The Man Who Never Looked Away novel Chapter 309

On the drive back, Lavinia sat in the passenger seat, mulling over Garnett's last comment. She remained lost in her thoughts for most of the ride.

When she finally snapped out of it, she realized Charley had pulled the car over.

"Why did we stop?" she asked.

"I'm not feeling well," Charley said, turning his face away to stare out the window.

Lavinia blinked, reaching over to feel the side of his neck. "You're a little hot, and your heart rate is fast. Are you getting sick?"

He paused for a long moment, his eyes shifting nervously before he admitted somewhat sheepishly, "A little, I think."

Lavinia immediately felt guilty. She had been so caught up in her own thoughts that she hadn't even noticed he was running a fever.

"Turn towards me. Let me check your forehead," she said gently.

Charley obediently leaned in. He even grabbed her wrist, pressing her palm flat against his forehead.

"Low-grade fever," Lavinia diagnosed. "Do you have more work this afternoon? You need to take the rest of the day off and rest at home."

Charley had just learned that silently stewing in jealousy could apparently raise his body temperature.

"I'm afraid I'll fall asleep and just die from sickness with no one to care for me," he murmured, his long eyelashes fluttering pitifully.

"Do you honestly think I'd just leave you alone?" Lavinia pulled out her phone, called Jocelyn Chandler, and took the rest of the afternoon off.

When she hung up and looked over, she found Charley staring fixedly at her.

His hair had been slightly tousled by the air conditioning vent, and with his thick lashes lowered, he looked strangely soft and vulnerable.

Lavinia's heart melted. "Do you want me to drive instead?" she asked quietly.

"You know how to drive?" he asked, his voice a little hoarse.

"I have my license, but I've only driven a few times," Lavinia admitted, sticking her tongue out playfully. "I can do it in an emergency."

"I'll drive. We're almost there," Charley said, still sounding a bit stuffy.

Taking advantage of the time left on the road, Lavinia opened a grocery app and placed an order.

"Does your throat hurt? Let's have some savory chicken and rice soup for dinner. I'll get extra lemon and honey so we can make you some hot water. You need vitamin C."

"Okay."

Without even realizing it, Lavinia had completely tossed Garnett's words right out of her mind.

***

"Where's the sesame oil?"

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