Page 69
The hours drift by, and still, Arran stays with me. My stomach rolls and hurts, but I know I won’t be able to throw up right now. Instead, I lay in bed and attempt to ride it out. Eventually, the migraine will give up the ghost.
It always does, even though it’s been a long fucking time since it’s been this long.
Breathing hard as the edges of pain begin to let up, I turn over and push the eye mask up to peek out at Arran.
He’s staring at me with a pinched expression, worry ingrained into every line.
“Can I have another pill?” I whisper, my voice cracking. I don’t know how much time has passed, but if my head still hurts, it’s time.
He doesn’t ask if I can have one, he simply gets up and gets me one with water. I drink it down, and this time, I can feel it finally starting to break up. I sigh in relief, and his eyes widen.
“Why did that one work?” he asks.
“Luck of the draw,” I mutter, laying back down. I can still hear pain in my voice, despite feeling light years better. “I haven’t had a migraine like this in a long time. Did I scare you?”
“Did you… Fuck. Can I touch you now?”
“Yes.”
Arran carefully scoops me up and lays me over his body, and hugs me. “Damn, baby. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so fucking helpless before. You still sound out of it.”
“I feel a million times better though,” I confess, sighing as I pull off the head gear and toss it aside. It’s no longer cold, and I’d much rather listen to Arran’s heart beat.
Mmm. It’s such a solid, normal fucking heart beat.
“Do we need to do anything?” he asks, blowing out a breath.
“Nuh-uh. Except text the family group chat to provide proof of life.”
“I have a feeling you’re not being funny, huh?”
“Nope.”
“Do we know if I passed the family test yet?” he asks. “I kind of know why you took Magnus in stride. I was just waiting for your grandfather to pull out a cigar and start smoking it. He kept glaring at me.”
“My mom wouldn’t have let you take me home if you hadn’t,” I mumble, pushing myself up to find my phone.
Me
Hiii. I’m alive.
“Really? That’s how you provide proof of life?” Arran groans. “You’re killing me, baby.”
“It’s a little funny,” I say, smiling weakly. “Thanks for driving me home. This would have scared Zayn.”
“What does your family think about this?”
“Oh, it scares the hell out of them too. Unfortunately, this is what life with me looks like.”
“Still here,” he snorts. “I just need to know what to do.”
“Exactly what you’re doing,” I breathe.
Rachelle
That isn’t funny.
Emil
