I moan in delight as the warm water cascades over my head, drenching my hair. I would kill for a real shower or the bath right now. Two weeks of sponge baths and dry shampoo are not enough for a girl to feel clean. Though Colt certainly has fun playing nurse.
“Like that?” Colt chuckles.
“So much.”
Colt pours shampoo in my hair and lathers it up, massaging my scalp. Tingles run down my spine and I shiver. My eyes drift closed, enjoying the sensation of his fingers in my hair. He rinses the soap out before rubbing conditioner into the ends.
“Can you leave that in for a few minutes before washing it out?” I ask as he fills the jug again.
“Sure.” He drops the jug in the tub and massages my shoulders and back. I take a deep relaxing breath as Colt’s fingers work their magic on my tense muscles.
After a few minutes, he stops and rinses the conditioner out of my hair. He moves to shut the water off, but I reach out and grab him.
He stops.
“Wait, leave it on.”
He does, instead wrapping a towel around my hair. He lifts me up and sits me on the chair.
“Can you pass me a washcloth?”
Colt wets a cloth and squeezes my body wash on it. “Need some help?”
“I think I got it. Thanks.” I smile at him. He places the cloth in my hand with a pout and leaves the bathroom.
It’s slow going and awkward, but I rub the cloth over my bare legs, under my shirt and inside my panties. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than nothing. I rinse the cloth under the running water and repeat the process, wiping the soap away from my skin.
“Finished,” I call out to Colt, and he comes in, turns the water off and carries me back to the living room.
Once I’m settled on the sofa, he brings me a water bottle and a sandwich cut into four triangles like I’m a toddler. He’s so caring and thoughtful.
“You good?” he checks, fussing with my pillows and making sure I’m comfortable. He’s been so attentive for the last two weeks. Doesn’t like to leave my side unless I’m asleep and he’s sure I won’t need him anytime soon.
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Good. I’m going for a run, but I won’t be long. Here’s your phone. Call me if you need anything.”
I roll my eyes. I’ll be fine alone for an hour. He pulls his shoes on and stands up. Grabbing his keys from the coffee table, he turns back to me to make sure I’m okay, again.
“Can you get my hairbrush?”
My hair is still wrapped in the towel, and if I don’t brush it while it’s wet, it will end up a matted mess.
Colt grabs my brush from the bathroom and hands it to me. “Anything else?”
“Kiss me?”
“No.”
I wake up to the keys rattling in the door. It opens, and I almost jump out of my skin. I must have dozed off. The sandwich has slid off the plate to the floor, and I’m still gripping the hairbrush in my good hand.
It’s not Colt. It’s Austin.
“Hey.” He gives me a small wave. “Can I come in?”
I try to push myself up to a sitting position. “Sure.”
He smiles sheepishly, closes the door and drops Colt’s keys on the table.
Sitting down on the sofa beside me, Austin lifts my legs and places them in his lap.
I try to tame my hair and brush the breadcrumbs off my shirt. I’m a mess, but Austin doesn’t seem to notice.
“How are you feeling?”
“Be better when I get this cast off. I lift my foot, showing my ankle.
“When does that come off?”
“I have a doctor appointment at the end of the week to see how it’s healing. I might get a moon boot put on instead of the plaster. At least then I’ll be able to walk around and not have Colt carry me everywhere.”
“Fingers crossed,” Austin says. And If I could cross my fingers, I would. I’m over not being able to move without Colt’s help. If I can walk and balance on my own two feet, I’ll be so much more capable of looking after myself. I’ll be able to go to the toilet at least.
“Where is he, anyway?”
Austin shrugs. “Ran into him at The Brew and asked about you. He threw me his keys and told me to see for myself. Then he walked out.”
“Probably saw a hot chick out the window.”
“Austin laughs and reaches for the remote on the coffee table. “Movie?”
“Sounds good,” I say before snapping my fingers at him. “The Brew!”
“What?”
“You were at The Brew. How are things going with Keely?”
“She doesn’t like you.”
“I get that a lot.” I shrug, and Austin gives me a curious look, so I explain. “I live with Colt and other women don’t like it when he drops everything for me.”
He glances over his shoulder at the screen partition dividing the living room from the bedroom. “You guys are close, huh?”
“The closest. More so after these last two weeks.” I laugh.
“He watches out for you. And he’s different with you.”
“You’ve noticed?”
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t have a great childhood and spent most of my time next door at Colt’s place. It was my safe space. Where I escaped to when things at home got bad. He’s seen me at my worst and has never given up on me. A lot of people don’t understand the bond we have. It’s stronger than family. Life or death.”
“It’s rare to find that. Something you have to hold on to and never give up.”
“Don’t plan on it, but it makes finding friends difficult. I’m only ever seen as a way to get to Colt, or a threat to get rid of. So Keely not liking me doesnt come as a surprise.”
“She’ll come around, eventually.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. As long as she realizes you belong with her, I’ll be happy.”
Austin doesn’t say any more so we settle into a comfortable silence, watching an action movie until Colt comes home.
23
Colt
“What are you going to do with all this newfound freedom?” I ask Em as we drive back home in the rental car. I miss my car. It was a piece of shit, but I liked it. I’d never tell Em that, though. She still blames herself for the accident.
“Freedom?” She tips her head back and laughs. “I’m hardly free. But I’d like to take Clyde and Jordan for a walk.”
“That’s it? You got a moon boot so you can move around, and you want to walk the chickens?”
It’s been a long few weeks for the both of us. Em’s been house bound because she refused to let me piggyback her downstairs after the first time I did it. Piggybacking her downstairs is fine. It’s piggybacking her around town, with two chickens on leashes she doesn’t approve of. So I’ve spent the last couple of weeks carrying her from the bed to the kitchen, to the sofa, to the bathroom, and back to bed again.
Em nods. “You heard the doctor. I still have to take it easy and not put too much weight on my ankle yet, but light exercise is good. I’ve been stuck on the sofa or bed for three weeks. My ass is getting fatter and flatter by the minute.