Page 183 of True Blue

Everything hurts.

My head is pounding, my eyebrow stings, my skin feels like every nerve is dialed to a thousand, my stomach cramps over and over as I empty the contents into… something. And my muscles ache with every movement of my body.

I moan as another wave causes my stomach to spasm painfully, and a deep rumbling voice by my ear soothes me, murmuring sweet words.

I feel the shame hold me, as the need to apologize for someone having to take care of me while I’m feverish and vomiting and disgusting.

A burden and an inconvenience.

“Ssssorrry…” I shiver, leaning into whoever is holding me, feeling their strong arms tighten.

A scent reaches my nose, warm and woodsy and… I can’t reach it. I try to crack open my eyes and flinch, slamming them shut again when the light burns.

A pathetic whimper escapes my mouth.

“I’m sorry, honey, I know…” the voice rumbles, and I feel it against my back, a hand gently cradling my jaw. I slump back against the comforting presence. “I should have gotten curtains, I’m sorry…”

“Don’t…” I rasp, gagging once more.

The hand on my jaw gently directs me to the side so I can throw up again. And again, until I’m gasping for breath and tears are leaking from my closed eyes.

Instantly, I feel better, though, and once again let all of my weight lean against the warmth behind me, my body shaky and weak.

“Good girl,” he murmurs. A name is right on the edge of my mind, trying to break through the sharp pain in my skull. A warm hand cradles my jaw, “Are you done, baby?”

“Yesss…” I mumble as my body is shifted and placed back on a very soft surface.

A bed.

I’m in a very comfortable bed.

The body beside me moves away, and panic spikes through me so abruptly that it cuts through the fever fog. I whine, reaching out blindly, not wanting to be alone.

Frantic footsteps rush back and the bed dips with his weight.

“I’m here,” he says quickly. “I just had to dump the bucket. I’m here, Indie.”

The name I was searching for finally settles in my mind.

“Teddy…” I sigh, shivering slightly. Warm blankets are pulled up around me, tucked tight around my shoulders. A cool cloth wipes my face, around my mouth and chin, cleaning me up with a tenderness that makes me feel strange. “Teddy…”

“Yes,” he says, and he sounds relieved. “I’m here, honey. I’m right here.”

“Don’t leave me…” I whine, feeling myself being pulled under, a welcome relief from the pounding in my head. “Please don’t leave…”

“There isn’t a force on earth that could take me away,” he promises, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Rest, baby, I’ll be here.”

“Promise?” I ask, though the question makes my stomach tighten for some reason.

I reach out to him, my pink extended like my body is moving on its own. Something wraps around the digit, and then there’s a press of soft lips against my hand.

Teddy’s voice is firm.

“I promise, Indie. I promise.”

When I wake again, my head feels much better.

My fever has definitely broken. My body is still achy, but my skin is feeling back to normal and my thoughts are more coherent.