Page 103 of Knot Convenient

He settled without any fuss, staring up at me with those big, wide eyes. I stumbled over to my bed and flopped on top of it. The moment my head hit the pillow, I was out.

“Summer?” a familiar voice broke through my sleepy haze, someone touching my shoulder.

“Tobias?” I asked, cracking an eyelid open. “What are you doing home?”

How long had I slept for?

He was bent over, looking at me intently, hand coming to rest on my forehead. “I decided to take a long lunch and grabbed us some food from the deli. Are you feeling all right?”

“Achy,” I admitted with a small whine. “I think I caught a bug.”

“Have you taken anything?”

I shook my head, slowly trying to sit up but swaying. “No, it was just a headache, but by the time I came up to put Milo down for his nap, I started feeling a lot worse.”

Tobias grimaced, gently cupping my cheek. “I can already tell that you are running a fever. Wait here, I’m going to get you some electrolytes and cold and flu medication.”

He was only gone for a few moments, and I could hear him rustling around the kitchen. I glanced over to the crib, and through the connecting door, I could see my son snoozing away happily.

The alpha returned with a large water bottle and one of his hands holding some tablets.

“Okay, I want you to take these, and drink all this,” he said, handing me the tablets. The water bottle was one of those heavy ones with a straw, so when I put the tablets in my mouth, he held out the bottle for me to take a sip instead of making me hold it myself.

“I need to get out of bed. I’ve got so much to do,” I whined.

Tobias shook his head. “Yeah, that’s not happening. You need rest, and lots of it.”

“I can’t do that. I booked Milo to go to a playgroup at the library this afternoon!”

There was no way in hell I was going to let my son suffer just because I was feeling a little bit under the weather.

“Not happening,” Tobias repeated in a firm voice. “Summer, you are clearly unwell. I can take Milo to his playgroup, but first, we need to make sure you’re okay.”

I waved off his concern. “I’m a mother. I’m used to getting things done while feeling a little icky. It’s nothing. There was a time when I went to classes when I was running a fever.”

“That isn’t a good thing!” Tobias insisted.

I shrugged—or at least attempted to. The thing was, when I lived in California, I had no choice but to keep going every day. There was no one to help me. It was just me and Milo. So I’ve gotten very good at pushing through.

“I also promised Edie I would take Milo to see her at the B&B because she has her knitting club, and the kitchen is a mess,” I said weakly, going to get out of the bed.

Strong hands gripped my shoulders, keeping me firmly in place. Tobias was glowering down at me with a no-nonsense look that gave me pause.

“Okay, I’m well aware that you are a very independent and very stubborn omega, but for the time being, you are not leaving this bed.”

“But—”

“No buts. The only thing I would accept is leaving the bed to go to the bathroom or have a long, hot soak. That is it. You are going to rest, eat, and sleep until you are feeling better. As this pack’s resident medical professional, I’m going to insist upon it.”

“Tobias,” I whined pitifully.

He crossed his arms. “You can complain all you want, but your health and well-being is important to me, Summer.”

I glowered at him, hoping my anger would sway him, but he stood there, matching my stubborn look. “You’re a butt, you know that?” I asked, sinking back into the pillows.

Tobias picked up the water bottle again, holding it out for me to take a sip while I glared at him. I begrudgingly did so because the strawberry-flavored electrolytes he had put in the water did taste really good.

“I know,” he spoke cheerily. “I’ll call in for the rest of the day, so I can take Milo to his playgroup. I’m going to leave this bottle of water with you while I go and make you a fresh tea with honey. That’ll help with your sore throat.”