Unwanted Heat

“Julie and I are both scheduled to fly back on Monday afternoon so we can take over then if he still needs someone,” Carter offers.

“By Monday hopefully, he will be out of the woods. It’s the next two days that we really need to focus on, but Monday should be the final day. And Kenzie, don’t let him do too much work when he does start to feel better. He needs his rest, so try to get him to just rest. His body can’t recover if he is using the little energy he has to sit in front of a computer and stare at spreadsheets all day.”

“I’ll try,” I agree despite knowing that it will probably be very difficult to get Nicholas to stay away from work.

“Unfortunately, I need to get going. I’m already late for my shift at the hospital. Kenzie, I appreciate you staying this weekend; if I wasn’t scheduled to work or could find a replacement I would stay myself-” “It’s fine. I don’t mind,” I assure her.

“I’ll call in a few hours and check on him. Maybe you can text me so I have your cell phone number?”

“Of course, I’ll send you a text in a few minutes.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Take care; don’t hesitate to call me at any time. Even if you just have a question about the medication, just call.”

“I will and thank you again for coming tonight.”

“Thank you, Kenzie. I really appreciate this; I’m sure it’s not how you envisioned spending your weekend,” Vivienne gives me a quick hug goodbye before heading to the hospital for her shift.

“Carter, I’m going to run to my apartment quick and grab a couple changes of clothes,” I realize that I’m going to be needing a few things if I’m going to be staying here this weekend.

“Of course, I’ll contact Hunter and Ben to let them know what is going on.”

“I don’t know that we need both of them this weekend if Nicholas and I are both here. I mean, it’s just a thought…”

“No that’s a good point. Originally Ben was covering for me as Hunter was going to be assigned to you for the weekend. I’ll have Ben remain on call that way, if something comes up, he can come in. Hunter will be here all weekend and will pick up anything you might need.”

I take the elevator to my condo and begin to pack a small bag to bring back to Nicholas’s. I grab a couple changes of clothes, pajamas and toiletries to, adding the charger to my phone and a book I started reading the other night. I’m not sure what else I might need but since I’m only a few floors below, I know I can always run down here if I forget something.

I check the email on my phone and see the registration confirmation for the cooking class I was supposed to take this weekend. I quickly send a reply email notifying them that something has come up and I won’t be able to attend the class this weekend. I know I’ll lose the deposit for the class as it was nonrefundable but seeing that no one else was available this weekend, there was no way I could still go to the class without feeling guilty. With everything that Nicholas has done for me, the least I can do is take care of him this weekend.

The community college is offering another weekend cooking class in a couple of months; I’ll call Monday and have them transfer my payment to that class which means I should only lose the registration deposit. In the end though, I’m not upset. Nicholas helped me after the break in at my apartment and moved me in the middle of the night to this condo when he could have easily looked the other way. Canceling my plans this weekend is a small price to pay as a way to repay him.

“Ms. Rose, would you like me to put your bag in one of the guest rooms?” Carter greets me as soon as I step off the elevator.

“Yes, thank you.”

“At the top of the stairs, there is a guest room on the right that I’ll put your bag in.”

“Okay, I’m going to check on Nicholas and look over the stuff that Mrs-Vivienne left.”

I knock on Nicholas’s door, but of course he doesn’t answer. I wait a couple of minutes just in case he is in the bathroom. I don’t want to walk in and make it awkward. When he doesn’t respond I open the door a little but upon seeing him still in bed, I open the door more and step into the room. Nicholas is lying in his bed, another one that is entirely too big for one person I decide, and is still sound asleep. His breathing is soft and steady as he sleeps but his coloring looks a little better.

I quietly walk over to his nightstand and look at everything Vivienne left for him. I replay her instructions as to what I need to do this weekend and realize that I probably won’t be able to sleep in the guest room upstairs where Carter just put my bag. I’m not about to sleep in the same bed as Nicholas, so I try to come up with another solution. Looking around the dark room, I see a chaise lounge in the corner so I move it closer to the bed and decide that this is where I will sleep tonight. It will keep me close enough to Nicholas to check on him throughout the night but not too close that either of us will be uncomfortable.

I’m not sure how he will feel about me staying here this weekend. When he and Carter moved me into the condo, Nicholas told me he also lived here but now I obviously know exactly where he lives. Not only do I know where he lives, but I’m staying with him for the entire weekend. I hope that he isn’t mad that I’m invading his privacy by staying here; I don’t think there was really another option to avoid him being admitted into a hospital