Chapter 1518 Nestled in His Arms
Cassie figured it was just another one of those guys Laura had been set up with.
But those dudes were useless. Derek, though? He was super thoughtful. How could Laura ever fall for anyone else?
Even though the news yesterday said Derek was gay, Cassie didn't buy it for a second.
If the Jude family knew Derek liked guys, they'd freak out. They'd rather he be with a divorced Laura.
Derek was really sneaky.
If Cassie's hunch was right, it meant Derek was willing to trash his own rep for Laura, which showed he really cared about her.
Cassie wasn't gonna mess with that.
"Drink the soup already. Didn't you just say your throat was killing you? This might help," Cassie urged.
"Okay," Laura replied.
Laura couldn't finish all the soup, so she poured a bowl for Cassie too.
"This soup must've been cooked for quite a while," Cassie said, "Bet it wasn't cheap."
Laura nodded. Even though the ingredients were basic, the soup was amazing. Laura, who wasn't even hungry at first, ended up eating a ton.
After they finished, Derek sent a message on Facebook: [How was it?]
Laura: [I knew it was from you. It was awesome, I finished it all.]
Derek: [Don't forget to take your meds. If you're not better by the afternoon, I'll take you to the hospital.]
Laura: [That's too much trouble]
Derek: [Don't mess around with your health. If you pass the cold to Maeve, it'll be a big deal. Maeve's still young and has a weak immune system.]
Laura: [So that's why you are so keen on the meds. It is for Maeve.]
Derek: [Sounds like you're jealous. I'm doing it for you too. Everyone knows Maeve is your world. If she gets sick, you'll be a wreck. I don't want to see you cry.]
Laura's hand shook, and she felt touched despite herself.
"I'm done. I'm heading upstairs," Laura said.
Cassie suddenly stood up, "Okay."
Laura absentmindedly followed Cassie out of the cafeteria.
By the afternoon, Laura's throat hurt even more, and she felt dizzy.
Laura barely made it to the end of the workday when a colleague from the lab came in and said, "Laura, I just saw your boyfriend waiting for you outside."
Laura remembered that everyone in the lab thought Derek was her boyfriend after seeing him last time.
Laura wasn't feeling well and planned to leave work early, so she took off her lab coat and left the lab.
When Derek saw her come out, he immediately walked up, "Feeling any better?"
"No, I feel worse. I'm dizzy," Laura complained without thinking, "I think I have a fever."
As soon as she finished speaking, Derek's hand touched her forehead.
She stood still and didn't move away. When one was sick, one would long for someone to lean on.
"You do feel a bit warm," Derek said, sounding unsure.
"I'll take you to the hospital." He took Laura's bag from her shoulder and put a hand on her shoulder, gently supporting her.
Laura didn't think much of it. Derek was way taller than her, and having him around made her feel like she didn't have to worry about a thing.
Derek took her to a nearby hospital.
In the evening, the emergency room wasn't too busy. Laura sat on a chair in the hallway while Derek ran around, taking her to see the doctor and getting her a blood test.
When it was time for the blood draw, she took off her coat and rolled up her sleeve.
After the needle was out, Derek helped her press the cotton ball on the puncture site with one hand while draping her coat over her with the other, worried she might catch a chill.
At first, Laura didn't think much of it until she glanced at the other women getting their blood drawn. Some were alone, while others had husbands who were just playing on their phones.
She then looked at Derek, who was holding her tightly, and realized something. She awkwardly pushed him lightly, "Why are you holding me so tight?"
"Don't move, your coat is slipping off," Derek said, adjusting the coat, "Be careful not to make your cold worse."
"The heater's on here," Laura said.
"Even with the heater, it's not that warm," Derek replied.
Then Derek checked her wrist, pulling down her sleeve and tucking her arm back into the coat. He then bent down and buttoned her coat.
Laura's face brushed against his sweater, and in the antiseptic-smelling hospital, the faint minty scent of his clothes mixed with the scent of a young man was particularly pleasant.
She thought absentmindedly that she was like a child.
She had been sick before, but the only time she felt this pampered was when her parents took care of her as a kid. Being so meticulously cared for by an adult man was a first.
"The results will take about ten minutes. You can watch some videos on Tiktok." Derek handed her phone to her.
"I have a headache, I don't want to turn it on," Laura shook her head weakly.
"Then lean on me and rest for a bit," Derek said.
Derek pulled her closer to his chest, and she found herself nestled in his arms.
Laura froze, her face pressed against his warm chest, feeling her whole body heat up, "This doesn't seem appropriate."
"You have the privilege of leaning on me while you're sick," Derek said, holding her still. They looked like a couple deeply in love.
Laura was too weak to resist and ended up snuggling in his arms. She was tense but had to admit it was quite comfortable, especially when she felt so weak. It was like she had found a support.
She initially just wanted to lean for a bit, but she hadn't slept well the night before and suddenly felt drowsy. She almost fell asleep.
She didn't know how much time had passed when she was gently shaken awake. Derek's voice sounded softly in her ear, "Don't sleep yet. The results are out. I'll take you to see the doctor."
"Do we need to get the results?" she asked, groggily opening her eyes.
"The results are out. We'll go straight to the doctor."
Derek helped her stand up.
It was then she realized she had not only been leaning on him but had also wrapped her arms around his waist while half-asleep.
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