“They like you, Sawyer. You won’t become a nuisance.”
Chapter Ten
Sawyer
The band’s set was in full swing. The music filled the air. I was slightly off stage to the right, watching. Cameron, Monica, and Jordan were out in the audience. Staring at my phone, I reread Jordan’s last text. My stomach had been off all night. I felt queasy.
Jordan: Come join us if you have a second. We’re having a great time.
I bit my lip. It felt like a crossroads. If I went out there, it would be a message I wasn’t ready to send to Kurt or Jordan.
Me: Working. See you guys at the club.
Jordan: Save a dance for me.
One dance wouldn’t hurt anything. And I wouldn’t end up in his bed.
Me: Okay.
Jordan: Can’t wait.
I groaned as the band moved into the last song. More churning in my stomach made me lean against the wall. I am going to be sick. This is bad. I ran to the bathroom where I emptied my stomach of everything I’d eaten. The pain in my stomach was terrible, like a knife twisting. It was the same as when I had food poisoning in college.
“Ugh!”
I sank to the floor with some paper towels to wipe my mouth. That afternoon, on the way into the stadium, I’d grabbed some pork and corn dish from a food truck. It had been the most delicious thing I’d ever smelled, and I’d had to have it. Kurt even warned me against it. He’d been right. I wasn’t sure how long I had been in the bathroom and how many times I’d gotten sick.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Sawyer, it’s Kurt. You okay?”
I crawled to the door and unlocked it. He opened the door, still in his rhinestoned leather jacket. “What’s wrong? You look terrible.”
“I have food poisoning. That pork and corn dish. Bad idea.”
“You think you can make it back to the bus?”
“Yeah. Can I take the limo? Or I can get a cab.”
He typed something into his phone. “Want to walk or me to carry you?”
“I’ll walk.”
With help, I made it to my feet, leaning heavily against Kurt for support. He was sweaty, and I liked that more than I should have. More people than I could count tried to stop us as we got out to a waiting limo. I laid my face against the cool leather seat. “You don’t have to come with me.”
“It’s part of my role as your roommate. Seeing you through bad food decisions.”
I let out a tired chuckle and closed my eyes. The rocking of the car soothed me to sleep.
The back-and-forth motion woke me. Kurt was carrying me. “Oh gosh. I’m going to be sick.”
Kurt brought me to the grass and set me down. It was terrible. Wretched. Same as the time before.
“The doctor is waiting for you in the bus.”
“Thanks.”
With Kurt’s help, I walked onto the bus. As promised, a doctor was waiting. I plopped on the couch.