The Murphy Princess

Chapter 14

Finn's fever went down significantly the next day. I still forced him to stay in bed. I wanted to call off work, but he insisted I go, show Fiona my new designs. I kissed him long and hard, lingering too long. I'd be late to work. I didn't care.

"I'm very tough, Meyers," he smirked at me as I lingered in the doorway of the penthouse. I felt the pendant on my necklace, a new nervous habit, I noticed.

"Text me every hour."

He laughed, but nodded, "Okay."

"And I'll call at my lunch break."

"Okay."

"And I'll be over right after work."

"You should go home and see your family," he told me, bending down to kiss my forehead, "seriously. I'll be fine."

"Okay," I muttered reluctantly, "but I'll come over after I stop at their place then."

"Sounds good. Bring more soup."

I laughed, kissing him quickly before heading down the hallway, my heart hurting at the idea of leaving him alone right now.

Work went as expected. I was a nervous wreck. Fiona wanted me to give over my designs to the store. I was nervous more. I distractedly dealt with customers in between checking my phone for Finn's texts.

Thankfully, he'd followed my demand of texting me every hour.

Each hour that day he sent a devil emoji with the words, "still alive"

He was so ridiculous, I couldn't handle it.

After work, I quickly drove over to my parents place.

Mom was straightening up the living room, trying to re-arrange the furniture. I'd noticed this was her stress-habit. We all had them.

"Did you have a good birthday weekend?" she asked me, absent-mindedly.

"Yep, it was great," I said quickly, heading to the kitchen to check if there were materials to make more soup. Thankfully, there were, "can I take this stuff to make more soup?"

"Who is the friend?" she asked carefully.

"No one."

That was dumb. I should've made something up. I should've said Rose, or Chloe, or Maddie, someone.

My mother's eyes narrowed at me, not believing me.

Thankfully, we were saved by the bell.

Izzie buzzed in through the garage door, holding a bag of books.

Had school started already?

This month was a blur.

"How was your first day, honey?" Mom asked.

Man, I was a bad sister. I hadn't even realized.

"Same old same," Izzie said simply, throwing her bag on the table. "Hey, where have you been?" my younger sister asked, a small smile on her face.

"Oh, here and there," I said nonchalantly.

Izzie didn't look like she believed a word I said, but her lips remained sealed.