How to Love the Stars | Ghost (Simon Riley)

Chapter 26

Althea felt like her thoughts were being swept up into a hurricane when she was with him. All her questions and worries were being swept up, her mind struggling to organize them. However, every time she finally felt as if she got them in order, she would catch sight of his face again, or accidentally brush his fingers when she handed him a cup, blowing her mind into a frenzy again.

He cleared his throat. "So, how long have you been in the military?"

Althea choked on her water, sputtering and coughing. Beads of sweat appeared on the back of her neck. She quickly changed the subject. "What, trying to guess my age? How rude."

He tilted his head in confusion at her reaction but didn't press further.

Perspiration forming on her brow, she turned to check the time from the clock on his wall. "Let's get some more fluids in you," she said, pouring a glass of water and offering it to him. "And how about some light breakfast when you're up to it? It might help with your energy."

Ghost nodded, sipping the water carefully. "Sounds good," he replied, his gaze never leaving Althea's face.

As she fetched a bowl of warm oatmeal and brought it to him, Althea couldn't help but wonder about the mysterious sensations in her chest. She had always been dedicated to her team, but this felt different somehow. She shook her head to clear her thoughts, chalking it up to the stress of taking care of Ghost.

With a gentle smile, she helped him sit up, offering him the bowl of oatmeal. "Eat up, Ghost. We're on the road to recovery."

Ghost managed a weak but grateful smile as he began to eat, and Althea couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction in seeing him slowly regain his strength. Little did she know that the fluttering feelings in her chest were just the beginning of a journey that would eventually reveal the true nature of her emotions.

She adjusted herself to get more comfortable, careful not to jostle him too much. "So, did you catch this lovely bug from Soap, or did you decide to try out a new recipe for disaster in the kitchen?"

Ghost's lips curled into a small smile. "Nah, it's just my way of making sure you're not bored, Althea. You know, keeping things interesting."

It was almost as if he fully knew the effect he had on her when he said her name. She rolled her eyes playfully. "Oh, of course, because I didn't have anything better to do than babysit a grown man with a fever."

He let out a weak laugh, wincing a bit. "I promise, next time I'll bring you flowers instead."

Althea couldn't help but chuckle at his attempt at humor. "Flowers might be a start, but I think you'll need to do a little more to make up for this."

Ghost turned his head toward her, his eyes meeting hers with a hint of mischief. "What else do you suggest, Althea?"

She pretended to ponder the question, tapping her chin with a thoughtful expression. "Well, I could use a personal chef to make sure my soup never goes lukewarm again. And maybe someone to do my laundry... and clean the bathroom."

Ghost feigned a dramatic sigh. "You drive a hard bargain Nurse Althea. But for the sake of my recovery, I might just have to agree."

As Ghost slowly finished his breakfast, Althea couldn't help but enjoy the moment. It was moments like these that made her value the team even more. Their shared laughter, their inside jokes, and their unwavering support for each other were the threads that held them together. This feeling in her chest must be... true friendship. She had never felt this way before, maybe they had a true connection. For some reason, this thought wasn't satisfying enough for her, and she wondered why.