“You’ll help Dylan?” He looks up, his eyes red.
&nbs
p; I hug him. “Yes. He’ll be fine. Go sit with Teo.”
He nods and sinks on the carpet next to Teo, as I walk over to the sofa. It’s like walking through water, my limbs heavy. It’s as if time has slowed down.
“He’s burning up,” Rafe says as I reach their side and sit on the arm of the sofa.
I can see it. Dylan’s face is flushed. His forehead is blistering hot to the touch, slick with perspiration. He’s muttering words under his breath, but I can’t make them out.
“Dyl. Can you hear me?” I take his hand and squeeze it. “Dylan.”
His eyes move behind his lids but don’t open. He makes a small noise, and his fingers curl around mine. “Tess?” His voice is scratchy, but I’ve never been happier to hear it.
“Yeah, it’s me.” I swallow hard, a knot in my throat. “Hang on in there. You’ll be okay.”
Dylan says nothing, but his fingers squeeze my hand.
“Could be just a bug,” Rafe says. “The flu.”
“We should take him to a doctor,” I say quietly. “This could be serious.”
“You sound like you know something.”
“Could be Lyme disease. What his brother had. They’ll have to run tests. If it’s that, he’ll need quite a lot of antibiotics. Teo’s still taking them.”
“Damn.” Rafe groans and dry-washes his face. Then he gets up, pulls out his cell and makes a call. He paces while waiting for whoever he called to answer, his long legs eating up the small space.
Miles and Teo sniffle from behind the coffee table.
“It’s all right,” I tell them, infusing my voice with as much certainty as I can. “He needs medicine, and he’ll be back on his feet.”
Miles nods, his blue eyes wide.
Rafe stops midstride, plants his feet apart. “Tyler?” He brings the cell closer to his ear. “That you, man? What’s all that noise?” He turns toward me, his whiskey-colored eyes unreadable. “Okay. Listen, I need a favor. Need you to come and babysit Dylan’s brothers. Yes, now.” He listens for a few seconds, his mouth tightening. “Then bring Jax along. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t urgent. Yeah, right now. Hurry up.”
A long moment passes. Then he disconnects. “Okay. Let’s go.”
“Shouldn’t we wait for Tyler?”
“He’ll be here in a minute. He doesn’t live far.”
“I want to take Dylan to my doctor. She’s very good.”
“Fair enough.” He leans over Dylan, puts an arm under him and pulls him up. “Come on, big guy.”
Dylan’s face pales as he swings his legs off the sofa and sits up. He blinks owlishly. “Where?”
“Let’s get you into the car. You can do it. It’s not far.”
“Tessa,” Dylan whispers, and I take his hand again.
“I’m here.”
He groans when Rafe pulls him upright. The last of the color leaves his face, and I hurry to his side, afraid he’ll fall. Rafe steadies him, and I wrap my arm around Dylan’s back.
Dylan looks down at me, his eyes unfocused. “I’ve lost …”