Chapter 18 I Wish She Would Have Told Me Sooner
Corran
I have barely seen April since the night we kissed. There is a chance she is avoiding me on purpose. I have knocked on her front door a few times, but there has been no answer. I stopped because I don’t want to seem pushy or force her to talk with me. I really hoped that things would have been okay between us. I was wrong. I sigh as I head upstairs to my place. I haven’t been feeling so great, emotionally or mentally, and I believe it is down to what has been going on over the last few days.
I arrive outside April’s door and try to decide if I should knock or not. I stand for a minute and finally knock. I will try one last time. I wait nervously, tapping my fingers on my thigh. April doesn’t answer. I sigh and go to turn away, but before I can, the door opens. She has a blanket around her and is as white as a good. She looks tired and sick.
“Hi,” she says, her voice groggy.
“Are you okay?” I ask, concerned.
“Do I look okay?” she whines.
I fight back a laugh at her cute crankiness. I assume she is one of those? The type to get cranky when sick.
“Sorry, what is wrong? Cold? Flu? Bug?”
“The flu, I think. I haven’t been ignoring you, I promise. I have been sick for the last couple of days,” she replies, shaking.
I am glad she hasn’t been ignoring me on purpose. I am not happy she is sick, of course, I am not, but at least she isn’t avoiding me out of choice.
“Let’s get you back to bed. You are shivering and sweating at the same time.”
April shakes her head. “You should go. You don’t want to end up sick, too. I will be fine. I know how to take care of myself when I am not feeling good, something else I had to adjust to over the last few years.”
“It is fine. I have a strong immune system. I rarely get sick.”
I occasionally get the common cold, but nothing else. April goes to protest, but I don’t give her the chance. I place my hand on her arms and turn her around, walk her away from the door and enter the flat, closing it behind us. I guide her back to her bedroom and help her into bed.
“Have you been taking anything for it?”
April shakes her head. “No, nothing. I haven’t taken a trip to the pharmacy to stock up on things. I should have known better. I always end up sick at this time of the year. Thank God it came now, rather than when I started my new job,” she sighs.
“I will nip out and pick some things up. I will get you some soup too. Do you have any allergies?”
“Corran, you don’t need to take care of me.”
“I know I don’t need to. I want to. Try to get some rest, okay? I won’t be long. Do you need anything else while I am out?”
“No, my purse is in my bag. If you get me that, I will give you my card.”
“No, it is okay. Don’t worry about it. Now, rest.” I state firmly.
“You are lucky I don’t have the energy to argue with you,” she huffs and lies down, snuggling under the covers.
I chuckle and exit the bedroom. There is a chemist not too far from here. I became a pro as a caretaker because I cared for Edin for a long time. I wanted to take care of her, not let everyone else do it outside of the medical professionals. I miss her so much. I sigh, trying not to think too much, or I will become upset, and the only place I will go is the closest bar. I drop my things off at my place and head out. I wish April had told me sooner that she wasn’t well, because I would have gotten what she needed, and she would have been feeling better already. I understand why she didn’t, though. April has gotten used to taking care of herself since Corbin passed.
I arrived back at April’s place half an hour later. I got a few different things from the chemist, along with some Lucozade, which is good for glucose and hydration. There is a chance she hasn’t had it before. I don’t believe it to be a drink you can get easily in America. She may not even like it. I drop everything off in the kitchen and go to check on her. If she is asleep, then I will let her be. I can reheat the soup when she is ready.
As I get closer to the bedroom, I hear her talking to someone. Is she on a call? I pop my head in, and she isn’t on the phone. She is lying on her side, talking to someone as if they are next to her.
“April?”
The second she hears my voice, she quickly sits up, the same panicked look I have seen more covers her face. “Um, hi.”
I won’t question her because she has told me before that she sometimes talks to Corbin.
“How are you feeling?”
“Still the same. Every part of me aches. My head is pounding. I feel sick. My throat is killing me, and if all that isn’t bad enough, I stick, because I haven’t had the energy to shower and have done nothing but sweat for the last couple of days,” she whines.
“I will draw you a bath. First, can you please try to eat something?”
A bath will be better than a shower. She will be more relaxed and secure. April nods. I disappear to the kitchen, putting some soup into a bowl. I grab the cold and flu capsules and some Ibuprofen, along with a bottle of water and Lucozade, returning to her bedroom.
She really doesn’t look too good at all. Hopefully, with the medication, food, a warm bath and plenty of rest, she will be okay. I don’t even know if she is registered with a doctor yet to get checked in case she needs antibiotics.
I hand the soup to her and set everything. “Take your time with it.”
“Thank you. It smells amazing,” she smiles.
I nod and go to start her bath, letting her eat in peace. Hopefully, she can keep it down. I put some bubble bath into the water and let it run. It will take a while. The water system in the building isn’t great. I stroll back into the bedroom and smile when April is still eating.
“Corran, you don’t need to stay. I am sure you have better things to do.”
“Nope, no plans. I want to make sure you get your bath and back to bed safely before going anywhere.”
I would never forgive myself if I left her and something happened. She nods and focuses back on her food. I disappear again to clean up a little. I know what is going to happen, I won’t leave tonight. I will stay so I know she is okay. April may not like that, but it is how it is going to be.