Julie POV
The next morning I wake up alone. Fabio isn't laying next to me. My phone is on his pillow and when I look at it, I see a text from him. It's only 9, but the text is from 7.30.
*Ma Chérie, hope you slept as good as I did. I have an errand to run. Make sure you are downstairs around 10. I have a rope in the bathroom so you don't have to walk to the other room in your nightgown. xFabio*
I stretch a little before sitting up. I don't know why I have to be downstairs around 10. Maybe they leave around that time? Standing up, I feel a little dizzy.
Taking the rope, I walk to 'my' room and get ready for the day. The dizziness stays and I have trouble seeing. It's a little blurry.
After sitting down for a few minutes I walk down. In the kitchen both Fabio and Riccardo are sitting at the table.
"Good morning", I sit down across from Fabio. He smiles at me, "you had a good night sleep?"
"Yeah, thanks. But I don't think I'm really awake yet. It's all still a little blurry", I laugh, blinking a few times.
"Can I get you some coffee?", Riccardo asks. I shake my head.
"No, thank you. I'll get some tea in a minute", he stands, getting me some tea. It's sweet, but I don't know how to feel about it. It's like he's trying really hard for some reason.
Fabio doesn't look too happy about this. I give him a little smile. All I want right now is cuddle up to him. It's not my best morning.
"Fabio?", I hear how weak my voice is. I try to control it. "Do you have a painkiller or something?"
Riccardo sets the tea in front of me.
"Yeah. Em.. Ricky, can you maybe get some from the cabinet in the guest bathroom?"
He nods, going to the stairs.
"Are you okay?" Fabio asks me quietly. His hand taking one of mine. "You're warm"
"I think it's just a cold or something. Don't worry, a painkiller will do wonders", I tell him smiling. I don't know if it's a cold, though. I've never had blurry vision and dizziness with a cold. I just don't want him to worry about me anymore than he already does.
"If you don't feel any better, you'll tell me, okay?", He softly kisses my hand before letting it go. Riccardo gets back downstairs and gives me the medicine. At the same time the doorbell rings. Fabio gets up to open it and I take the medicine.
"Juul", I hear behind me. It's Tom. But what is he doing here? He was in Nice right? I'm confused, but so happy he's here.
"Thomas!", I stand to hug him. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here for you. I heard these two were gonna leave you alone the entire day. So I thought we could catch up", he tells me smiling.
"Did you know?", I grin, looking at an happy Fabio.
"Yeah. Last minute decision", his voice happy, carefree. All the quiet from a few minutes ago is gone. Thankfully.
I take a few steps towards him, suddenly feeling very dizzy, but I think they don't see and hug him. "Thank you, thank you", I whisper.
We let go and they head out for the day. When the door closes, I sigh out of relief. I don't think Fabio noticed too much.
"Tom please help me sit down"
"You okay?", He helps me to a chair. I shake my head. "I'm dizzy, have blurry vision, headache and am warm", I close my eyes, trying to make it a little better.
"Wait, you aren't pregnant right?", Tom asks suddenly.
"What?", I ask in disbelief. "How could I be pregnant?"
"That night? Are you on birth control?", his face is full of concern. Mine is probably full of fear. I don't really take my birth control regularly. I started with it to stop heavy periods, not to have sex.
And to be honest, I can't remember the last time I took them.
"I am, but I don't know if I took it back then. I forget it more often than used it", I lay my arms and head on the table. "Shit, do you think it's possible?"
"Let's go to a doctor and find out", Tom tells me. He types away on his phone, before pressing it against his ear. "Don't tell him", I say quietly. He nods.
"Hey... quick question. What is your alarm code again?.... yeah.... we're going out for a little.... yeah.... thanks.... don't worry, bye..."
"Okay, let's go", he grabs my bag from the table and helps me to the car. He locks the house and we leave.
In the hospital they send us to the urgent care for a blood draw. Well urgent.. they take their time. Of course I need an covid test as well.
Eventually someone comes to see me.
"You are not pregnant", the man tells me. "Oh thank God", I sigh. And I see relief on Tom's face as well.
"But", Shit there's a but. "You have something called hyperthyroidism. Do you know what it is"
"Really? I know it by name"
He explains what it is and how my symptoms are. He asks me about weight loss and tells me this is probably going on for months. I need medication and need to come back every week. When I told him I don't live here, he told me he didn't really care. If I wanted good care, I would be back.
He asked me if I needed any new birth control as well and I took it. You never know.
And with that we were back outside. I've got appointments for two months. All on Tuesdays. I'm gonna be busy..
The meds will take two weeks to work completely, so I've got something for the symptoms I can take for a week and a half.
It's already two when we get back. The only positive thing is that we had enough time to talk.
