“Oh, hey, Aims. How was work?”
“Long. I had to cover Ann’s section today, too, because she was sick. Was Caitlin okay?”
“Of course she was. She always is. She’s the best kid I ever had to babysit.”
“That’s probably because you’re basically a father to her,” Aimee pointed out. “She might as well be your kid, with the way I take advantage of you.” As she sat down on the couch next to him, she let out a huge yawn and rubbed her temples.
“You work too hard, Aims. You need to take some time off. You look exhausted,” he said sympathetically.
“Thanks so much, Nick. You sure know how to make me feel great about myself,” she snapped.
“You know that’s not what I meant. I just mean you work too much. You’re not yourself lately. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re really crabby.”
“Thanks again. You’re just full of compliments today.”
“That’s what I’m talking about. The normal Aimee wouldn’t take a concerned comment like that.”
“I’m sorry,” she sighed. “I really don’t mean to be so rude. I’m just…so tired.”
“I told you, you need to take some time off.”
“I can’t do that. Taking time off means I don’t get any money, which means I cannot pay for anything, which means I have to live on the streets with my little girl.”
He looked hurt. “Come on, Aims, you know I would never let you two live on the streets.”
“You can’t just keep lending me money, Nick. I can’t keep taking it from you. I need to pay for things on my own.” She let out another loud yawn and put her hand on her forehead. “I’m going to get some aspirin. I have the worst headache ever.”
She started to stand up, but he pulled her back down. “I’ll go get it. Just stay here.”
“I can – “
“Stay here,” he repeated. “I’ll get it for you. You’ve been on your feet all night.”
She smiled weakly. “What would I do without a wonderful best friend like you?”
“You’d be fine.”
“I doubt it.”
He came back a few minutes later with a cup of water and aspirin. “Here you go,” he said, handing them to her.
“Thanks.” She swallowed them and tried to sit up, but couldn’t find the energy to do it.
Without warning, he picked her up and cradled her in his arms. “I’m taking you to your room. You need to get to sleep,” he stated.
She giggled. “Thanks.”
In a few minutes, she was under the sheets and snoring softly. Nick watched her from the doorway for a few minutes and let out a long sigh. When was she going to learn that she couldn’t push herself so hard? It was getting to the point where her health was affected. “She knows I can help her out,” he mumbled. “She knows I would never let anything happen to her and Caitlin. Why can’t she just relax a bit?”