Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92180 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Jake nods, but Colby starts crying again, and I turn to him. Reaching out, I take his little hand. “I promise she’ll be okay. I’m going to take good care of her. I want you to be a strong, tough little man so she doesn’t worry about you. Can you do that?”
He nods, and Jake takes his brothers’ hands and leads them away.
I turn back to Kiera and the worry gushes forth. “They’re old enough to be out of sight, right?”
Even in her weakened state, Kiera manages a smile. “Yes. They won’t die or set the house on fire.”
My nervous laugh is filled with relief. “I have no clue how to care for kids, much less talk to them.”
“You did fine,” she says, and then a massive shudder ripples through her body.
“Have you taken anything for the fever?”
“I tried Tylenol, but I threw it right back up again. I think I have the flu because everything hurts and I’m pretty sure I’m going to throw up again.”
Kiera tries to sit up, but I put a hand to her shoulder. “Stay there. Let me get a garbage can. Where’s the medicine normally kept?”
“Master suite bathroom upstairs,” she whispers, clearly an effort to speak, so I don’t bother asking where that is.
I snoop through Drake’s house and find myself surprised that Keira lives in the master suite, which sort of makes sense. She’s here more than Drake. I pop my head into the boys’ room. They’re all cuddled on the top bunk, and Jake is reading a story to his brothers.
My heart throbs at the sight, which only confirms to me that Drake is raising good kids.
Having been sick on occasion myself, I grab the essentials. A small bathroom garbage can with a clean bag, a hair tie from Kiera’s vanity, a cold ginger ale I find in the fridge, and both the Tylenol and ibuprofen from the medicine cabinet. Finally, I grab a washcloth and run it under the coldest water the faucet will produce.
At Kiera’s side, I help her to sit up so I can tie her hair out of the way. I crack the ginger ale and although she tries to refuse, I make her take a few sips. “Every time you throw up, you have to put some back in.”
I drape the cloth over her forehead and then go back to the kitchen for a closer perusal of things. Realizing that I don’t have quite what I need to get Kiera feeling better, nor do I know how to feed three boys, I call Daniel. After I tell him what I need and where to deliver it, I head back into the living room.
Kiera’s eyes are closed, and I reposition the cloth on her forehead. She startles, her eyes bloodshot and watery. “I feel like shit.”
“You look like you feel like shit,” I say, and that earns me a smile. “I’ve got someone on the way with chicken noodle soup, Gatorade, and ice cream for the kids. Hope that’s okay?”
“I wouldn’t normally give them ice cream this late, but I don’t have the strength to fight you.”
“I wasn’t sure if I’d need it, but I don’t even know how to get kids ready for bed. I thought I might need it for bribery.”
Again, a wan smile, but I take that to be a good sign.
“Thank you,” she murmurs weakly. “I hated to call you—”
“Stop,” I say with a stern look. “I gave you my contact information for you to use. I’m really happy to help.”
“Is it because you and Drake are together?” she asks softly.
My body locks tight, then I glance around to make sure the kids aren’t nearby before pinning my eyes on her. “What?”
“Drake told me about you two.”
“I’m… it’s not… I don’t…”
“Relax,” Kiera whispers. “I’m too sick to even gossip with you about it, but for the record—and maybe it’s the fever talking—I think you two would be great for each other.”
My head turns left, then right. I’m panicked, like the walls are closing in. Why would she say such things? She knows him better than anyone, so why would she ever think someone like her brother, who is very relationship averse, would be great for someone like me, who is also relationship averse?
I start to tell her there’s nothing going on, and in fact, I’ve all but decided to call it quits because his sister thinks we’re great for each other, but she’s fallen asleep.
Exhaling a shaky breath, I glance at my watch. Daniel won’t be here for a while, so I go check on the boys.
When I step into their room, Jake looks up from the book and then the twins turn their heads my way. Three mini Drakes.
“You boys doing okay?”
Jake nods. “Is Aunt Kiera going to get better?”
“I’m sure she will. It’s getting late, though, so I think you can get into your pajamas.”