want coffee?” I ask with a yawn.
“I can get it,” Jason says firmly. “Would you like tea or something?”
That sounds heavenly right now. I haven’t been able to move much, so I’ve done nothing other than drink water and nibble on some cookies all day. Not that I’ve felt like doing much else.
“Yes, please,” I say, collapsing back on the couch.
I hear Jason bustling around in the kitchen, but I’m too sore to sit up and peer over the back of the couch to see what he’s doing. I’m grateful that he doesn’t immediately bombard me with questions, and I feel myself starting to doze off once more, oddly relaxed with someone else in the apartment with me.
I don’t open my eyes again until I hear him approaching, and I push myself upright as Jason hands me a steaming mug of tea. He must have taken note of how I like my tea throughout the day because it looks as if I had made it myself.
“Thanks,” I say.
I sip at it, and the hot liquid slowly slides down my sore throat, soothing it. I mentally beg my stomach to stay calm for the moment and breathe in the steam.
“No problem,” Jason says, and I glance at him. “Have you made an appointment with the doctor, yet?”
I guess that’s the polite way of telling me that I look like crap, I think, bemused. Which I do, I know I do. I haven’t showered, I can feel how frizzy my hair is, and I must look like death warmed over considering how I feel.
“Yeah, I called up this morning,” I say with a nod.
“Good,” Jason says, sipping at his own drink. “I’m glad to hear it. When do you see them?”
“Monday,” I say with a grimace. “They were booked out till then.”
Jason blinks in shock for a moment. I guess it’s beyond his comprehension not to have something available as soon as he needs it.
“That’s terrible,” he protests.
“That’s the public health system,” I say with a shrug. “Nothing we can do about it.”
“There’s something I can do about it,” Jason says.
He whips out his phone and, for one crazy moment, I think he’s going to call my doctor and demand that I get an appointment as soon as possible. Then I realize that’s impossible; he doesn’t even know who my doctor is.
I watch curiously as he dials a number.
“Hello,” he says when someone picks up. “I’d like to make an appointment for this afternoon. Yes, Jason McNamara, booking an appointment for Opal Kincaid. Yes, thank you. Excellent.”
He hangs up and looks at me. I realize that my mouth is open.
“I’ve got you an appointment at my doctor in half an hour,” he says. “I’ll drive you, if you want.”
I’m too stunned to say anything. What even just happened?
“Uh…” I manage.
“Oh.” Jason flushes. It’s oddly endearing. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to just take your options away like that. I just wanted to make sure you got seen the earliest time possible.”
“No, that’s…that’s okay,” I say, blinking. “But, seriously? This afternoon?”
“It’s private health care,” Jason explains. “And an exclusive doctor.”
“Right…right,” I say, feeling a bit overwhelmed. “I guess I’ll get my bag?”
“Yeah,” Jason says, looking relieved.
I wonder if he thought I would be angry at him. I don’t see why. He’s just made my life a whole lot easier.
Then I remember that I would have gotten upset with him not that long ago. Everything nice he tried to do was treated with suspicion and fury, certain that he had some sort of ulterior motive. Of course, I did have reason to think that. Jason always used to have some sort of endgame back in college, but…
Well, I guess it comes down to the fact, again, that Jason has changed. Something I need to remember.
“Thanks,” I say.
It’s interesting watching the way Jason’s face contorts. He looks surprised and pleased, grinning at me before quickly looking away.
I raise an eyebrow. I’m not so sick that I missed that. What’s that all about?
I don’t have much time to think about it before Jason is shooing me away, urging me to find my bag and shoes. I grab a cardigan, exchanging it for my shawl, and run my fingers through my hair, teasing it into something resembling neat.
“Alright, ready to go?” Jason asks when I emerge from my room.
“Yeah, let’s go,” I say. “Thanks for offering to take me.”
“You don’t exactly look like you’re in any condition to drive,” Jason replies.
I smile slightly. No, I’m really not. I’d