"Claire," I groaned, stretching out her name so it sounded like kill-air. "You're already late for work. You should go."

"But, darling, you're so sick," she complained. Handing me a small vial of translucent, golden liquid, she said, "It's eucalyptus oil. Take a hot bath with this. It should help you feel better."

Before I could thank her, my eyes began tearing up. I collapsed into a fit of painful sneezes. Grabbing a tissue from a giant box of Kleenex, I blew my nose violently, wincing as my skin burned from the pressure.

"I would take the whole day off if I could," Claire sighed, shaking her head miserably. "I don't want to leave you here like this, but I can't get out of the board meeting today."

"I'll be fine," I promised, even though I felt like death warmed over. Fresh tears trickled down my cheeks and my nose itched uncontrollably. "Go, Claire. You're late."

"You don't look fine at all," Claire said, horrified. "Look at how your eyes are tearing up!"

She reached over, brushing away the traitorous tears with her perfectly manicured fingers. "You shouldn't have gone to the beach so late at night." 

I remained silent, unwilling to mention that Jason and I had gotten soaked to the bone when we fell straight into the freezing ocean. If Claire found out, she would panic and start to imagine highly improbable scenarios of drowning, hypothermia, fever, and whatnot.

A shrill, urgent ring emanated from the pocket of her sharp trousers.

Pulling out her phone with an exasperated sigh, Claire said to me, "It's from work."

"I'll be okay," I assured her, my voice sounding nasally and rough to my own ears.

She stood up reluctantly. "Will you promise to call me if you need anything at all?"

"Yes, I promise," I assured her, raising my voice to be heard over her phone as it continued to ring. 

"All right, darling," she said, pressing the Decline button on her phone. Leaning forward to kiss my forehead, she murmured, "I better go now. Call me if you need anything, okay?"

"I will," I mustered a weak smile. "Bye, Claire." 

I held my breath and waited, carefully listening to the clip-clop of her high heels on the wooden floor until the sound disappeared. When I heard the front door close with a reassuring click, I released my breath, coughing and sneezing until my lungs rattled like a box of rocks.

My legs turned to jelly and tears clouded my vision as I climbed out of bed, the vial of oil and the box of tissues grasped within my fingers. The idea of a warm soak in the luxurious bathtub propelled me towards the bathroom.

The wait for the tub to fill up was agonising. I shifted around on my feet, staring at my dreadful reflection in the large, well-lit mirror. I frowned at my tomato-red nose and frizzy hair, sticking up in every direction. My eyes, watery and surrounded by dark circles, looked as though the life had been sucked out of them.

Finally, the tub was filled to the brim with hot water. I uncapped the vial, pouring a few drops of oil into the water. Almost immediately, the strong aroma of eucalyptus wafted into the air, wisps of steam rising from the pristine white tub.

Surprised that I could smell the medicinal oil despite my clogged nose, I stripped and climbed into the bathtub. My muscles unclenched as the hot water seeped into my thirsty skin. Resting my head against the cool porcelain, I closed my eyes.

***

Two hours later, I was comfortably installed in front of the TV in the living room. The therapeutic eucalyptus oil had cleared my nose, rendering my sneezes and coughs infrequent. 

Suddenly, my phone let out a familiar beep. Setting my bowl of reheated quinoa on the glass-topped coffee table, I grabbed the iPhone.

I unlocked the screen to find a text from Jason: Not coming to the cafe today?

Unthinkingly, I typed a quick reply: I can't. I'm sick.

I regretted the message as soon as it was sent, not wanting Jason to worry unnecessarily. I smacked myself in the forehead when my phone lit up with a call from him.

Hesitantly, I pressed Answer and said, "Hey, Jason."

"Leena, oh god," he replied, his smooth, deep voice sending a shudder coursing through me. "What happened?"

"Nothing. It's just a little cold," I assured him, holding the phone away to sneeze into a tissue. "Are you okay?" 

"I'm fine, but this is my fault," he said, sounding pained. "I'm so sorry!"

"No, don't be!" I replied, mentally chiding myself for telling him that I was unwell.

"Can I come see you, please?" he asked in an urgent murmur. "I'll bring you ice cream."

"What?" I asked, taken aback. "Now?"

"Yeah, Emily can cover for me," he answered. "The café isn't very crowded today."

"Uh, well," I fumbled. "Claire is away at work, and I don't want you to catch my cold."

"Please ask her if I can come over," he said, completely disregarding my latter statement. "I got you sick. I want to help."

