Cardinal

Chapter 28

I woke up in a panic, waking up with a gasp. I was in an unfamiliar place, the just-woken-up haze still heavy on my eyelids. I looked around and realized I was still in Will's bed and he was right beside me sleeping peacefully, the sun shining on his beautiful face. There was an odd feeling in my chest that I tried to shake off, but it felt like a vice on my heart, stretching the links with so much tension. I deduced that I might have eaten something wrong since it felt almost like a burning iron down my throat and on my chest. 

I had a small inkling that it may have something to do with how uneven my links feel. I wasn't really sure how to describe the connection between links. It was just something that was part of me like breathing or my heart beating. 

 I didn't understand much about cardinals or links, and this really needed to be remedied. I wondered if I could talk to Alaina or Julie about links because I really had no clue how to sort out the different feelings that came with it. Julie should be home right now so I made a mental note to text her.  With how I'm feeling right now, Alaina might also be sleeping in so I probably shouldn't bother her. 

I went to the bathroom to freshen up and grabbed some underwear from my room before going downstairs, remembering to text Julie. 

I was thankful for the day off and the weekend off after the grueling introduction to merc training and I just honestly wanted to relax today. 

The mansion was incredibly quiet this morning. It was almost 10:00 AM and no one was up yet except for me. I guess we were all a little strung out and tired. 

The phone in my hand rings with Julie's name appearing on the screen. Yes! 

"Hey, Jules. I miss you so much. Thanks for calling me." I blurt out quickly on the phone. 

I hear commotion in the background and some scraping of material. "Ugh, I know. Work was such a drag. And you're so welcome, baby girl. I'm on my way to you right now. Leaving my house! 

I squealed in excitement. "Yay! I don't think anybody is up yet or maybe they've gone but Will isn't up yet." 

"Oooh, Willllll...." her voice trills on the other line. "Any progress with your links?"

"Uhm, well...I guess with Will and Keenan?" 

"Ugh, please spare me the details regarding my brother." she spits through the phone, disgust apparent. 

I giggle, sitting on one of the bar stools, drinking my water. 

"Well, I did wake up this morning feeling very odd. Like there was this burning feeling on my chest..." I hear her honking at something and cursing, probably speeding on her way here. I shake my head at her. 

"Does it feel like something you ate or is it more like your links type of thing?" 

"Definitely feels like it's connected to the links. I've had reflux before and it didn't feel like this..." 

"Hmmm, hold on babe, I'm pulling up to your place now." I hear the screeching of her tire and the cracking of gravel outside, signaling that she arrived and in record time too. Her place was at least a 9-minute drive from the McMansion and she got here in less than 4 minutes. 

I tiptoe to the front of the door, not wanting to wake up the boys. 

"Aaaah! I missed you so much!" Julie squeals when I first see her and we hug emphatically. 

"Babe, you know you're missing your pants, right?" she eyes me distastefully.

I roll my eyes at her. "Yeah, I know. It's my off day, okay? Merc training was really hard so don't judge right now," I blush with embarrassment. She doesn't need to hear why I only have my underwear on right now.