Chapter 9: Chapter 9
“Violet, are you okay?” Devlin bent down to look at her face.
She’s running a mild fever and her head is pounding. “I’m fine. Just a bit dizzy. How far ’til Nana’s house?”
“Not far. We’ll be there in a few minutes.” They rode in his private jet and took a car to Nana’s house from the airport. They had been on the road for 20 minutes now. She could feel the food she ate this morning threatening to escape. She wouldn’t be able to hold it in for much longer.
After what felt like forever, they finally arrived. Nana greeted them warmly but upon seeing her face, she let Violet go straight to their room. Devlin helped her climb the stairs and brought her some medicine. After going to the bathroom and changing her clothes, Violet
went to sleep.
She woke up in the middle of the night feeling like she'd been deprived of heat and water for days. She sat up and turned on the bedside lamp.
She felt the bed dip to the side. “How are you feeling?”
She looked over her shoulder, surprised to see Devlin lying beside her. Then she remembered he did say they had to share a bedroom here. But she thought one of them might have to sleep on a couch or something. “Terrible. You go back to sleep. I’ll just get some water.”
He threw back the blanket and got up. “I’ll get it for you. You don’t look okay. Just lie back down.”
He opened the door and walked out. He returned with two bottles of water in each hand. He placed the bottles on her bedside table and touched a hand to her forehead. She flinched in surprise.
“Your fever’s worse. I’ll take you to the doctor.”
Violet shook her head. “It’s fine. I’ll be fine in a few hours. There’s no need to go to a doctor.”
“No. You need to get checked. I’ll get your jacket.”
He turned to go, but she grabbed his arm. “Please, Devlin. I don’t want to go to the hospital. It’s not serious, really. I promise if the fever doesn’t go down tomorrow, I’ll go. For now, let me just stay here. Okay? Please?”
He appeared conflicted but finally nodded grudgingly. “Fine.”
He helped her lie down and tucked her in. She let herself this one time feel grateful towards him. Even though he was mad at her for what he thought she had done to Summer, he still cared for her. If he weren't so annoying sometimes, she'd actually like him.
The next morning, as she expected, her fever broke.
He brought her a tray of breakfast. He drew open the curtains and let the morning light bathe the room. When he saw her sweating and looking uncomfortable, he went to the bathroom and came back with a warm towel. He sat at the edge of her side of the bed.
“What are you doing?” Violet asked alarmingly.
“Helping you." He raised his hands and was about to touch her arm.
“Stop! What do you think you’re doing?”
“This will help you feel better. You’re sweating too much.” He brushed the hair away from her face and dabbed the towel on her temple.
She winced at the contact. “I can do it. Give that to me.”
He smirked at her. “This is not the time to act modest, Violet. And don’t fret, I don’t feel that way towards you. Just shut up and let me finish.”
She swallowed an angry retort. “Fine. Just make it quick.”
He proceeded to sponge her arms, neck, and legs. She couldn’t look at him in the eye when he slowly lifted her oversized shirt a little bit higher up her legs to wipe it down. And the way her heart beat faster when his hand lingered on her thighs made her want to punch
herself.
“You didn’t strike me as…” Violet paused, trying to find the right word.
“Kind? Considerate?” He stared mockingly at her.
“Hmm, yeah, something like that.”
“Why? Because you think I’m a monster who’d just let you die?” he scoffed.
“First off, I wasn’t in any danger of dying from fever. Second, I don’t think you’re a monster. But you do give off a I-don’t-give-a-fuck vibe most of the time.”
“Coming from you? You’re colder than Siberia.”
“Excuse me?” She narrowed her eyes at him.
“You do. You barely speak. You’re indifferent to the world around you because you’re always glued to your books. You act nice one second and then bitchy the next.”
“If you’re referring to that incident with Summer, just say it.”
He just looked angrily at her.
“And you haven’t seen me bitchy yet. I kept quiet because you threatened me with Amara. But don’t think for one second that I will let you or anyone walk all over me. Your girlfriend is a liar, period.”
If eyes could kill, she’d be dead on the spot. “I warned you not to call her a liar.”
“If she’s not, are you saying I am?”
“You know, I actually thought it was just a misunderstanding. That Summer could have gotten it wrong. Maybe she slipped or something. She told me the same thing. But you, you’re hell-bent on putting the blame on her. She couldn’t have jumped in, for god’s sake!
She’d never do that because she almost drowned when she was a child. She’s terrified of the water,” Devlin yelled.
“And I’m telling you, I didn’t push her!”
“Just shut up! I’m so fed up of you.”
“Fine, think me a bitch and a liar. Your opinion means nothing to me anyway.” She glared back at him and darted to the bathroom.