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“Are you okay?”
Jill soured her face, setting her elbow against the door frame for leverage. With one hand she yanked on her still laced work boot, the other holding her phone eye level. Chris never called this early— not unless something was wrong. Why he’d video call of all things….
“Of course I’m fine.” Jill swallowed the gruff morning disuse out of her throat, “Why wouldn’t I be?”
She was conscious of the fact she was half put together: finger brushed hair, half thrown on jacket, unshowered. Still in the apartment. She should have been out the door 15 minutes ago but her alarm decided not to go off this morning.
Chris dared to look down from the road, scouring her face. He got too close to the phone, his eyes narrow. The old man needed glasses, but Chris refused to hear it. Too stubborn. His sister was the same way, but at least Claire owned a pair. Not that she ever wore them.
“Claire said you were sick.” The city stopped moving outside Chris’s window. He pulled the phone close to his face as soon as he came to a stop. Jill didn’t say anything as he held the phone up to his eye, giving her a close up view of his freshly showered hair and right eyeball. Hopefully it was just his sight going and not technology surpassing him. “Last time you got sick, I had to drag you out of the office to emergency care.”
“I was fine.”
“You absolutely were not.”
Jill rolled her eyes, moving the phone to her opposite hand and yanking on her other boot. Chris was right about that particular incident. Not that she’d ever say it out loud.
Chris somehow narrowed his eyes further, leaning away from the screen. “You look fine. ….What’s your temperature?”
“I feel fine.” Jill said.
Still, she touched her cheek with the back of her hand. Normal. The hell was Claire even taking about, calling in for her? She felt fine. The two of them hadn’t even said a word this morning. Claire was already shut in the bathroom by the time she rolled out of bed, thus why she was half put together as she was.
...which was odd. Claire was never up early on her days off.
Jill reached onto the wall only to pause. Her keys weren’t on their normal hook.
“What time did Claire text you?” Jill asked.
Chris huffed, “I don’t know, a while ago?”
Across the apartment, a knob clicked open. Bare foot steps padded across the linoleum floor, stopping at the foot of the kitchen. Jill titled the camera away.
‘Hang up.’ Claire mouthed. Her hair was towel dried, but still dark enough that its normal red hue was missing in action. Long strands cascaded over her shoulders, the ends frizzing against the long plush towel wrapped around her middle.
It was almost enough to hide the peak of black lace kissing the curve of her breast.
Jill swallowed, “Um.”
“I’ve tried calling, but Claire’s not picking up,” Chris said something else, but Jill missed it as her hand slapped over the screen. She stumbled to meet Claire half way.
Her free hand went to cup Claire's back. Claire held the towel in place from the front, but the grip was loose enough that Jill was able to lower it a precious few inches. Her fingers brushed bare back, than lace.
“Claire…” Jill whispered.
She felt wet hair press into the side of her neck, then lips. A cheeky smile. “Uh-huh?”
Jill’s fingers continued. Metal rings, a crisscross of silk ribbon. Jill exhaled. “I think I have a fever.”
A muffled voice, “What?”
Swift fingers plucked the phone from Jill’s hand. “I’m handling it!” Claire smiled, pulling away from Jill’s neck. “I think it’s flu.”
Chris made a concerned sort of grunt. “I can pick up soup or something—”
“Chris, I got her. Go to work.” Claire said.
Jill leaned back, keeping her hands in place. A corset. Something new too, by the feel of it. Form-fitting. She really should keep her hands to herself, especially with Chris still on the line… She swallowed.
“You’ve got me?” Jill whispered.
“Yeah, I got you.” Claire pulled away from the conversation with her brother to plant a chaste kiss on Jill’s cheek. Claire’s smile turned to something mischievous against her skin. “You feel hot. Go lie down and I’ll take care of you, yeah?”
“Yeah.” Jill nodded, stepping back. “Yeah. Okay.”
In a flash, Claire was back to Chris, her face down trodden. Her voice dropped down to a whisper. “Sorry. You know how Jill gets. I had to hide the keys to keep her from sneaking off to work this morning. Sick as a dog last night.”
“Figured. It’s cause she never takes time off.” Chris huffed. “Are you sure you’ll be alright? I can stop by later and help.”
“I can handle it.”
Jill smiled, sliding into the bedroom. Chris and Claire exchanged a last few words before the tell-tale jingle signified the hang up. Claire appeared a moment later. Jill’s hands wrapped around her waist.
“You’re gonna handle me?” Jill bit her lip.
Claire rose her brow, leaning as far back as Jill’s hold allowed. “If you don’t try to sneak away first. Jesus. So much for planning a surprise.”
Claire planted another kiss against Jill’s skin, this time along the curve of her jaw. Jill hummed as Claire’s fingers traced the muscle of her neck, her lips lingering far longer than they did in the kitchen.
“Go back to bed and wait for me. I’m not ready yet.”
Jill nodded, stepping backwards toward the bed. The morning light was just starting to trickle in from the kitchen window, bathing Claire’s silhouette in curtain-filtered orange. Like a pin-up, posed half naked in Jill’s bedroom door. She was beautiful.
“I’ll wait here.” Jill nodded. “I guess I am feeling sick.”
“Mh-hm. Let me make you feel better.” Claire leaned against the door frame and winked. Not even a moment later, Claire tucked her head in and chuckled, shaking her head. “That was so lame.”
Jill tucked her own smile behind her palm. God, she was perfect.
Claire took her leave, leaving Jill alone on the the bed. From the hallway, “You were feeling a bit hot, babe. You better take off your clothes.”
Jill nodded even though Claire couldn’t see. “Those doctors orders?”
“My orders. Off please.”