I gasp, waking up violently.

My heart is pounding so hard like I have been running for hours. I’m hit by the damp earthy scent of soil and dirt. Pain throbs behind my eyes, sharp and static.

The sheets are damp and clammy against my skin, my hair plastered to my forehead, from the sweat. Sweat trickles down my back despite the AC on.

The air feels heavy and I try to catch my breath, but instead, I start to choke, raggedly, painfully. I choke on air, and scramble to my bed side. I grab the bottle of water with trembling hands and force myself to drink slowly.

“Cami?” I hear my sister’s voice through the fog in my mind.

“We’re coming in!” Rin yells, and I try to ground myself.

Slowly, my breathing returns to normal. My hands stop trembling, and I wonder what just happened?

The door swings open, and my girls rush in, eyes wide with fear, chest rising and falling.

“Are you okay?” Rin gasps when she sees me.

“We heard you choking.” Noor says, walking closer to me, fear lingering in her eyes.

“Why are you so damp? Are you sick, Cami?” Adelaide frowns, her forehead creasing, her eyes darting over my face like she is searching for answers.

“I woke up like this. I think I had a nightmare.” I whisper, trying to remember the nightmare, but all I can remember is the aftermath of it, the waking up and the choking. My throat constricts at the memory and goosebumps break over my skin.

A bead of sweat slides down my temple, and I shiver.

Noor steps forward and places her hand on my forehead. She gasps in shock. “You are burning up, Cami.”

“Oh, shit. You might have a fever.” Adelaide exhales. My shoulders slump under the weight of her gaze.

“I’m fine. It is nothing.” I try to assure them, but start coughing halfway through.

“Yeah, sure, it is nothing.” Rin rolls her eyes, then glances at the girls.

“Change of plans. We stay in today and tomorrow. I’ll stop by the pharmacy few blocks away, check her temperature and all.”

“I’ll make soup,” Noor volunteers.

“You’ll feel brand new very soon,” Adelaide assures me, and blowing me a kiss.

I nod, my mind turning like an engine as I try to remember what the nightmare entailed. I close my eyes and try to focus, but all I am left with is a worse headache.

The girls are talking, and I try to be present, but my gaze drifts to my fingernails, where dirt hides under my nails.

I frown, and tilt my head, studying it. I bring it to my nose and am hit by a vaguely familiar scent of soil and trees.

This is all too strange, but it probably means nothing.

My mind drifts to Oscar who I have been trying not to think about.

I should have called him, but I haven’t. Perhaps it is because I am not ready for him, or because I could have sworn I saw his eyes glow.

Either I push it all out of my mind, alongside the attraction I feel for Oscar.

* * * * * * *

Two days pass blissfully.

Rin, the Dr, made sure I slept, while Noor made she I ate.

Adelaide made calls to our Mom and Stepdad, who fused over me and wanted me to come home. I assured them I’d be fine, and I am. The first day was tough, because the fever persisted for hours, but by nightfall, I was strong as a stallion.

We spend the next day binge watching our favorite show which is WandaVision, then we host a little book-club about our favorite books which mostly included Addie Larue, Bury Our Bones and the Poppy War.

Today, we were ready to get of the suites, which is how find ourselves at an High-end Fashion Store.

“I know we do well for our selves, but these prices are ridiculous, babes,” Rin scoffs as we browse through aisle of shoes.

“Should we get one or come back after having lunch? My stomach is burning.” Noor grins, looking at us.

“After lunch.” I agree, and so we leave the store, knowing we will never return. New York is great and all, but we are absolutely not paying all that much for a shoe.

We find our way to the restaurant few blocks away. A high-end restaurant, but we are unable to get a table. I am sensing a lot of classism. I can feel the unspoken snobbery in the air.

“Miles?” I hear Noor.

I turn to her, and glance in the direction she is looking to see Miles, Oscar and a man.

They are looking at us. Oscar’s gaze on me. It slams into me like a boulder. I should have called, I really should have. He looks like a snack, all wrapped in chocolate. It is unfair for someone to look this handsome, and have a gaze that intense.

Miles walks over to us, and Noor tells him we are trying to get a table. I am not listening, my gaze is trained on Oscar, whose eyes are locked on mine. The tension and chemistry are palpable.

“Join us,” Miles offers, and we head to their table, where extra space has been made to accommodate us.

“Hi, beautiful. We meet again,” Oscar rasps when I sit next to him.

I smile, looking up at him, mesmerized by his beautiful amber eyes “Did I bruise your ego by not calling, big boy?”

He smiles, flashing dimples and I gasp. “You have dimples, Oscar?”

“That is not all I have, baby.” He winks at me, and I flush like a tomato, the back of my neck growing hot.

“This is our business partner, Grayson Velkan.” Miles introduces, and I glance at the man, Grayson.

He is tall, he has a warm smile on his face, but he stays quiet. He nods at us, and I smile at him.

“So, what business do you do, Grayson?” Rin asks, and I watch in amusement as Grayson blinks, obviously caught off guard by her directness.

“We own companies, we sponsor dreams, we buy land and we build on it.” Oscar answers for him, smoothly.

I scrunch my nose “That’s vague and suspicious.”

Miles chuckles “You are right, so let me make it simple - He owns this restaurant and about fifty others in the state.”

A smile forms on my face and I look at Oscar. “So, you are rich, then, big boy. Don’t worry, I am not here to steal your money.”

“What are you here to steal, then?” He whispers, leaning closer to me, filling my nostrils with scent of him.

“Maybe a night with you, maybe more. We’ll find out eventually. Don’t be too eager.” I grin at him, and he laughs, deep and sensual.

“I don’t mind if you steal my money. I have enough of it.” He winks at me, and warmth flows through me as I enjoy our banter, unaware of how close to the fire I am dancing.