Chapter Thirty-six

Chapter Thirty-six

Chloe

I wrap the blanket tighter around myself and pick up my phone. Sam should be home soon. I’d planned to put on lingerie but I’m so cold I’m shaking and my entire body aches. So instead, I’m camped out on the couch in PJs and one of Sam’s sweatshirts, scrolling through social media.

Charles updates his I*******m stories as I’m scrolling, and the ten-second video of him sitting at some sort of pub with a friend has me scrambling to get him on the phone.

“Hey,” he answers on the third ring. “You okay? You never call.”

“Why does everyone say that?” I grumble, though I know it’s true. “I’m fine, and you know why I’m calling.”

“Uh,” he starts, and the sounds of the pub filter through the phone. “You’re pregnant?”

“Hah, no, or not that I’m aware of. I saw your story and—I’m not on speaker, am I?”

“No.”

“Good because I know who you’re out with, and oh my god, are you keeping secrets from me?”

Charles laughs. “Hardly, and it was unexpected.” He’s being vague on purpose because he’s not alone. “In a good way,” he adds, and I smile. The “friend” in the photo is Eric Deaton, who’s done stunt work for Charles before. They had a super-secret romance last year, but Eric broke it off because having to lie and hide the relationship was too difficult for him. Charles tried to brush it off and say it was fine, that Eric didn’t mean that much to him, and he’d rather keep up his fake identity of being one of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors than admit the truth…including how much Eric meant to him.

Seeing them together again makes me so happy, but also worried. I don’t want my friend to get hurt again, or for something to come out before Charles is ready.

“Well, good,” I reply. “I hope everything is going well on set.”

“Very, very well,” he says, and I'm pretty sure we’re still talking in code. “Are you sick? You sound hoarse.”

“I have a slight cold,” I say, not wanting to admit to more. “I am staying with my doctor boyfriend, so I’ll be all right.” I cough and curl my legs up under me. The body aches are in full force, and I have a headache that won’t go away.

“I trust you’ll get properly examined.” He chuckles.

“Oh, I will. I miss you.”

“I miss you too. You coming back to LA anytime soon?”

“Yeah, in a few days. I miss my horse too much to be away for much longer. We need to meet up ASAP.”

“We definitely do. Feel better, Chloe.”

“I’m working on it. Have a good night.”

We end the call and I doze off, waking when Sam comes home.

“Hey,” I say sleepily, sitting up and stretching. My brain is all foggy from napping and my head hurts worse. “I was going to be all domestic and make dinner, but I fell asleep.”

Sam sinks down on the couch next to me and puts his hand against my cheek. “You’re still burning up.” Dropping his hand, he unbundles me.

“I’m freezing,” I groan.

He frowns. “I know, babe. I’m sorry.” He covers my legs, leaving my arms exposed. I immediately break out in goosebumps. “I’ll get you a lighter blanket. When was the last time you took anything for the fever?”

It takes my fuzzy brain a moment to do the math. “About two hours ago.”

His brows furrow. “How are you feeling? I mean, what are your symptoms?”

“My chest hurts,” I tell him. “And I have a headache.”

Sam kisses my forehead and gets up, coming back with a stethoscope. “You have an upper respiratory infection.” He takes the stethoscope from his ears and puts it on the coffee table. “I’ll prescribe something and can pick it up later.”

“I can get it,” I tell him with a cough. “You have to work again tomorrow.”

“You’re sick.” He brushes my hair back. “Let me take care of you.”

I smile as he takes me in his arms, lying back with me before getting up to call in the medication or however doctors do it. “Did you write today?” He eyes my computer on the coffee table.

“I did, but don’t worry, I rested too.” I tip my head up to look at him. “I’m close to finishing the book. As long as nothing bad happens to ruin my motivation, I should get it done in a week or so.”

“Nothing bad?” Sam echoes.

“Yeah. My writing is closely tied to my emotions. Some authors find dark times to be inspiring, but I’m the opposite.”

Sam’s face pales. “Oh.” He gets up and looks out the window. “That’s interesting."

I shrug and get hit with another chill. “It’s annoying. Though I’ve been lucky, the last few weeks have been very motivating. And as long as I‘m here with you, nothing bad will happen, right?”