Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46152 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 231(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Fuck, she has a migraine. I should have thought about this. All the noise and the flashing lights. “You did the right thing, Ollie. Thank you for staying with her. I know you’re scared, but she’s going to be all right, I promise. Tell your dad and everyone that she has a migraine and I’m taking her home, okay?”
He nods, but he doesn’t let go of Nat. He leans in and kisses her arm. “I love you, Aunt Nat.”
She lifts her head. “I love you too, Ollie.”
I put my hand on his back. “All right, I’m going to take her, okay?”
He releases his hold on her, and I pick her up in my arms. “Hold on, baby. I’m going to get you out of here.”
It scares me that she doesn’t answer me; she just lays her head against my chest. Ford puts his hand on my shoulder. “Call me if you need anything.”
I nod my head and walk through the arcade and then through the dining room. Austin is walking with us and is holding doors open. He even digs the keys from my pocket to open the car door for us. Normally, he’d have some kind of smart-ass remark, but he doesn’t say a thing. I settle Nat into the car, lay her seat all the way back, and put the seat belt on her. I shut the door as quietly as possible.
“Is she okay?” my brother asks.
“Yeah, she’ll be fine. She gets migraines, and I didn’t even think to warn her about the arcade. All those flashing lights and the noise in there is what set it off, I’m sure.”
He follows me around the car. “Call me if you need anything.”
I get in the car, start it, and turn the radio off. “I’ll call you. Thanks, brother.”
The drive home is quiet, and I keep looking over at Nat, who is now curled up in a ball with her arm covering her eyes.
I pull straight into the garage and then go around to help her out. Without question, I pull her into my arms. “I can walk,” she mutters.
“I can carry you, too.”
It’s awkward getting the door open with her in my arms, but I’m not going to put her down. I get through the door and then take her straight upstairs. I set her on her feet just long enough to pull the covers back, and then I help her into bed.
I remove her shoes, then her socks, and then I peel her leggings down her body before pulling the cover over her.
I run into the bathroom and open the medicine cabinet. I knock over bottles until I find the one I need. I grab a cup and fill it up with water and make my way back to the bedroom. I set the water and bottle down on the nightstand and then lean over Natalie. “Baby, I need you to sit up and take this for me, okay?”
She moans, and I hate the sound. I know she’s in pain, but the pills help her. She has to take them.
“Nat, here, baby. I’ll help you.”
I put my hands under her and lift her up, grabbing my pillow and putting it under her too. She sits up a little higher, clenching her eyes shut the entire time. I grab the bottle and take a pill out and then grab the water. “Take the pill. Then you can rest.”
She does as I ask, and after she takes a second drink of water, I help her back down. I’m about to get up when she grabs my arm. “Beau.”
“I’m just going to turn off the light, grab an ice pack for your head, and then I’m going to lie down with you, okay?”
“K,” she mumbles.
I run down to the kitchen and grab the ice pack before running back upstairs.
I go to turn off the bedroom light, and then I make my way to my side of the bed in the dark. I strip down to my underwear and then climb in on my side.
I’m facing her, and once my eyes adjust, I can see her chest expand with each breath she takes. Gently, I lay the ice pack across her forehead.
“Beau.”
I reach for her, putting my hand in hers and threading our fingers together. “I’m right here, baby.”
“I’m so embarrassed. It’s probably good you never wanted me to go out to dinner with you and your family. Poor Ollie, I bet I embarrassed him in front of his friends. It just came on so fast and so hard.”
She sounds almost panicked, and I stroke her arm to try and soothe her. “Ollie wasn’t embarrassed at all. He was worried about you, but I told him he did a good job. My phone has been blowing up since I got you home. I know our family is worried about you.”