Shore
Chapter 142
“Alex,” I said, my voice sharper mv. “Are you feeling okay?”
“I’m fine,” he replied quickly, brushing off my concern. But when I placed my hand on his forehead, I felt the heat radiating from his skin.
“You’re burning up,” I said, my tone a mix of worry and frustration. “Doctor, can you check him, please?n
Alex held up a hand, trying to protest. “It’s nothing serious, Reine, I’m just tired.”
Tired?” I shot back, crossing my arms. “Tired doesn’t give you a fever. Stop being stubborn and let the doctor do his job.”
The doctor gave a slight nod. “It won’t take long, Mr. Sullivan. Let me just check your vitals.”
Alex sighed, clearly reluctant, but he didn’t fight it. As the doctor examined him, I leaned back on the bed, watching Alex with a mixture of annoyance and affection. How could he be so selfless that be ignored his own health?
When the doctor stepped bark, be confirmed what I already suspected, “It’s a low–grade lever, likely due to stress and exhaustion. Nothing to worry about, but you need rest.”
“I told you,” I said, giving Alex a pointed look.
He raised his hands in surrender. “Fine, you win. I’ll rest ”
But of course, Alex being Alex, he had me condition. “I’m staying in the same room,” he declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“No arguments,” he interrupted, “I want to make sure you’re okay.”
I sighed, knowing there was no changing his mind. The doctor seemed amused but didn’t comment further. He instructed the nurses to prepare a bed for Alex, and within minutes, we were settled in the same room.
As Alex lay down on the bed next to mine, I glanced over at him. He looked utterly drained, yet his eyes still held that quiet determination
“Thank you,” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.
He turned his head toward me, his lips curving into a faint smile, “For what?”
“For being here,” I replied. “For everything.”
When Dominic walked into the room, his footsteps halted abruptly. His eyes darted from me to Alex, lying on the bed next to mine, an IV hooked to his arm. The look on his face was priceless–confusion mixed with disbelief.
“What the bell is this?” Dominic asked, pointing at Alex with a furrowed brow
I sighed, not in the mood to explain everything. “He has a fever,” I said simply.
Dominic raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “No shit. Alex has been running around like he’s the man of steel for weeks now. Guess even Superman needs a break, huh?”
A small chuckle escaped me, lightening the tension. “Wait, is that… concern Thear in your voice, Dominic? Who would’ve thought?”
Dominic’s eyes narrowed as he pointed a finger at me “Slut up,” he shot back, though his lips twitched like he was holding back a grin.
Alex groaned faintly from his bed, clearly annoyed. “Can you two stop bickering for five minutes? Some of us are trying to rest”
“Rest, my ass,” Dominic said, shaking his head. “You’re hooked up to an IV because you’ve been acting like an indestructible idiot. So yeah, you deserve
linde ribbing”
Alex rolled his eyes, but the corner of his months quirled up in a reluctant smile.
Once his IV was done, Alex didn’t waste any time. He reached over, yanked off the cannula with a wince, and swung his legs over the side of the bed.
“Where do you think you’re going?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.
He gave me a lopsided grin. “To get you something to eat. You need your strength, remember?”
“Alex-
“No arguments,” he interrupted, his tone in but not unkind. “I’ll be back in abit”
Before I could protest further, a nurse appeared at the door and gestured for Dominic to come with her. “I need you to fill out some discharge paperwork,” she said.
1/2
Dominic threw one last glance at me and Alex before following her out
The room fell silent, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Aware of relief washed over me. For the first time in what felt like forever, it seemed like everything was going to be okay. The toxin was out of my system, Alex was finally resting, and my family pulling through this nightmare together.
But just as I let myself relax, a voice shattered my peace.
“Miss me, Raina?
tha
My heart stopped. I turned slowly toward the door, and there he was–Nathan, leaning casually against the frame with a smirk on his face.
How did he know I was here? My mind raced, panic bubbling under the surface.
