Page 17 of SaaS & Class

“Great. See you on Friday.”

“Friday.”

The line went dead, but even as I set the phone down, a strange sort of satisfaction settled over me.

I could still work, even if I felt like crap.

Chapter 7 - Adam

Taal leaned against the wall next to me, looking uncomfortable in his suit and carrying a half-empty flute of champagne in one hand. “You doing ok?”

I took a sip of my own champagne, ran my finger behind my shirt collar to loosen it, and shook my head. “Honestly, I want to go back to the hotel and curl up into a ball.”

“I’ve got some painkillers in my pocket if you need.”

“I took some before we left, but I might take you up on that later.”

“Is that a scent-blocking strip under your nose?”

I nodded. “I had to. It’s been so bad just at the office and around town. There were going to be too many people here.”

“What if he’s here?”

I snorted. “The strip barely helps. I’m pretty sure that if he was around, I would be able to smell him.”

“We’ll stay an appropriate amount of time to be polite, then I’ll get you out of here.”

“You don’t have to. I can get a ride-share back to the hotel so you can enjoy the party.”

Taal was silent for too long.

“What is it?” I asked.

He took a sip of champagne, then shook his head. “It’s getting worse.”

“Huh?”

“The past few nights… when you’ve fallen asleep against me… you… you tremble in your sleep. It…” he paused. “It scares me.”

“I tremble in my sleep now?”

He nodded and took another sip. “No offense, but I don’t want to leave you alone. I seriously considered crashing on that loveseat in your room. I know you’re trying to hide it, but…”

There was an uncomfortably long pause.

“Adam… I think you need to see a doctor.”

Fear curled in my middle. “It’s not that bad, right? Besides… we’ll find each other, then the sickness will go away.”

“When will you find him, though? It’s been more than a week, and you’re in rough shape. Your body can’t take much more of this.”

“Just give me a few more days.”

He sighed. “If you haven’t found him by this weekend… and if your symptoms haven’t improved… I’m taking you to the hospital.”

I stared at the floor. “Ok.”

Another pause. “How much champagne have you had?”