Page 57

This had better not be another delivery to the wrong apartment.

Thump, thump…

“Yes, okay!” I shout, but this time, I’m close enough so they can hear. I have no idea who’s on the other side of that door, but whoever it is deserves to witness whatever state I’m in just for dragging me out of my bed. It might be two in the afternoon, but I haven’t eaten anything other than ginger biscuits in days, and I’m just about keeping fluid down.

“Jessie?” Peering through the spy hole, I see him on the other side. His hands are in the pockets of his jeans, and he’s looking from side to side down the hallway.

“Hey,” I say, pulling the door open.

At the sight of me, his eyes go wide. “Kate, um.” He scans my body, but not in an appreciative way, more taking in my mess. “Are you okay?”

“I’ve been better. Come in.”

Once inside, he looks around my apartment, which he’s never been to. “I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but you don’t look great, and your apartment isn’t much better.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” I burp the final word. “I’m assuming Jensen’s told you.”

He nods. “That’s why I’m here, actually. To check on you. He wanted me to make sure you were doing alright, but…” He casts his gaze around my apartment once more and then again on me. “Have you been eating the meals he prepared?”

“What is this?” I say, propping a hand on my hip.

Jessie winces. “He’s just worried about you.”

“I’m fine.” Even I don’t believe that anymore.

He makes his way over and into my kitchen. Heading for my freezer, he pulls the door open and then starts counting the meals Jensen left in there. “You haven’t had any.”

“This is crazy.”

“You look dehydrated, Kate, and gray, and your hair is…” He circles his finger in my direction. “You just look like?—”

“Shit?” I finish for him. “Yes, I know, because that’s exactly how I feel.” Tears well in my eyes. I’m so fucking emotional all the time.

Jessie reaches into his back pocket, pulls out his phone, and begins scrolling.

“What are you doing?”

“I was under strict instruction to let him know how you are, so I’m doing that.”

“Jessie…” I drawl.

“I can’t lie to him, Kate, and seeing you like this is worrying me too. I think you need medication or something.”

Right as he says it, the burning sensation in my chest sends up another wave of acid and I heave, running to my bathroom.

As I sit on the end of the bath, my hand rests on the side of the open toilet, and I feel the tears start to roll down my cheeks. I hear a murmur of a conversation, no doubt between Jessie and Jensen.

After a few minutes, Jessie appears in my doorway. “He’s on his way. Who’s your doctor?”

“I wish you hadn’t called him. I’ve got this.”

“No, Kate, you don’t. You need someone to help. You could barely answer the door. How long has it been like this?”

“A couple of days.”

He presses his lips together. “My mom was like this with me and my brother.”

“You have a brother?”