Mia had taken the day off to play nurse to Mr. Austin, or so the office gossip went.
Joy gaped in disbelief. "Nurse him back to health?" Right when people were at their most vulnerable, physically and emotionally, that's when they were easiest to get close to. She had seen it firsthand, that sly fox Curtis weaving his spell around Leanne!
Here she was, busting her tail at the office-okay, so maybe she had slacked off for a good thirty minutes, but still-while her first decent flirt in years was about to be snatched away? Fueled by indignation, Joy grabbed her phone and stormed over to Austin's place.
Austin answered the door in his pajamas, a mask covering his face, his cheeks flushed from fever, looking unusually fragile.
He leaned against the door frame, obviously not keen on letting her in. "What are you doing here?"
"Drug delivery," she declared, shoving a bag of medicine into his arms and trying to peek inside. Austin pushed her head out and blocked the entrance. "Just drop it and go. I don't want you to catch it."
The way he was acting so secretive made Joy instantly suspicious that he was hiding someone inside.
She waved off his concern. "Please, I'm as sturdy as they come. I've bunked with my bestie who had the flu and didn't catch a thing. What's your excuse?"
"You're not worried?" Austin asked.
"Flu should be worried about me," Joy retorted confidently.
"Fine then." He stepped aside to let her in.
Once inside, Joy's eyes darted around like searchlights. But there was no sign of Mia or anyone else for that matter.
"So it's just you?" she asked, puzzled.
Austin took off his mask and collapsed onto the couch. "Who else did you expect?"
Joy's guard dropped, and she turned to leave, reassured.
As she was about to exit, Austin looked at her, a weak "hm" escaping his throat before he closed his eyes, coughing.
It caused Joy to stop in her tracks.
She went over to check his forehead, and had to admit...
"You're so nice and warm."
Austin couldn't help but laugh at that, which only made him cough more. "Are you for real?"
"Absolutely. My best friend's forehead is never this warm," Joy said, flipping her hand to warm the back of it too.
Austin shifted to make room on the couch and patted the space next to him. "Come here."
The couch was hardly spacious, but lying there meant winding up close together.
As Joy hesitated, Austin teased, "What, are you shy?"
"As if!" So, she lay down next to him.
Austin wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer to prevent her from falling off. He then covered them both with a blanket.
He smelled nice, not like cologne, but a comforting, homey scent.
Joy was tempted to snuggle closer and figure out what it was but stopped herself, thinking it'd be too weird.
But the warmth from Austin's body was undeniable, comforting even, and soon enough, Joy found herself drifting off to sleep next to him. As she slept, Austin opened his eyes.
Mia had been turned away at the door, but the story of her visiting was a rumor he had started himself, a bit of strategic misinformation.
Joy, usually so carefree and tough, showed her caring side only to her closest friends, acting almost aloof towards him. But today, she seemed genuinely concerned. S
Sure, the bed would have been more comfortable than the couch, but inviting her into his personal space might have made her wary and
increased the chances of her
leaving.
Sleeping beside Joy was an adventure. She was obviously used to cuddling something in her sleep, as she suddenly threw a leg over his and wedged her other leg between his legs, gripping tightly.
Her hand also sought out a place to rest, smoothly sliding down to his lower back. Austin silently chuckled to himself. Where on earth had she picked up these habits?
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