his
fluids up, and only clear fluids. I know the chef so I’ll make sure
he has a batch of clear broth on hand.” I heard the distinct
scratch of pen on paper. “You can fill this at the pharmacy around
the corner. It’s an antiviral and make sure you read this list of
instructions. Alternate Tylenol and ibuprofen every two hours
should help with the fever. Remember to push the
electrolytes.”
“ Thank
you , Doctor. Thank you so much for coming
out.” Alex sounded relieved, but there was an underlying concern
there as well. I heard the door click shut, then Alex rummaging in
the duffel before sitting beside me on the bed. “Here, take this,”
he whispered, handing me two tablets and another bottle of water.
“I’ve gotta run to the pharmacy, but I’ll be real quick, okay?
Promise. If you need me before I get back, call me. I’ll come as
quick as I can.” Alex placed my cell within reach before testing my
temperature with his lips again.
I couldn’t
open my eyes thanks to the pounding in my head, but I heard his
footsteps hesitate before opening the door. I didn’t hear it close.
THERE WERE
times I heard Alex’s soothing voice as he talked to me, but I could
never make out what he was saying. Every now and then I was aware
of fingers running through my hair, a press of lips to my forehead.
Once I could have sworn I felt his lips on mine, but I couldn’t be
sure.
I felt cold
towels running over my limbs and chest ,
and every now and then a fresh one placed on my forehead. Alex
would wake me up and spoon-feed me some soup, just like the doctor
ordered, before making me swallow pills that hurt my throat going
down.
I don’t know
how long I was asleep, but when I woke up next , I was hot, though I didn’t think it was from the fever.
My head seemed relatively clear and I could breathe more easily.
There was something heavy across my chest, and when I opened my eyes, I saw Alex
curled up next to me with his arm around my waist, his hand resting
on my upper body. His brow was furrowed in concern, even in
sleep.
It didn’t
take me long to realize I liked seeing him there next to me, curled
around me like a worried… lover?
Boyfriend? This was what I wanted. I wanted my Alex to be… more. I
didn’t have a clue about being gay or what to do when it came to
another man’s body, but I didn’t care. No relationship I’d ever had
felt as right as this one. And if Alex felt the same, then he could
do to me whatever he wanted. Maybe the bout of flu had scrambled my
brain… or made everything clear; I didn’t know which. I cared only
that Alex was with me.
I gently
cupped his cheek with my hand, savoring the feel of his stubble against my fingers. But before I could
place a kiss on the top of his head, he jerked awake and flew out
of bed.
“ You’re
awake? How are you feeling?” he asked urgently, his eyes shining
with relief . But there was a look of
discomfort there too. Didn’t he mean to fall asleep next to me,
hold me? He fidgeted with the seam of his sleep pants and wouldn’t
meet my gaze.
I
frowned . “Umm, better I think. Not
fantastic, but… better.” My head wasn’t throbbing anymore at
least.
“Okay, good. That’s good.”
“What time is it?”
Alex looked
at his watch. “Ten o’clockish.
Wednesday.”
“ I’ve been
out for two days?” I asked, bewildered. I didn’t think I had been that sick.
“ Yeah, I
know. If you hadn’t improved by this
morning, I was taking you to the hospital.” Alex looked at me with
a small smile, relief etched on his features.
“I’m sorry I made you worry,” I said,
standing and testing my wobbly legs.
“You sure you’re okay?”
My head swam
a little, but not much. “Yeah, I am. Not at full strength yet
and —” I sniffed. “I really need a
shower.”
Alex eyed the
bathroom door. “Will you be okay in there by yourself?” he
asked hesitantly, like he knew he should help me, but didn’t want
to.
“Yeah, I’ll be
fluids up, and only clear fluids. I know the chef so I’ll make sure
he has a batch of clear broth on hand.” I heard the distinct
scratch of pen on paper. “You can fill this at the pharmacy around
the corner. It’s an antiviral and make sure you read this list of
instructions. Alternate Tylenol and ibuprofen every two hours
should help with the fever. Remember to push the
electrolytes.”
“ Thank
you , Doctor. Thank you so much for coming
out.” Alex sounded relieved, but there was an underlying concern
there as well. I heard the door click shut, then Alex rummaging in
the duffel before sitting beside me on the bed. “Here, take this,”
he whispered, handing me two tablets and another bottle of water.
“I’ve gotta run to the pharmacy, but I’ll be real quick, okay?
Promise. If you need me before I get back, call me. I’ll come as
quick as I can.” Alex placed my cell within reach before testing my
temperature with his lips again.
I couldn’t
open my eyes thanks to the pounding in my head, but I heard his
footsteps hesitate before opening the door. I didn’t hear it close.
THERE WERE
times I heard Alex’s soothing voice as he talked to me, but I could
never make out what he was saying. Every now and then I was aware
of fingers running through my hair, a press of lips to my forehead.
Once I could have sworn I felt his lips on mine, but I couldn’t be
sure.
I felt cold
towels running over my limbs and chest ,
and every now and then a fresh one placed on my forehead. Alex
would wake me up and spoon-feed me some soup, just like the doctor
ordered, before making me swallow pills that hurt my throat going
down.
I don’t know
how long I was asleep, but when I woke up next , I was hot, though I didn’t think it was from the fever.
My head seemed relatively clear and I could breathe more easily.
There was something heavy across my chest, and when I opened my eyes, I saw Alex
curled up next to me with his arm around my waist, his hand resting
on my upper body. His brow was furrowed in concern, even in
sleep.
It didn’t
take me long to realize I liked seeing him there next to me, curled
around me like a worried… lover?
Boyfriend? This was what I wanted. I wanted my Alex to be… more. I
didn’t have a clue about being gay or what to do when it came to
another man’s body, but I didn’t care. No relationship I’d ever had
felt as right as this one. And if Alex felt the same, then he could
do to me whatever he wanted. Maybe the bout of flu had scrambled my
brain… or made everything clear; I didn’t know which. I cared only
that Alex was with me.
I gently
cupped his cheek with my hand, savoring the feel of his stubble against my fingers. But before I could
place a kiss on the top of his head, he jerked awake and flew out
of bed.
“ You’re
awake? How are you feeling?” he asked urgently, his eyes shining
with relief . But there was a look of
discomfort there too. Didn’t he mean to fall asleep next to me,
hold me? He fidgeted with the seam of his sleep pants and wouldn’t
meet my gaze.
I
frowned . “Umm, better I think. Not
fantastic, but… better.” My head wasn’t throbbing anymore at
least.
“Okay, good. That’s good.”
“What time is it?”
Alex looked
at his watch. “Ten o’clockish.
Wednesday.”
“ I’ve been
out for two days?” I asked, bewildered. I didn’t think I had been that sick.
“ Yeah, I
know. If you hadn’t improved by this
morning, I was taking you to the hospital.” Alex looked at me with
a small smile, relief etched on his features.
“I’m sorry I made you worry,” I said,
standing and testing my wobbly legs.
“You sure you’re okay?”
My head swam
a little, but not much. “Yeah, I am. Not at full strength yet
and —” I sniffed. “I really need a
shower.”
Alex eyed the
bathroom door. “Will you be okay in there by yourself?” he
asked hesitantly, like he knew he should help me, but didn’t want
to.
“Yeah, I’ll be
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