Chapter <b>138 </b>
Jake and I entered the conference room together, and the others immediately stood from their seats and came to us. Each of them hugged me as I reassured them I was ok. Josh was thest to hug <b>me</b><b>, </b>and before he could speak, I kissed him.
“We can talk about this when we get home,” I told him, “I just want to finish this meeting and gn home. He nodded in understanding
“Love you, baby girl,” he whispered,
“Love you too, Josh,” I replied, following him back to the table and taking my seat again. I noticed Mr. Johnson was no longer in the conference room with us. While I had been locked in the bathroom, he had finished the other paperwork the guys needed to go over and told them we could set up another meeting to discuss the trust when I <b>was </b>feeling better. 1 blushed, embarrassed about losing it, but so much had happenedtely that I didn’t think anyone would me me.
By the time we returned to the parking garage. I was exhausted. I leaned heavily against Jake as Patrick unlocked the SUV, and he looked concerned before kissing the top of my head.
“You feeling okay, beautiful?” Drew asked. He had noticed Jake’s concerned look.
<b>“</b>Just tired. I admitted. “Long day.”
I followed Drew and Jake into the back of the SUV and was asleep before we made it <b>out </b>of the afternoon downtown traffic. I grumbled when we got home because Josh was ready to pick me up and carry me into the house.
“I’m tired, not helpless,” Iined, trying to poke him in the ribs.
“Baby girl. I will find any reason I can to get my hands on you, Josh said as he looked over my head at Drew.
Drew grinned at him <b>and </b>mouthed, “Nice <b>save</b>,” before urging me inside.
“Really, you guys?” Iined when Darren met me with a touchless thermometer as soon as I walked through the door. I didn’t argue with Darren, he was just doing what the guys asked.
<b>“</b>You are running <b>a </b>slight fever, Miss Emmy; getfortable, and I will bring you some tea and medicine.
“I’m just tired,” I grumbled <b>as </b>Darren shoord us out of the kitchen. Josh and Mike disappeared <b>as </b>I headed into the living room and the big sofa. Drew snagged a nket, and Patrick pulled me onto his <bp</b>.
“You’re going to get sick,” Iined, and Patrick <b>just </b>chuckled as he stroked my hair.
<i>“</i>Emmy, we have been kissing and cuddling with you for thest few days, not to mention sharing
ring your bed. I’m pretty sure we have all been exposed.
I stuck my lower lip out and groaned. “I don’t want to get any of you sick. We have too much going on.
“We will get it all worked out, baby,” Mike said as he sat on the end of the couch and pulled my feet into hisp. He pulled off my socks and slipped the fuzzy socks he must have gotten from my room on my feet.
“Right now, we will focus on getting you better, and then we can worry about the rest. <b>I </b>will all work out. Drew said.
“Blegh,” <b>was </b>my only response.
Joshughed.
“She sure gets crabby when she’s sick.”
“I do not get crabby, I told him, then gave him a dirty look for good measure.
Before I could argue further, Darren came in with a tray of food and drinks.
The hot tea and soup
pare for you, Miss Emmy. The sandwiches are for the boys. Now, here, take this,” Damen <b>said</b>, handing me several pills.
“It’s cold medicine, vitamins, and something to <b>help </b>with your fever. I took them without argument.
“Now, when you are done with your tea <b>and </b>soup, I can bring
ng you some dessert if you would like.
“Thank you, Darren. That sounds great,” I said. He gave me a gentle smile before leaving us to our food.
“Darren, never did anything like that for us when we were <b>sick</b>,” Mikeined.
“I must be his favorite then,” I responded. We allughed but stopped when myughter turned <b>into </b>coughing.
After that
After that, we settled in. The guys finished the sandwiches in record time as I sipped my tea and soup. We were about halfway through Drew’s chosen movie when Darren returned with more <b>tea </b>and a bowl of ice cream for me. Mike grumbled about not getting any dessert, and Darren just looked at him
“When Miss. Emmy has had her fill, the rest of you may have some.” He scolded Mike, but he didn’t say anything else. After Darren left, I looked <b>at </b>Mike.
“You got in trouble, I teased, sounding even stuffer than I had a little while ago.
Mike’s only response was, “Brat,” he picked up my foot and massaged it.
Later that evening, I grumbled at Josh again when he picked me up and carried me to bed, he me before tucking me in and kissing my forehead. I thought, oh well, I will tell him off in the morning as I drifted off to sleep again.
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