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“Maybe we should do it together.”

“That might help. Then I can blame you if…” She looked in at Caleb. “I should get him home.”

“I’ll see you after school.”

Milo felt worse as the day wore on, and by the time school was out, he was officially sick. He stopped in at the office before heading to Wilda’s.

Barb cocked her head when she saw him. “Uh oh.”

“Yeah. Is Rachel in her office?”

“Yes.”

“Thanks. Can you write down Caleb Carson’s home address for me, please?”

“Of course.”

Milo went to Rachel’s door and knocked once, then opened it. “You got a minute?”

“For you, always. Oh my, you look like crap.”

“Thanks.”

“I’m sorry. What do you need?”

“I don’t think I’ll be in tomorrow.” He felt a sneeze coming, and he turned away from her and sneezed into his elbow.

“I’ll call a sub. Do you need a nurse tonight? I can make you dinner when I come to get Frenchie.”

He put a hand on his stomach. “No dinner for me. I’ll be fine. I just want to sleep.”

“Call me if you need anything. I kind of owe you.”

“For the spider?”

“That and a lot of other things.”

He smiled. “I should be keeping a list.”

“Go home and don’t worry about your class. Let me know tomorrow afternoon if you need another day.”

“I will. Hopefully, I’ll sleep it off and be fine on Wednesday.”

“I’d hug you, but you’re all germy and stuff.”

He shook his head. “Why am I even friends with you?”

She smiled. “Because I’m so pretty and cool.”

“Hmm.”

She lowered her voice. “And the sex was great.”

“Stop with that already. Why do you keep bringing that up lately?”

She sighed. “My current…companion is a little—”

Milo held up his hand. “Please stop.”