The Billionaire Next Door(50)
She memorized the digits as he recited them. “You want anything?”
He managed to say the word no without moving his lips at all. Then tacked on, “Wait, my duffel bag from the car would be great. Has my toothbrush in it.”
“Be right back.”
After she got the bag and put it just inside her room, she shut the door and headed for the phone in the living room. While dialing his brother’s number, she held her breath. She’d never spoken to a pro football player before.
The voice that answered was a low drawl. “Yeah?”
“Is this Billy O’Banyon?”
“Depends. Who are you and how did you get this number?”
Whoa. Evidently, linebackers had nice voices. “Assuming you are him, your brother Sean gave it to me.”
There was a pause. Then the voice got sharp. “Is he okay?”
“He has a migraine. Bad one. He asked me to tell you that he won’t be able to come to the game today.”
“Oh, hell. Considering all that’s been going on, I should have known one was coming. Where is he?”
“At your house.”
“My house? Which one?” As if he had so many he couldn’t keep track.
“Um…your father’s house, I guess. In South Boston.”
The man’s tone turned incredulous. “He’s still staying there? ”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Wow.” There was another pause. “Tell him I’ll stop over after the game.”
“I’ll pass on the message. Oh, and he wanted you to call Mick and let him know what’s going on.”
“Yeah, okay. Wait, who are you?”
“I live in the apartment below. I’m kind of taking care of him. My name’s Lizzie Bond.”
“Well, I appreciate your making the effort, especially because I’ll bet you’ve got to tie him down to keep him still. That brother of mine never slows up.”
“Well, he’s slowed up now. Has been since last night.”
“Poor bastard. How bad is he?”
“You can see for yourself. When you come by, just knock on the downstairs door. I’ll be here, and considering how he’s faring, so will he.”
“I’ll do that. And thanks again for watching over him.”
As she hung up, she heard a noise from the bedroom and went down the hall. Sean was writhing on the bed, his big body twisting in the sheets, his brows drawn tight. He made a noise deep in his throat, a kind of strangled protest, then shook his head back and forth on the pillow.
She went over and touched his shoulder. “Sean?”
He woke up on a full recoil, his hands shielding his face as if he were about to be struck. In a voice that didn’t sound like his at all, he said, “Please…no.”
They’d done this before. The night of the storm.
“Sean?” she said gently, though she was thoroughly creeped out and worried about him. “Wake up. You’re just dreaming.”
“Mac?”
She frowned. “No, it’s me. Lizzie.”
He blinked a number of times, then sank back down into the pillows and closed his eyes. “Lizzie? Oh…yeah…yeah, I know. Sorry.”
She stayed over the bed, the sound of his voice ringing in her mind. Mac was his other brother, right? And what had he been so afraid of? She had a feeling the dream was a repeater.
“Sean?” When he made an affirming noise, she said, “I’m going to go out for a little while, if you’re okay?”
“I should probably leave, too. Not fair. Take up all your space.” He started to push himself up, moving slowly as if he had an unbalanced load on his neck. Or maybe a ticking bomb.
“No, Sean. I want you to stay.” The way he collapsed back down told her just how weak he was. “Listen, I have my cell with me and I’ve left the number by the phone, okay?”
“Don’t want you to have to nurse me. ’Nough of that on your day job.”
“I don’t mind at all.” She truly didn’t. Although she was sorry he felt bad, she was glad he was in her bed, his hair dark against her pillows, his heavy shoulders filling out her blankets and covers. In her room, between her sheets, he was safe and she could care for him and he would be far more comfortable than upstairs on that couch he insisted on using.
“Thank you,” he said in a garbled voice. “Once again.”
Before she left, she had a consuming urge to kiss him on the forehead, but she resisted. “I’ll be back.”