleep, I was going to clean up for her so she didn’t have to worry about it. But I didn’t bother telling her that, instead I answered her earlier question. “I don’t get sick.” I moved into her kitchen, placing my briefcase on a bar stool as I took off my suit jacket and rolled my sleeves up.

“You don’t?” she asked as she stood watching me move around.

“No. One time a stomach bug threatened to take out our whole office. The rest of the guys got it and I was fine. Haven’t been sick in a while.” I put her kettle on and hunted for a mug and some tea.

“What are you doing?” Her question was followed by another coughing fit.

At least it sounded like she was clearing things out of her lungs. I was still tense but talking with her and having a task were both helping. If she didn’t sound better after some tea and a nap, I would be calling a doctor to come see her.

“Making you tea,” I said dryly. “Go get back under the blankets on the couch and text Aubrey that I’ve got you.”

“You’re staying?” she asked, I could see the hope in her eyes even though she tried to smother it with a neutral tone.

“Did you think I was going to come in, get proof of life and leave?” I turned to look at her as I waited for the water to boil.

“Well… I don’t know.” More sniffles.

“I’m staying, Love.” My voice softened a little more than before. The panic had made me short but the tightness in my chest was easing, helping me think more clearly.

“But you have to work,” she objected weakly.

“I’m the boss. I don’t have to do anything. Plus, I have all my stuff with me.”

She let out a sigh and threw her hands up in the air, but I could tell she was weak since it didn’t have much enthusiasm. “Fine, but don’t blame me when you get sick.”

She turned to go back to the couch, coughing as she went.

“Worth it to see you in my shirt, babe,” I said with a smirk.

She looked down and I would bet my empire that she was flushed and not from a fever. I picked up the box of cold medicine only to find the pack empty. I shook my head as I finished making her tea, grabbed my briefcase and went to join her in the living room.