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“No, nothing serious” She sniffs again “Just a runny nose and sinus pressure Must be spring allergies or so today”

I shrug, taking the news in stride “Okay Why don’t we just hang out and watch a ? I can make you chicken soup with extra noodles and rub your feet”

“No I don’t want to make you sick”

“You said it was probably just allergies,” I remind her “And even if you were sick, chances are I wouldn’t catch it I’ve spent the past four years at the hospital swi” I sently with my shoe “Besides, I’d risk a virus to spend the afternoon with you”

“That’s sweet, but I think I should go back to bed” She tucks her chin, causing her hair to spill around her face, hiding her expression “I didn’t sleep well last night I could use the rest”

“All right” I try to ignore the stab of disappoint Lark again since the ht After our disastrous first encounter at the wedding, our first date went better than I could have iined

I woke up thisa second chance, and that date tas going to be even better than date one

Now, I’ to spend the afternoon alone

But she can’t help being sick…

Hmmm…

Lark…sick…

I furrow my brow Come to think of it, have I ever seen her under the weather? I rack my brain, but with the exception of a nasty case of food poisoning from raw oysters at a Mardis Gras party a year after we started dating, I can’t recall her ever being ill

There’s a first ti to meet my eyes makes me wonder…

“I’ll talk to you later, okay?” She keeps her head tucked to her chest as she stands and reaches for the door

I stop her with a gentle hand on her shoulder, lettingthe back of her neck

No fever After a harrowing year working in the ER during the pandeuess a person’s temperature by touch

She shivers and glances at me over her shoulder “What was that for?”

“Checking your temperature”