Page 45 of Trigger

The Improbable Alliance

Carter

Somekind of undefined sound woke me up. I blinked the sleep out of my eyes andrealized that I was still lying on Thorsen—I probably fell asleep like that.Only when I looked toward the door and saw brown eyes watching me did I fullywake up. And sneezed.

“Vic,”I said, groaning because my throat was sore. “Come on in. I’m awake. I think.”

Iclimbed off Thorsen, slapping his hand away when he tried to stop me.

“Get agrip, man,” I grumbled with a frown. “God, my head is killing me.”

“Areyou okay?” Vic said, still just standing there.

“Yeah.No. I think this asshole gave me a cold. What time is it?”

“Twoin the afternoon.”

“What?Shit, I overslept.”

“No,it’s good that you got some rest,” Vic said, glancing at Tye. “What is he doinghere?”

Ilowered my feet to the floor, shivering despite the warm room.

“Hmm?Oh, I told him to come. That idiot is living in his car, believe it or not. Andhe was sick, so I told him to spend the night.”

“Oh.”

Ileaned in to kiss her when she stopped me with an apologetic look on her face.

“Ilove you, darling, but I don’t want to catch a cold from you. We’re having afamily photo shoot for Vanity Fair today.”

“Oh,right,” I muttered, internally scolding myself for being thoughtless. “Sorry. Iwasn’t thinking. I barely slept last night.”

Sheopened her mouth to speak when a sleepy baritone interrupted her.

“Comeback to bed.”

Irolled my eyes and ushered her out of the room.

“Let’stalk outside. He’s grumpy when he wakes up.”

“Oh,really?”

“Yeah.And he’s a bad sleeper. I was picking him up from the floor last night, believeit or not.”

“Isthat why you were in bed with him?”

“Yeah,I fell asleep watching over him,” I replied, coughing.

“Idon’t like how your cough sounds,” Vic said with a frown. “I’ll call Dr. Rubenand schedule an appointment.”

Ishook my head. “Thank you, but it’s not necessary. It’s just a cold.”

“Okay,but please let me know if you don’t get any better. Do you have vitamins athome?”

“I’llgo buy some. Are you coming over tonight?”

“Doyou want me to come?”