“Don’t I know it?” Dr. Easton winked. “See you in four weeks.” She stepped out of the room with a reassuring nod, and a moment later, the nurse returned with a wheelchair tag and discharge papers.
“Y’all are good to go.” The nurse smiled. Teagan stretched, grabbing her bag off the chair.
“I’ll go get the car,” she said, already heading toward the exit. I wheeled myself slowly behind her, feeling the weight of the morning settle on my shoulders. When we reached the front, Teagan took off for the car while I waited with the nurse under the awning. The silence gave space to really think about what Dr. Easton had said. Attend an art show. She wanted me to get out of the house. It sounded simple, but it meant I’d have to let people see this version of me. Quade’s words echoed in my head from the text he sent me earlier.We gotta work on getting you outside for more than doctors appointments.It was scary, but a little part of me wanted to try.
Teagan pulled the car around, easing up to the curb under the awning. The nurse stepped forward as I set my brakes. Sheheld the passenger door open while I reached for the transfer board from my side pouch.
“Ready?” she asked.
“Yes.” I nodded as I angled my chair just right, slid the board under my thigh, and planted one palm on the seat of the car, the other gripping my wheel for leverage. I took a deep breath and slid out of my chair. My arms strained, and my muscles trembled slightly, but I made it.
“Whoo!” I blew out as I settled into the passenger seat, exhaling through my teeth. Teagan was already grabbing my chair and folding it down like she’d done a hundred times.
“This damn chair ain’t getting lighter,” she fussed, tossing it in the trunk with a grunt.
“Add it to your résumé.”
“Already have.” She rounded the car and climbed into the driver’s seat. The nurse shut my door, and Teagan pulled away from the curb without another word. My phone buzzed in my lap.
Unknown:
Are you headed back home soon? We’re about to head out.
My fingers hovered over the keyboard, but I didn’t send anything right away. I was too busy trying to stop myself from blushing. The last thing I wanted was for Teagan to make a big deal over me texting Quade.
Me:
OMW
Unknown:
Then I’ll wait.
I read his message again before tucking my phone away and leaning my head against the window.Yeah, I’m ready to go home.
“That’s a wrap, fellas.”I ran the brush across the edge of the ramp. I was applying the last coat of sealant to Noa’s wheelchair ramp. One more stroke, and it was done.
“Perfect.” I stood back, hands on my hips, taking in the work, still a little stunned by what my hands could do. “Clean lines. Smooth incline. No gaps. No splinters.” I spoke out loud, proud of myself. She could roll up this thing with her eyes closed. It was a vast difference from what was here before. I couldn’t wait for her to see it.
A sharp screech of the tires snapped my attention toward the curb. I looked up, shaking my head at Teagan in the driver’s seat. The short time I was here, I’d learned that Teagan parked like she owned the damn block. My eyes immediately traveled to Noariding shotgun, looking like every bit of a passenger princess. I didn’t think, just dropped the brush in the bucket and started walking toward them just as Teagan threw her door open.
“I’ll get her chair,” I announced, already at the trunk.
“Damn, okay. Good morning to you, too.” Teagan stepped out of the sedan with a smirk, squinting at me like I’d stolen her thunder. I waved her off, popped the trunk, unfolded the wheelchair with ease, and wheeled it right to Noa’s door. She looked up at me, surprised, a cute little smirk on her face.
“I was gonna get it,” Teagan said, half-laughing, half-sighing.
“I know,” I replied. “But there’s a man on duty, so let me do my job.”
“You always this extra?” Noa asked, arching a brow, a soft smile on her face.
“I got good manners,” I said, stepping back to give her room. “And you ain’t just anybody.”
She didn’t respond to that, just shifted on the seat, bracing her arms. I watched as she grabbed the transfer board from beside her, slid it into position beneath her hip, then inched herself out with an ease that said this wasn’t her first time. She winced a little, but I saw it. I wanted to lift her out of the car and carry her inside, but I knew she’d probably swat my ass away.
“You good?” I asked.
“Yeah,” she confirmed breathlessly. “Just stiff. I’m good.” She made the slide into her chair clean, her arms trembling just slightly by the time she landed in the seat. She adjusted, squared her shoulders, then looked up at me with a small nod. “Are you going to move?” she asked, shaking me out of the trance she had me in. “I need to get by.”
