He Shoves Me But Loves Me (Riker Lynch/R5)

Chapter 44

Please read the authors note at the end of the chapter! It's urgent!

"Riker?" I asked when I knocked on the door of our room. I couldn't find him anywhere else. I twisted the knob and walked in. It was the day after we had come back from our get away and yesterday went really well! After we talked, Riker and I did a short duet. Well, Riker played the piano while I sang. But it was perfect! Anyways, Riker was lying in bed, the blinds closed, with a heavy blanket pulled over his head.

"What?" I heard him croak, his voice raspy and rough. He coughed then, and I felt a twinge of sadness go through me.

"Oh my god!" I rushed over to his bedside and sat on the edge. He opened his tired eyes, dark circles looming underneath. "How'd you get sick? You can't be sick! You're going on tour in three days!" His face was red and puffy, his nose glowing like a flashlight. His face shined with a cold sweat. He coughed again, then let out a groan.

"I was at the beach last night, I was writing a song for you. I forgot to grab a jacket and I guess I got sick." He coughed multiple times during his explanation. My hand rested on his cheek, and my thumb stroked back and forth.

"Did you take any medicine?" I asked, rising up from the bed. I swiped the bit of sweat I hand got on my hand from his face on my jeans and dug out some basketball shorts and a t-shirt for Riler to put on.

"No. I've been toughing it out."

"My poor baby." He smiled. "Here," I pulled the blanket off of Riker and saw he was in a hoodie and jeans. "This is probably why you're sweating so much." I made him laugh a little. I helped him set up and helped Riker get out of his clothes, into the shorts and t-shirt. "I'll be right back. Don't move." I ruffled his hair and grabbed his dirty clothes. I ran those down to the laundry room and found Stormie.

"Hey Marilyn!" She kissed my cheek. "Did you find Riker?"

"Yeah, but he's sick. Do you have any medicine I can give him?"

"Oh no!" She gasped. "I hope he gets better by tour. And yes I do. Follow me." She lead me to her and Mark's bathroom. She found a bottle of a dark liquid, cough syrup! "This should cure him up pretty quick. Give him one now and then another before he goes to bed." The bottled was slightly sticky but I took it with a smile.

"Thank you Stormie." I went back to our room down the hall and closed the door with my foot. Riker had his face in his hands. "Hey." I said. He looked up and smiled weakly. "Do you want me to turn on the fan?"

"Yes please." I flipped the switch on and Riker seemed to get better by .00001 percent. "Momma lynch says to give you one of these now and then before bed." I used the measuring cup on the lid and poured the dark, almost black liquid in, shaking it first.

"What flavor is that?" I could tell Riker wasn't excited to drink this.

"Uh, I think grape." I handed the cup to Riker. "Bottoms up!" Riker downed the medicine like a shot and twisted his face in horror. After he swallowed he yelled, "Ah! It tastes like death!" I rolled my eyes and set the medicine on Riker's night side table. I used a tissue and wiped the sweat from Riker's forehead.

"Thank you, Doctor Marilyn." I tossed the tissue away and stood back in front of Riker, placing my hands on his shoulders. His hands went to my hips and I sat one knee on his thigh. "You're amazing." He smiled.

I tilted my head to the side and smiled. "I know right?" Riker rolled his eyes and laid back on the bed.

"I hate this!" He yelled into the mattress. I turned on the tv and sat down in a chair.

"Don't ruin your voice before you go on tour, please." I flipped through channels and found a movie to watch. Riker had crawled back under his blanket.