The Cold Side of the Bed (MxM) | FILLING THE VOID series, BOOK 2

28. Chapter - Waiting Game

I was staring at the laptop screen, wondering where I went wrong in the past week. I was supposed to be out of the hospital five days ago, but my doctors were concerned with my blood pressure skyrocketing randomly during the day. On top of that, my temperature kept going up in the mornings, decreasing in the early evenings. I knew I was partly at fault for leaving the hospital while still in a terrible condition, but that knowledge made me feel even worse. 

After I collapsed at the airport, Alison had to call an ambulance for me, and I ended up in the same hospital room as before. Apparently, my nervous system shut down due to all the physical and mental stress that overstimulated my brain. I was lucky it was just that and nothing more serious, but it still prolonged my stay in the hospital for more than a week. And it was starting to get into my head. I wasn't used to staying cooped up in a room for such a long time, especially when I had to stay in bed all the time except for my bathroom visits. 

It was driving me crazy.  

And Nelson's silence wasn't helping. 

I thought I would get a reaction out of him after my last text message, but he continued ignoring me just like before. It was giving me nightmares. I kept on seeing him leave me over and over again, disappearing for good. The chances were that my blood pressure was acting up precisely because of this, but the last thing I needed was a session with a shrink. And that would definitely happen if I told the doctors about my theory. 

Looking over the products on the screen, it took a lot of self-control to keep calm and not throw the laptop against the wall. The plans I made required me to buy a wedding gift for the newlyweds. I had no idea what these gifts should look like. If I had a list from which I could choose something, it would be easier. But as an uninvited person, I had nothing. So, I had to choose something on my own, and I was starting to see what a bad idea it was. 

Deciding to go to San Francisco and trying to chase down my very best friend was an easy choice. There was no way I was letting Nelson get away from me. But figuring out a wedding gift for his cousin, as coming there without one would be extremely rude and just one big failure waiting to happen, I was stuck behind my laptop for the past three days, trying to figure something out. 

Emmaline was just an acquittance. While we met several times over the years of my and Nelson's friendship, we weren't extra close, and I had no idea what would make her happy. The same went for her soon-to-be-husband. Phil was great to sit down with and have a glass of wine, chatting about work, but that was it. I knew nothing about either of them and with Nelson ignoring me, I couldn't even ask for advice. 

"Just give them money, for fuck's sake." My head snapped towards the door, Alison standing there with tired eyes. She looked ready to pass out. 

"That's lazy. I want to leave a good impression. Having some of Nelson's closest people on my side could do wonders." 

Closing the laptop and putting it away, I waited until she came in and sat down. I knew the work she had to do was too much for just one person, but she refused to give me even a tiny part of it.