“Don’t worry, Aims, I called in sick for you!” Nick shouted from the bathroom.
“Nick!” she whined. “Why did you do that?”
“Because you need a day off and you refuse to take one! Go back to sleep!”
“Ugh, I can’t afford a day off! You know that!” she snapped. She rolled out of bed, walked over to the open bathroom door, and leaned against the doorframe.
“Too bad, you’re taking one anyway. Now go get back in bed. I’ve got Caitlin today,” he ordered.
She grabbed her toothbrush and quickly brushed her teeth, then grabbed a towel. “I can still make it for the afternoon,” she said.
“You’re not going to.” With that, he picked her up and swung her over his shoulder, then threw her down on the bed. “Go back to sleep or I’ll never watch Caitlin again.”
“I’m not tired now,” she muttered.
“Fine, then get up and go downstairs and have something to eat, but you’re not going into work. Deal?”
“Okay, it’s a deal,” she grumbled. “I have stuff to get done around here anyway. I need to balance my checkbook and take care of some of my bills.”
“That wasn’t what I had in mind,” Nick said softly. “I was hoping you could take a bubble bath or something.”
“That’s not one of my top priorities.”
“Tell you what. Do your bills and all that stuff and then when you’re done, you take a bubble bath.”
“I’m not gonna have time. I have work at Pete’s tonight,” she said exasperatedly.
“You’re calling in sick there, too.”
“Nick, I can’t! He was not happy with me for being late last night. I can’t do anything to jeopardize my job there.”
“Would you rather jeopardize your health or your job? I will call him and say you are in no condition to work tonight.”
“But Steph is coming over tonight. I don’t wanna get in your way.”
“I’ll call her and tell her you’re not feeling well, and she won’t wanna catch whatever you have, so she’ll stay home.”
“No, she’ll want you to go over to her house.”
He shrugged. “I’ll tell her no.”
“Nick, she’s your girlfriend! You’re supposed to wanna spend time with her!”
“I do, but you’re more important than that. Call in sick and we’ll watch movies together.”
She rolled her eyes. “Why do you want me to call in sick so bad?”
“Because you’re my best friend and you need the day off. I’m worried about you, Aims.”
She smiled slightly. “You have to care about me, don’t you? You can’t just let me live my life my way?”
“I HAVE to care about you. Sorry.”
“All right, fine, I’ll call in sick,” she muttered, picking up the phone. She dialed the number at Pete’s, and he picked up.
“Pete’s Diner, can I help you?”
“Hey, Pete, it’s Aimee.”
“Oh, Aimee, hi. Is everything okay?”
After a nasty fake cough, she sniffled a few times. “Pete, I’m coming down with something.”
“You’re calling in sick.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry. Please don’t fire me.”
“I’m not firing you, Hummel, but what is with this? You’re always late, and now you’re missing work!”
“I can’t help it, Pete. I’m sniffling and coughing and sneezing.”
“Fine, take tonight off. You don’t work tomorrow or the day after, so get some rest and eat some chicken soup or something. Have a good night, Hummel.” With that, he hung up the phone.
“Happy? I’m gonna get my ass fired sooner or later, but I’m taking today off.”
Nick smiled innocently. “Yeah, I’m happy.”