Loyalty in Question

CHARLOTTE

When I opened my eyes the next morning, I knew the meeting with Thiago I was hoping for wouldn’t happen, and this time it wasn’t because I was averse to seeing him. My body ached in places I didn’t know existed; it was hard to move without groaning in pain.

“What’s happening?” I said and placed a palm on my head to feel my temperature.

The room started to spin, and my mouth instantly became dry, leaving a bitter aftertaste when I swallowed. I sighed at how warm my forehead felt and tried to sit up, but my body had plans of its own. It had decided we weren’t leaving that spot any time soon. I let my hands fall onto the sheets and shook my head. What a way to start the morning.

I chuckled at the irony of everything— now that I was willing to see Thiago so I could ignore the thoughts that were on a loop in my mind; I had fallen ill. I looked around for my phone and realized it had fallen on the floor.

I contemplated calling Sonia but decided against it. She’d be here soon and wo