Free Seven by Susan Renee Page B

It’s almost cautious. Something in my chest just did that flippy-thing again.
    “What do you want, Bryant? And since when do you knock anyway? Don’t you have a key?” I raise an eyebrow and give him my biggest “yeah I know what you did” expression.  He coughs a little at my question. I must’ve caught him off guard.
    “Ooh. Busted.” He cringes. “And here I thought maybe I was just being a gentleman watching out for you in an inebriated state on your birthday, Seven. You’re welcome by the way.”
    I stare at him deadpanned.
    “Can I come in? These bags are getting heavy.”
    “What’s in them?”
    Bryant cocks his head to the side and smiles. “Why don’t you let me in so I can show you?”
    “Because I didn’t invite you here, and in case you haven’t noticed, I’m all sorts of sick. I’m pretty sure I have the plague and I…”
    “Savannah,” he interrupts me.
    “What?”
    “Trust me, okay? I’m here for you. I know you’re sick. That’s why I’m here. I came to help you.”
    “I don’t need your help. Rachel is…”
    “I am here in Rachel’s place. I told her I would stop by and I was even kind enough to stop at the store to pick up a few things to help you feel better.”
    I eye the three paper bags he has in his arms. “A few things?”
    He shrugs. “Well…I wasn’t exactly sure how sick you were or what you might want…so I improvised.”
    I narrow my eyes at him. I’m losing this fight. I can feel my body wanting to go back to the couch. “How do you know Rachel?”
    Bryant stares at me for a moment, dumbfounded. “Did you forget that we all went to the same high school, Seven? You left but she didn’t, and neither did I for very long. It’s a pretty small town you know. Plus, we’re like…second cousins or some shit like that. Does that answer your question? These bags aren’t getting any lighter.”
    I release a huge sigh and let the door continue to swing open. On any other regular day, I would tell him to take a hike but frankly, I feel like shit and the sooner I let him in, the sooner he leaves and I return to my couch.
    Bryant steps in the door and kicks it closed behind him. “Thanks,” he says softly. He checks me out from head to toe before he says, “You’re cute when you’re sick. The comfy look suits you.” He tries to smile at me but I don’t quite return the smile.
    Is he really trying to flirt with me when I’m sick?
    “Gee, thanks. I think.” I roll my eyes and head towards the kitchen where Bryant puts down the three bags of groceries. I watch him unload them from the bar stool I’m sitting on and can’t help but feel slightly entertained by the variety of items now sitting on my kitchen counter. A chuckle escapes me for the first time in days. It feels good to laugh a little even though I feel like hell.
    “What? What’s so funny?” Bryant asks.
    I pick through the items on the counter. “Well, let’s see. We’ve got crackers, Gatorade, Tylenol, ibuprofen, a baby thermometer, fuzzy socks, ice packs, a heating pad, Vicks vapor rub, a small bucket, Lysol wipes, Lysol spray, a Neti Pot, crayons, and…tampons? Wow. I guess I really do have the plague. You’ve definitely thought of everything.” Laughing hurts my stomach but the items he has here for me are damn funny…and kind of sweet.
    “Okay, okay, laugh all you want. I’ve never done this before…shopped for a sick adult female, and I don’t know what you girls like. But the very nice girl at the counter schooled me on all things girly magazines. She was sure you would like this one.” He says, handing me a magazine out of the last bag.
    “Ooh. People magazine. Good choice.”
    This really is thoughtful.
    “You know, Bryant, you really didn’t have to go to all this trouble but…”
    “It wasn’t any trouble, Seven. And you’re welcome.”
    He knew exactly what I was going to say. All I can do is smile softly at him.
    “You’re shivering,” he says to