Chapter 14

Andrew

I can’t believe I didn’t notice Gina had broken her fucking ankle last night.

Drew and PJ tried to get me to go with them to visit her today, but my mom is sick in bed, which means my dad has to stay at the hospital until she is better.

He is an ICU doctor, so any risk of him catching a stomach bug is taken seriously.

So that leaves me with looking after a sick mom, two little kids, and making sure the house is not a complete shit show.

I’ve finally got both my sisters asleep.

I changed my mom’s bedsheets when she didn’t make it to the toilet before she hurled, put the dirty sheets into the wash, cleaned the kitchen after dinner, and am currently folding the clean laundry from this morning’s wash.

My phone is blasting Tom Waits in the background. As I sort the underwear into piles per person, I can’t help but think back to the sexy flash Gina had given me when she tried to crawl off the bed yesterday.

After seeing her underwear drawer that one time, I was kinda shocked to see her sporting a thong.

I can’t help but grow a little hard thinking about how her skin felt as I slid her panties back up after she’d been to the bathroom. I shake my head.

~This is fucking Gina, for fuck’s sake!~

~

Christ, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was all hymen up in there.

My phone dings with a text message.

Jake

Hey just wanted to say thanks again for george

Andrew

No probs dude. Hope she’s feeling better

Jake

Hope your mom gets better soon man

Upstairs I hear my mom run across her room to the bathroom. I sigh, click my phone off, and grab a glass of water for her. Something tells me it’s gonna be a long night.

***

When my alarm sounds at 5:00 a.m., I have had a grand total of three hours of sleep. I groan and slap it quietly.

I lie in the half-light contemplating whether I can get away with skipping my morning run when I hear Lottie start crying.

I trudge across the landing to my little sister’s room and find Charlotte sitting in her bed, tears running down her cheeks, her sheets covered in puke.

~Fucking brilliant!~

~

I scoop her out of the mess, trying to calm her cries. She goes silent, and I relax slightly before I feel hot wetness on my chest.

“Son-uva…” I hold Lottie out at arm’s length, trying not to vomit myself at the puke dripping down my naked chest. She starts crying again.

“Lottie! Shh, baby, it’s ok,” I coo, carrying her into the bathroom. I manage to calm her down and clean us both up, putting her down in my bed while I change hers.

All the noise wakes Sammy up, and she’s looking a little pale and clammy too. I manage to find two more old bowls in the pantry and place them next to my little sisters.

Sneaking into my mom’s room, I find her passed out asleep still, her skin covered in a sheen of sweat.

Walking down to the kitchen, I pull up my dad’s number on my phone and wait for him to pick up.

“What’s up, kiddo?”

“I think Lottie and Sammy have gotten Mom’s stomach bug. I need you to phone our schools and tell them we won’t be in for the next few days.”

I hear my dad sigh heavily down the phone. “I’m so sorry you have to deal with all this, Andy. You know I’d be there if I could.”

“Yeah. I know, Dad. Don’t worry about it.”

“I’ll call you after my shift, ok?”

“Ok.” He disconnects, and a few minutes later, he sends a text telling me he’s notified school.

“Fuck.” I suddenly remember that I told Jake I’d take him and Gina to school because he can’t drive manual, so her car is out of commission until her cast comes off.

Andrew

Dude i’m real sorry but not coming to school, sisters sick now

Twenty minutes later, he replies.

Jake

No worries drew ok to get us. u need anything later?

Andrew

Andrew Nah man i’m cool andy

***

Man, for little kids, my sisters can produce a fuck of a lot of bodily fluids. I spent the last three days cleaning up shit and puke. They’re lucky they’re so freaking cute the rest of the time.

My mom was nearly better but still not strong enough really to get out of bed and do anything. She was, however, insisting that I go back to school tomorrow, so I don’t miss an entire week.

So I get up on Thursday morning and spend my time before school relocating Lottie and Sammy into bed with my mom.

I stock the room with bottles of water, crackers, and Disney DVDs. I kiss all three of their clammy foreheads and send Jake a quick text.

Andrew

I’ll be at yours in ten

I grab my bag and wobble for a moment, feeling light-headed. Shaking off the feeling, I head out to my Jeep and set off for Jake’s.