He’s quiet for a minute then says, “When I came home that night after the anniversary party, Gabe asked where I was.”
I sit up immediately. No wonder he’s being so weird. “What did you tell him?”
“The truth. Sort of. I told him that I escorted you to the party and then fell asleep here afterward.”
“Well, that’s good. I think you’re being overly cautious. Yes, it’ll be awkward when we first tell everyone, especially your moms, but it’s no big deal.”
He snorts. “You didn’t see his face. This is going to turn into an entire cluster of fucks if we’re not careful.”
“I hope not. I would never want to come between you guys. You’re family. Jamie and I haven’t been as close as I’d like but we’re changing that. Having those bonds is so important.”
Zack makes a sound of agreement but the effort seems to take a lot out of him. His skin looks so pale and there’s a fine sheen of sweat on his brow.
“Are you okay, Zack?”
He rolls over. “Yeah, I’m just tired. Sorry, I’m not too entertaining today.”
“Don’t worry about … that.” I’m laughing and blushing at the same time when I realize what he’s referring to. “I don’t need to be entertained right now. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
“It’s just stress.”
If this is stress, then I’m going to be a basket case if he ever gets truly sick. He pats the bed next to him and I climb over his legs and stretch out.
“Anything I can help with?”
He shakes his head. “Stress tends to send my blood sugar levels through the roof. I just need to relax.”
“Close your eyes.”
He closes them obediently and I stroke his hair back from his face gently. He lets out a deep sigh. Soon his breathing is steady and even. After about ten minutes, he opens his eyes again.
“My blood monitor is in the car. Can you get it?”
“Actually, I have one here. I bought it just in case you might need it.”
I get up and walk into the bathroom across the hall from my room. The first aid kit and the blood monitor I bought are below the sink. I bring it back to him and he inspects the packaging. As he’s opening it, I notice that his hands are shaking slightly. It’s not fun to prick yourself on any given day but trying to do it when your hands aren’t steady sounds like torture.
“Do you want me to do it for you?”
His eyes lift to mine. “You don’t have to do that. That’s a lot to ask.”
“Nothing is too much to ask. I want to help you.”
He stares at me so long that I wonder if he thinks it’s weird that I even asked that.
“I guess that means you wouldn’t pull the plug on me, then.”
Even though he’s joking, there’s a question in his eyes that I can’t leave unanswered. “I would do anything for you, Zack.”
“I know,” he replies softly.
His eyes stay on me the whole time as I prick his finger and press it against the test strip. I slide the strip into the machine. After it beeps, I show him the readout.
“It’s a little high still but not as bad as it was,” he says.
My audible sigh of relief coaxes a chuckle out of Zack. I would have really hated to have to prick his finger a second time.
“In sickness and in health,” he murmurs.