Page 49 of Pierced Pages

“It’ll be fine,” Jen said. “The worst that can happen is she says no. Then you’re no worse off than you are now. You only have something to gain here.”

“If you say so.”

She washed down her food and feelings with a sip of mimosa as her phone buzzed near her plate. When she flipped it over, she saw a message from Danielle.

That’s a tempting offer, but I don’t even want to think about food right now.

Oh, no. Something was wrong.

Are you okay? Stomach bug? Food poisoning??

Just a nasty cold. I’ll live.

“Everything okay?”

When Morgan looked up from her phone, she found Jen watching her with concern.

“Yeah. I think. She’s just sick.” Morgan looked down at the phone, then back up at Jen. “You okay if we skip today’s episode?”

Jen waved her hands toward the phone. “Yes, yes. Go wherever you need to. I fully support any coming-to-the-rescue plans you have.”

Morgan smiled, then texted Danielle again.

Give me your address. I want to drop something off. A surefire cold cure. I won’t stay or bother you. Promise.

There was a long pause before Morgan saw those three little dots.

I’m fine. Really.

I know you are. Just let me drop this off, then you can be fine by yourself. I can even drop it off outside your door.

You don’t have to do that.

I want to. Address. Please.

After another long pause, an address appeared on the screen.

She looked up and smiled at Jen. “Done.”

“So you’re going over there?” Jen said with a hopeful tilt in her voice.

Morgan nodded. “After we eat, I’ll swing by. I told her I wouldn’t stay. Don’t want to bother her if she isn’t feeling well.”

“I’m sure you won’t be bothering her,” Jen said. “I’ll handle the bill if you want to go now.”

Every cell in her body demanded that Morgan go immediately to see Danielle. But her brain had another plan.

“That’s okay. We can finish eating,” she said. “I have something to do first.”

Chapter 22

Danielle

The remote landed on the couch beside Danielle with a soft thud as it hit the fleece blanket that usually only made appearances when one of them was sick. She was struggling to focus on the show she was watching, so she closed her eyes and focused on trying to breathe through her congested sinuses instead.

It was only a head cold, she kept reminding herself. A head cold shouldn’t knock her out of commission like this. But she figured she should rest a little while, at least, to gather strength for grading that pile of research papers on her dining table.

She’d just close her eyes for a little while.