I remained silent as my mind raced with muddled, barely coherent thoughts.

What if he gets sick, too? 

I don't want Jason to see me like this! 

I have to change into something else. 

My hair is all crazy, and I look like crap! 

"Leena?" Jason said, his voice filled with concern.

"What?"

"Call Claire now, please."

Jason's tone was firm, adamant. With a resigned sigh, I realised that there would be no point in arguing with him.

Chewing on my lower lip, I finally caved in. "Okay."

***

"Leena, I'm so sorry," Jason apologised before even entering the house. "This is my fault."

"Jason, stop it!" I reprimanded as I ushered him into the living room. "I'm the reason we fell into the water, remember?"

When I had called Claire to ask if Jason could come over, she approved happily, relieved that I wouldn't be alone. Thirty minutes later, Jason had arrived, carrying a shiny white bag in his hands.

"I can't believe that actually happened," he said with a laugh, sitting down next to me on the couch. Pulling the plastic bag open, he set two spoons and insulated containers on the coffee table. "I got mint chocolate chip for you, cookies-and-cream for me."

Surprised, I turned to him and asked, "How did you know that I like that flavour?"

"I remembered that you liked the mint chocolate chip lollipop at the candy store," he said with a shy smile.

"Thank you, Jason," I smiled brightly.

"You're welcome," he responded, handing me one of the ice cream containers. 

We fell into a comfortable silence as we dug into the rich, delicious ice cream. The mint cooled my mouth as the chocolate chips melted against my tongue. I closed my eyes, enjoying the exceptional flavour.

"It's a shame, though," Jason said after both containers had been emptied.

"What is?" I asked, sniffling.

"Your favourite flavour isn't half as good as mine," he stated nonchalantly, a lopsided grin taking over his features. 

"Are you kidding me?" I asked, feigning outrage. "Cookies-and-cream is no competition for mint chocolate chip. It's mint and chocolate chips, for god's sake."

"It's cookies and ice cream, for god's sake," he countered, laughing.

"Oh, please!" I leaned forward and deadpanned, "You can't ever go wrong with mint and chocolate."

"Oh, really?" he challenged me, angling his body towards mine until his face was merely two inches away. 

I closed my eyes involuntarily, intoxicated by the faint smell of coffee that clung to his skin.

"Really, Leena?" he asked again, my eyes fluttering open as his cool breath caressed my lips.

"Y-yes," I stuttered, my heart slamming into my rib cage so loudly that I was convinced Jason could hear it. 

I forced myself to look away from his lips, so close and inviting. My gaze shifted to his remarkable, mismatched eyes. A ragged breath caught in my throat as his hazel and grey irises paralysed me. My hands, still holding the empty ice cream container, shook with nervousness.

"Convince me," he whispered softly, his gaze sliding towards my mouth.

I had no idea what Jason meant by that. My brain turned to mush inside my head as I failed to recall what we had been squabbling about.

All I knew was that Jason and I were leaning towards each other, ever so slowly.

Closer . . .

Closer . . .

Closer . . .

My eyes automatically drifted shut when his cool, soft lips touched mine. I heard a sudden, muffled clatter that I couldn't place. Before I could attempt to find the source of the noise, Jason pressed his lips closer to mine.

Jason's kiss struck me like a bolt of lightning, the faint taste of ice cream lingering on his lips absolutely electrifying.

He's right. Cookies-and-cream is the best flavour.

My lips parted slightly, our cold breaths mingling together.

I'm so glad I got sick and Jason came over.

His eyelashes brushed against my skin as I tipped my head, desperate to erase any distance between us. The sensation of Jason's lips moving with mine in an intoxicating rhythm let me believe that I was weightless, free. I felt as though I were floating mid-air, wave after wave of giddy happiness washing over me.

Wait. I'm sick!

That last thought weighed me down. My body screamed in protest as I forced myself to pull away from Jason.

"I'm sick," I reminded him, my voice sounding hoarse and out-of-breath. "I don't want you to catch it."

"Well, that's too bad," he said, disappointed. "You were doing a great job of convincing me that mint chocolate chip is best."

My face reddened all the way to my hairline as understanding dawned on me. 

Oh. That was what he had meant.

Unable to meet his eyes, I looked down at my feet to find my empty ice cream container and spoon lying on the floor.

That was the clattering noise.

"Maybe when I get better," I said softly. "I can . . . convince you again." 

I lifted my eyes to Jason's face and found him smiling broadly. He leaned forward until our foreheads touched.

"You better get well soon, then," Jason whispered with a wink.