I missed talking to Tom. We had a rough couple of weeks and that's on me, but I am really glad we are still the same. Nothing changed.
Back at Fabio's home, Tom helps me lay down on the couch. And we talk a little. The meds are working a little, my blurry vision is better and my headache as well. But I'm really tired and dizzy right now.
"I'm gonna get my things", I hear someone say. Slowly opening my eyes, I see Tom and Fabio standing there, Riccardo walking to the stairs. I sit up groaning a little. Both men turn and look at me.
"I'm okay", I say before they can ask.
"You snore like an old man", Tom grins, sitting down next to me.
"It was cute", Fabio softly tells me. I blush.
"No it's wasn't. He's just trying to stay on your good side"
"Yeah, yeah. You're annoying Tom", I cuddle up in his side. "Thank you for today"
"Not a problem. Oh, I almost forgot. I have a surprise for you in the car"
Tom stands and walks out. Fabio stands in the corner. He's deep in thoughts.
"Hey.. I really am a little better than this morning, I swear", I slowly walk to him, laying an hand on his arm.
"But you are sick"
"Why are you so worried?", I ask him.
"Because you're not taking care of yourself. You're pretending you're okay. It's your health we're talking about", he sighs. His eyes are worried and he has a frown on his face.
"Did Tom tell you what the doctor said?", He shakes his head. "Not really"
"Okay, we'll talk as soon as Ricky has left okay?"
In the kitchen I make some tea. Fabio follows me every move. Like I could collapse any second.
The front door opens again and Tom walks in with two large bags.
"What's that?", I have no idea what's inside of them.
He puts one, down and opens the other, showing all my beautiful bags. "Wait, really? How?", my stuff. I'm so happy with these.
"The new owners paid for the new apartment including your stuff. I got it back and in return they wanted a signed cap of that guy", he points at Fabio.
"Thank you!", I walk towards Tom to hug him and after I hug Fabio and softly kiss his lips.
Riccardo comes down with his bags in hand. "I'm gonna head out. See you in a week"
He hugs me goodbye, which still feels a little awkward to me. And to top it off he kisses my cheek. I know he means well and it's so sweet, but I just need to get used to it.
From the corner of my eyes, I see a brief look and nod between Fabio and Tom. They talk to each other without words.
They say goodbye as well and Riccardo is on his way.
I take my tea and sit at the kitchen table. "Okay, so let's talk"
Fabio sits in front of me and Tom turns to walk away. "Tom, please stay". He looks at me a little surprised but sits down.
"Okay, so I have hyperthyroidism. I probably have it for months, but it most likely got worse by stress the last few weeks. It causes dizziness, blurry vision, spiked heart rate and severe weight loss. No matter how much I eat, right Tom?", He nods his head.
"So, that I lost so much weight the last few months is probably because of that. Same goes to my loss of appetite. And they say it's okay. I've got medication for this, but it takes about two weeks to work properly. I've got a different medication to help with my symptoms in the meantime", I look at them both. Fabio is watching me intently. Tom's eyes are a little soft and sad.
"I know both of you are worried and I know that's completely normal. But I am taking care of myself. I didn't starve myself to lose weight. I forgot to eat because I didn't have an appetite and I lost weight because of the hormones. I would've lost weight if I was eating a lot", I take a breath. "I have weekly appointments here and if you want you can both come along. But I am fine going on my own. Okay?"
They both nod their head. "Any questions? Or can we close this press conference?", I cheeky add, with a small smile.
"Yeah, can we talk in private?", Fabio asks, more to Tom than to me. Tom stands, taking the bags upstairs.
"So look, I'm glad Tom was with you today. It was a bit of a coincidence, but I asked him to come last night", he tells me. "I didn't know what to do and Tom is my best friend, so I called him"
"Didn't know what to do about what?", I ask a little confused.
"With you, about us", he looks deeply in my eyes, his hands grab mine on the table. "I know we talked about a relationship and you have doubts, and that's fine. But Ricky said some things yesterday, that made me insecure"
Fabio insecure?
"I have a feeling Ricky has a little crush", I say softly. "I feel very uncomfortable with that idea"
"Maybe not so much a crush, but he thinks you're hot. Especially since last night. But that's beside the point", he lets go off my hands and takes something from his pocket. It's a big jewelry box.
"I really like you and I hope I can call you my girlfriend some day. But in the meantime, if you feel the same. Maybe you want to wear this? Like a bit of a promise?", He opens it and it shows a similar necklace to his own. The number 20 with diamonds, the necklace itself is a little more feminine than his, and a little shorter. It's beautiful. And the thought is even more beautiful, it's so sweet.
"I would wear this with pride"