Perfectly Toxic (Sterling Shore 9)

“Now you’re sweating and shaking,” he says, stating the obvious as I shiver.

“Fever just broke.” I curl into the blanket, searching for warmth now that I’m freezing. “You’re going to get sick. You really should go.”

“And let Allie get sick instead?” he muses. “No. Besides, I don’t get sick.”

“Everyone gets sick,” I grumble, tired of his ego at this point. It’s no longer charming.

“I haven’t gotten sick like this ever. Swear. My immune system is epic or something. My mom’s the same way.”

When a horrible chill wracks my body, I scowl at him. “If it’s possible, I hate you a little more for that.”

He smiles openly this time. “Rest. I’ll get you something to drink.”

“Don’t be nice to me. It’s easier to be mad at you when you’re not being nice,” I tell him as he stands up and smiles bigger.

“I have my motives for being nice.”

“You’re not getting laid,” I tell him before wiping my nose on the back of my hand, then grimacing when I realize how disgusting that has to look. I hate him seeing me like this. I’m supposed to be sexy and awesome when he sees me so he knows what he’s missing.

“Yeah, so not trying to get laid right now,” he says, still freaking grinning. “But I hope you’ll hear me out if I prove I’m not as big of an asshole as you think I am at the moment.”

When I start to open my mouth, he goes on.

“Not saying you don’t have a right to think that—because you do. Consider this my redemption. Lie down. I’ll put up all the shit Allie bought you.”

Before I can argue, Allie is stepping into view, her eyes moving between us warily.

“You want him to stay, or should I get Wren over here to toss him out?” Allie asks me, even though her eyes are on Ethan.

Ethan smirks before rolling his eyes.

“Apparently you think Wren is stronger than he is,” he quips in his rumble of a voice.

“He did break his brother’s nose,” I point out helpfully. “Twice, I think.”

“And Keith’s nose too,” Allie adds.

Ethan grunts out a laugh before walking into the kitchen, and the full weight of Allie’s stare lands on me.

“So how long has that been going on?” she asks, even though she doesn’t seem the least bit surprised.

Should have known I couldn’t keep anything from her.

“Not very long at all, to be honest. Certainly not long enough for him to take care of me while I look like death’s bitch on a bad hair day.”

She snorts out a laugh while sitting down on a chair.

“You want me to stay, or do you want him to stay?”

I really don’t want him to stay, but I sure as hell don’t want Allie to stay and get sick. She’s already been exposed to me for too long.

“He’ll do,” I grumble, watching as a smile breaks across her face.

“Then I’m going home. When you feel better, I’m totally going to let you have it for not telling me about this sooner.”

There’s not even a hint of anger in her tone, which just makes me feel worse.

“I love you,” I say to her, even though it sounds stuffy and pitiful.