Shelter (Heroes of Big Sky 2)

“Thanks. Sorry to crash your guy time.”

“You’re much prettier to look at,” Gage assures her with a wink, then scoots out of the booth.

“I should get back to the ranch for a bit to help with some things in the barn, and then I have to go to work.”

“I thought I’d walk over to see Annie this morning,” Remi says. “And then I’m going back to your place to crash. I haven’t slept since I left yesterday.”

“Don’t ever do that again.” I urge her chin up with my finger. “That’s not safe. I mean it.”

“Yes, sir.” Her plump lips twitch into a smile. “I won’t do it again.”

“I’ll see you later.”

Chapter 17

~Remi~

The bell rings over the door when I walk inside of Little Deli. This is my typical day off, but sometimes I stop in just to say hi or grab a coffee.

Or just to chitchat with Annie. She and I have grown really close since I started working for her. She’s almost like a big sister now.

“What does a girl need to do to get service around here?” I ask loudly, and then grin when Annie comes out from the kitchen. “Surprise!”

“What in the world are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be at the Grand Canyon or something by now?”

“Moab,” I confirm. “And I decided I didn’t want to go.”

I tell her all about the adventures of the last twenty-four hours, and when I’m done, she has a huge smile on her pretty face and nods.

“Cunningham Falls has soaked into your blood.”

“Something like that. I don’t have any need to go back to my old life, Annie. I have a great one here.”

“Yes, you do. Well, welcome home. I can tell my husband he’s off the hook for helping me out this week.”

“He was going to help?”

“Yeah, he took time off work and everything. But now he won’t have to do that.”

“Jesus, Annie, there was no need for that. You should have said something.”

“No way. I’m just grateful that I have you. I can always work around a little time off here and there. Don’t worry about it. Honest.”

“You need a day off, you know.”

“That’s why I close on Mondays. What are you going to do now that you’re home this week?”

“I’m going to nap the rest of today. I’ll wing what comes next.”

“Enjoy your nap! Take an extra thirty for me, okay?”

“I got you.” I wink and then wave as I walk out the door and head back down the street to my van.

The air is crisp and clean. The mountains are just gorgeous with little wisps of clouds barely covering the peaks. I wave at Ty, who regularly comes into the deli, as he jogs by, his shirt soaked through with sweat.

It’s a quiet Sunday morning in this little town tucked in the mountains.

Yes, it’s good to be home.

Something isn’t right.

I’ve been back at Seth’s for an hour. I took a shower, put on some comfy clothes, and threw a load of laundry into the machine, then my stomach started to cramp horribly.

It feels like something inside is fighting to get out.

Like an alien.

“Oh, shit.” I cover my mouth with my hand and run for the bathroom. I heave until there’s surely nothing left in me. And then, when I finally manage to wipe off my face with a nearby towel, I have to hurry and sit on the toilet.

Jesus, what’s happening?

The next thirty minutes are a blur. So much pain, and so many horrible things coming out of my body.

“I’m dying.” I lie on the cool tile and stare at the ceiling. “This is how it ends.”

And then I have to throw up again.

I try to call Seth, but he’s probably already up in the park and has no cell service. Sure enough, I go straight to voicemail.

I don’t know what to do. Something tells me I shouldn’t be alone.

So, I call Jillian.

“Hey, Remi, how’s it going?”

“I’m not okay,” I choke out and fight back a panic attack. “Something’s wrong, and I don’t know what to do.”

“Seth said you’re back in town. Are you at his house?”

“Yes. Oh, God, I can’t stop throwing up.”

“Hang tight, honey. Cara and I will be right there.”

I let the phone fall to the floor and hug the toilet. If I move away, I’m afraid I’ll have to throw up again and won’t make it back in time.

More heaving.

More cramps.

Absolute agony.

“Remi?”

“In the bathroom.” I try to yell out, but it’s a whisper.

“Oh, honey.” There’s commotion around me. The faucet runs, someone pulls my hair back into a ponytail and rubs my back.

“Can’t stop throwing up. And I had diarrhea. And, oh my God, my stomach.”

“Okay, it’s going to be okay.” Jillian wipes my face with the cool cloth, and it feels like Heaven.

“Oh, God.” I lean over and keep throwing up.