“Guys,” I groan. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“That was amazing,” Kyril says behind me. I turn around and look at him. I forgot that he was still here. “Thank you for letting me witness that.” What the heck is he talking about? He nods at Larkin before turning back to me. “I hope you feel better soon.” Larkin transports them out of the room.
Emma walks over and sits down beside me. “I know you’re not feeling well and everything but,” she hits me on the shoulder, “how could you not tell us that he was that hot?” She stares at me with wide eyes.
“Ouch. That hurt,” I rub my shoulder where she hit me. “He’s hot? I didn’t notice?” I say innocently. “And this is totally beside the point, but I did tell you.”
Larkin blinks back into the room. “You didn’t notice? Ha, I said your name twice before you realized I was talking to you. You couldn’t stop staring at him.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say casually as I lean back against Colton.
“You didn’t tell me he was I need a mop to wipe my drool off the ground hot. I was expecting the slight fanning to cool myself off kind of hot. Details, Ryanne. Details.” Emma looks over toward David. “Again, sorry babe.”
“A little warning would have been nice,” Natalie agrees. “I giggled! I never giggle, Ryanne.” I laugh. Natalie doesn’t seem like the giggling type.
When I stop laughing, I feel the now-familiar swirling in my stomach. “Ugh,” I complain as I jump back up and run into the bathroom. After emptying the contents of my stomach into the toilet for the umpteenth time today, I lean back against the wall. Could he really have given me this much truth serum? I don’t remember swallowing this much. I stand up and brush my teeth…again, before leaving the bathroom. As I round the corner, I run straight into Colton’s chest. He pulls me back, out of hearing range of everyone.
“How are you feeling? Really? Don’t tell me that you feel fine.” I lean back against the wall and look up at him. He is staring down at me, concern lacing his beautiful features. I’ve never thought of a guy as beautiful before, but Colton is. I sigh and look out the window toward the beach. Hey, they finished cleaning it up. “Ryanne.”
I bring my attention back to Colton. “I don’t feel great, but I don’t feel as bad as I did earlier. My stomach is empty, but I keep throwing up. I’m dizzy and hungry, but I don’t want to eat anything because I know I won’t be able to keep it down. I want to go to sleep, but I know that if I fall asleep, they’ll find a way to get to me. It’s the middle of the afternoon, so I don’t want you to lay down with me. I feel like I’m letting everyone down when they see me like this, because the ‘prophecy girl’ wouldn’t show any weaknesses. I feel like I’m letting you down, and I don’t like feeling like this.”
Colton wraps his arms around my back, pulling me in for a hug. I lean my head against his chest and put my arms around his waist. “Ryanne, you’re not letting anyone down. Don’t ever think that. We don’t think of you as the prophecy girl. None of us do. You’re just Ryanne. We don’t expect anything out of you. You’re the one who puts so much pressure on yourself.” He kisses the top of my head. “Come on. I’ll lay down with you.”
“No, just go back to the couch. I’ll lie down on the couch. I don’t want to inconvenience you any more than I already am.”
“It’s not an inconvenience, Ry. When are you going to realize that all I want is to keep you safe? I want to be the one that protects you and if the only way I’m able to do that is letting you sleep next me, then let me do it. Please don’t fight me on this.”
“I’m not going to fight with you,” I say as I step away from him and grab his hand. I pull him back into the living room. Sitting down on the couch, I pat the spot next to me while giving him a sly smile. He shakes his head, but I can tell that I am going to win this. Dramatically, he exhales and plops down on the couch next to me.
“You’re something. Do you know that?”
“I’m just Ryanne,” I tell him, using the words he just said. I pull my knees up under me and rest my head against his leg. I don’t want to restrict his movement too much. I don’t look around the room because I know they are all watching me. Closing my eyes, I let myself drift into sleep.
I roll off of my side and onto my back. My neck is starting to hurt being at the same angle for too long. I slowly open my eyes and look up into a pair of gorgeous green eyes. “Hey,” I whisper to Colton.