Chapter 43
bed. The next two days seemed to drag painfully slow as I was confined to my
o much that I cried from the pain on a few occasions. I felt There was no way I could go to school with the room spinning and my head hurt hot as a fever kicked in and keeping anything down became a challenge I had no energy for. Kyle stayed close by, bringing me painkillers and a wet flannel for my forehead. He never once complained or mocked me for my pitiful state either. He simply kept me company and made sure I was getting fluids. It was still excruciating though and I prayed for the migraine to pass quickly.
2
So when I woke up Saturday morning feeling better, I couldn’t have been more relieved. I didn’t feel one hundred percent but it no longer felt like someone was driving something very sharp through my skull and using it to electrocute my brain.
Getting up and heading downstairs was a bit of a challenge. My limbs felt like jelly and I felt myself trembling from the lack of nutrition. I now knew what it meant to feel as weak as a kitten. However as the day progressed, I began to feel more like myself and so made the decision to head into work. I couldn’t keep missing shifts and I wanted to keep myself busy so I didn’t have to think about the circus my life had become. I had been successful in avoiding Julia’s calls without even intending to but it also meant I had missed a few messages from Liam. He was unsurprisingly annoyed about Julia being back but didn’t yet know about the money.
“Hey sugar, how are you feeling?” Shirley greeted me with a fond smile and concerned eyes.
“A lot better, thanks.” I replied giving her a small smile as I hung my coat and bag up in the old broom closet that acted as a locker room for staff (except there were no lockers but coat hooks instead). “Sorry about not being able to come in last night.”
“Don’t be silly.” Shirley chuckled and pulled me into a hug that mothers or grandmothers gave family. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks.” I smiled as I stepped away to put my hair into a ponytail to keep it out of my face. “Anyway, where would you like me to start?”
I spent the rest of the afternoon tidying the service station and serving the steady flow of customers that came in. By the end I was exhausted and grateful that the foot traffic had fallen considerably so only a few tables were occupied and no one was looking to make any fresh orders. I took advantage of the quiet period to wrap cutlery. It might seem tedious to most but I found the repetitive action of pairing a knife and fork together with a paper napkin rather soothing. Sure, it meant there was room for unwanted thoughts to creep in but at this particular time I was too exhausted to actually think on anything too hard. I might be feeling better but I wasn’t fully healed and heavy thinking just wasn’t going to happen today.
I glanced up when the bell above the door rang as someone walked in only for my heart to skip a beat as I saw none other than Aiden walk in, his blue eyes finding me immediately sending chills across my body. I don’t recall exactly how long it had been since I last saw Aiden but I’m sure he was looking even hotter than usual. He wore one of his beloved leather bike jackets over a crisp white v–neck t–shirt and faded blue jeans. He looked like he had just stepped off the page of a magazine advertising and I wasn’t the only one who noticed his blonde haired adonis stroll through the diner.
The way his gaze washed over me as if he was savouring the sight before him left my cheeks burning and shifting nervously from one foot to the other. My throat seemed to close up and refuse any words out and while I desperately wanted to look away so I could rearrange my thoughts and compose myself, I simply couldn’t. My eyes were glued to him and every move he made.
“Hey Ellie,” He smirked as he took a seat on a stool right opposite me at the bar.
“Aiden…” I inwardly cringed at how high my voice sounded. “What are you doing here?”
“Kyle messaged and said you had fallen sick.” He replied calmly yet his eyes were scanning me, looking for any signs of suffering. “I came as
soon as I could.”
