Chapter Six
Leah woke up the next day waiting for her body to settle down. For the past few weeks her body had been plotting against her. It was harder and harder to get out of bed. Everything she did felt like a chore. Her body didn’t feel like her own.
She sat up slowly making sure she didn’t move too suddenly. Glancing at the clock, she saw she’d been dead to the world for the last twelve hours. There was no way she’d make it into work.
A groan escaped her as her body protested the thought of going to work.
The overtime she’d been taking was because she’d needed to catch up on the work she was falling behind on.
The stress at home was not helping her illness. The thought of being home with Mitch and Chase had her nerves on end.
They’re your best friends. They would never hurt you.
But you slept with them. Things are different now.
She whimpered as she climbed out of bed. Change, never before had she hated the word like she did now. Her mother had been right. They had all changed. Pretending nothing had happened was a big mistake.
Leah stood and looked out of her bedroom window. The whole city was awash in rain. The weather looked cold and moody. Even the thought of going for a walk made her feel tired.
Opening her door, she heard Chase and Mitch talking in the kitchen. She approached the sound of their voice.
They both stopped talking when they saw her.
“Morning,” she said.
“I thought you were working.” Mitch spoke over his coffee cup. It was nearly lunch time.
“No. I didn’t even set my alarm.” She folded her arms over her chest. The shirt she wore wouldn’t cover the effect these men had on her body.
“It’s about time you stayed home.” Chase handed her a cup of coffee. Leah took the cup. The scent wafted up to her nose. The recoil inside her stomach was instant. She put the coffee down and ran to the bathroom.
“What’s the matter?” Chase asked.
She heard them following behind her. Leah got to the toilet, knelt down, and vomited the little food she’d managed to keep down over the last day. Everything she’d eaten and drunk came up and down the pan until she was dry heaving. Mitch held her hair up as Chase rubbed her back.
Her head was pounding, and her body shook from the exertion.
Chase handed her some water, which she took, swallowing it down.
When she’d calmed down, brushed her teeth, and sat on the toilet she stared at her two friends.
“Thank you,” she said, meaning the two words. Mitch stroked her face while Chase had his arms folded.
“How long has this been going on?” Chase asked.
“What do you mean?”
“The vomiting, tiredness, lack of energy, and all around sickness.”
“The last few weeks.” Leah looked between the two men.
“I think we need to take a trip down to the emergency room,” Mitch said.
“What? Why? That will cost a lot of money. What do you think is wrong with me?” she asked, feeling scared. Did they know something she didn’t?
Chase was pacing, and he’d gone pale.
“You’re scaring me, guys. What is going on?”