Page 66 of Under Ground

It’s not her fault. None of this is.

She pouts as I reach for her, but soon relents, her body flopping in my arms as I wrap her up tight in them. “I’m sorry, baby. I know you think of him as your father. I shouldn’t have yelled.”

She looks at me with those big blue eyes. “It okay, Mummy. You got chicken pops too.”

Tears roll down my cheeks as I laugh, sniffing and snorting like there’s no tomorrow. “I do have chicken pops. You’re right.”

“Does Daddy have chicken pops?”

My eyes widen, and I let her go. Shit. Alex would have been with us when Casey was contagious. I need to let him know he’s been exposed.

I sigh. “I’m not sure, honey. I guess I’d better call him and let him know we have it.”

She beams, and my heart melts.

“How about you lie back down and I’ll bring you some breakfast in bed?”

“Can we watch Paw Patrol?”

I stroke her face. “Yes, we can watch all the Paw Patrol you want. I might even bring my laptop in here and you can watch it in the bedroom.”

Her eyes go big. “I can?”

I nod. “All the rules can go out the window for a bit. We both just need to get better now. Stay here and I’ll go get you some food.”

After planting a kiss on her head, I stand and walk out of the room.

My bag lies abandoned beside the couch, and I pick it up to dig through it for my phone.

I draw in a deep breath. It isn’t fair on Alex to call instead of text—the thought of us not being together still rips me in two, but he’s the one having this imposed on him.

Maybe if I didn’t have a fever, if I wasn’t feeling so awful myself, I wouldn’t do it. But I need Alex just as much as Casey does, even if it’s just to hear his voice.

I dial his number and clutch my phone to my ear.

“Lana.” Just my name has so much hope in it. I can’t bear to hear it.

“Alex. I’m sorry for calling.” Tears roll down my cheeks as I speak. I should be acting more grown up than this, but I’m sick and calling one of the few people I know will care.

“Hey. What’s wrong?” His caring tone just makes me cry harder. This isn’t fair.

“Are you still in the country?”

There’s a pause. “I wouldn’t leave without at least saying goodbye. Now, tell me what’s going on.”

“Casey and I both have chickenpox.”

“Shit. Are you okay?”

I can’t help it—all it does is make me love him more. “We will be. I just wanted to let you know you’ve been exposed. Casey would have been contagious the last time we saw each other.” I close my eyes at the memory, my chest squeezing at the concern on his face when he heard about what had happened to Casey.

“I’ll come over.”

“I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”

“You’re right.”

I bite my bottom lip to stop myself from crying again.