THIRTY

Alecia's eyes popped open and she stared at the ceiling as her stomach rumbled. She could gag at this moment. She pressed a hand to her stomach. What was wrong with her? Pushing herself from the bed, she stood and made her way to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee.

She picked up a roll, but her stomach turned with just the thought. She pushed her hand hard against her stomach, but as she listened to the coffee drip into the pot, the aroma of the hazelnut entered her nostrils and something pushed up through her. She covered her mouth, and ran to the bathroom sweeping past Ryder. She threw open the lid of the toilet, and let everything in her stomach come out. Ryder bent down next to her and held her hair back.

When it was all out, she took the cup of water Ryder handed her. She sipped the drink, swished her mouth, and spit into the toilet. She placed a hand on her head. “My head is hot, I must have a cold,” she said. She went to the guest bedroom and lay d