"Of course you should!" He started fluttering around. He didn't want to lose Jace's business. It was cute. "Here! This one is fabulous! The Cinnamon Swirl." He carried a sample to where we sat. "It's a divine cake for a fall wedding."
Jace waggled his brows. "Sounds delicious." I didn't know about this one. I typically liked cinnamon, but the thought of it made my stomach roll. I'd been feeling fine a moment before, so I shook my head and pushed the nausea down. I was determined to ignore it. This was a happy day! There was no time for the flu! Absolutely no time!
I watched Jace inhale the aroma of the cake and I smiled. "Smell good?"
"Oh," he nodded. "It does." He handed me the plate. "Try it."
I picked up my fork, determined to get through this tasting. I sliced a piece of the cake and brought it to my lips. The scent wafted to my nose and that was it. My stomach rolled. I dropped the fork and ran for the only garbage I'd seen before I hurled the contents of my stomach into the bin. Sweat broke out over my forehead as Jace rushed to my side, quickly gathering my hair in his hands. He rubbed my back and I shrugged him off. His hand on my back was too much. He was too warm. The sensation brought another burst of nausea over me and again, I emptied more of my stomach into the garbage. By the time I was finished, my legs were weak and I was humiliated beyond belief.
I reached for a napkin to wipe my mouth. My hands were shaky and I felt the onslaught of tears. "I'm so sorry." I apologized to the man who looked at his Cinnamon Swirl cake with large eyes. "I'm not felling well, obviously."
"We're going to the doctor." Jace said factually as he led me to the door. "You can bill my credit card. We'll take the Lemon cake."
"Absolutely." Roger nodded. Happy to still be in business despite recent events.
Jace led met to the Bugatti. "I don't need to go see a doctor, Jace. I'm fine. I probably just caught a bug."
"Exactly. And you should be treated correctly." He opened the door, pushing me gently into the seat before closing the door. As he walked around the car, I prepared my argument. But he didn't get in. Instead, I watched as he pulled his phone from his pants pocket and leaned against the door. I wished I could hear him talk and I had half a mind to open my door and listen, but I didn't.
Jace shoved his phone into his pants before lowering himself into the car beside me. I began. "Jace, I need sleep. I'm just stressed and tired. It's taking a toll on me."
"I know." His tone was clipped as he steered the car into traffic.
"So, we're going home?"
"Yes."
"Thank you," I breathed a sigh of relief as I rested my head against the headrest and closed my eyes.
"As soon as we meet with my doctor." Jace added.
My eyes popped open. "What?"
"We have an appointment with my doctor."
Okay, now I was angry. Why couldn't he ever listen to me? "I'm not seeing a doctor. I get sick like every human being on the fucking planet, Jace. And I never run to the doctor."
"You aren't every other human being on the planet, Olivia. You're my human being who needs to learn to watch her fucking language!" He roared. "I take care of what's mine!"
Oh, holy hell! I was so damned angry I was vibrating! I wanted to knock some sense into this ridiculously irritating man beside me, but I could do nothing more than grit my teeth and dig my nails into his insanely expensive leather seat. It was time for a new approach. "Jace, I am so exhausted. My legs feel weak, my head is pounding and I am becoming increasingly cranky with every minute that passes. This day has been the best and shittiest day of my life and I am so tired." I felt my voice croak. "I just want to go home."
His brows furrowed and I could see I'd gotten to him. Oh, thank God. The last thing I wanted to do was sit in the clinic, smelling the sterile scent it held. Gross. The thought made me want to toss my cookies. Never mind the real thing.
"If your legs are weak, I'll carry you. But we're going to see the doctor." He glanced at me with stern eyes. They were set in their decision. "He's expecting us."
I didn't say anything else. I was livid and I didn't trust my words. I thought it was best if I said nothing at all. I stared out the window as Jace made this turn and that turn, weaving the car through parts of New York I'd never seen before. This city was massive. There was so much to see, but I was barely paying much attention. If someone took me back to the start line and told me to get where I was, I wouldn't even know which direction to travel. My mind was on one thing. And that was my sudden animosity toward Jace. I was just so infuriated with him for never ever listening to me. And he expected me to listen to him constantly! It drove me nuts! Seriously, I was sitting on the ledge of insanity and I'd agreed to marry this man! Oh my…I was in for one hell of a ride.