A few seconds later, he texts.
Dad: Check your inbox.
Me: Thanks.
Dad: Hang in there.
Me: Trying. Stay safe.
I try to convince myself that fifty is not old but he’s exposed to the plague daily. While not as often as his first responders, he’s working from his office, not at home.
I say a little prayer for him and go to work.
Chapter Eight
Suds
I wake and rub my face, surprised at the growth. Even though I can’t smell, Sam can. I must be rank. I haven’t shaved or showered for days. Struggling to my elbows, I lift up onto my ass. Sunshine lights the dust and creates an aura around my angel. As she types on her keyboard, I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a more beautiful sight. Before I can tell her, my cough starts up. It’s not until I finish hacking, I notice my chest has loosened up and my head is clear.
Holy shit, I’ve beat the virus.“Yeehaw!”
Sam turns her head so fast, her ponytail flies to the front of her stained pajama top. Rushing to my side, she sticks the thermometer under my tongue.
The fucking fever had better be gone.
She brings the beeping stick to her nose, purses her lips, and sighs.
No way.“Let me see it.” I reach for her wrist but she holds the evidence above her head.
With a twinkle in her eye, one corner of her mouth lifts. “I’ll call Father O. He can administer your last rites over the phone.”
Her lovely ass drops on the couch and she hugs her face to my chest, sobbing.
“Sugar, sweetheart. Don’t cry. I feel better, really I do.” I lift her chin with my index finger and through the tears, she smiles a rainbow.
“Your temp was normal.”
Thank fuck.Sweet, tender lips meet my cracked ones until guilt tugs at my conscience. I wouldn’t wish this COVID shit on the worst of my enemies, let alone my beautiful wife.
“We shouldn’t kiss.”
“Sweetheart, if I haven’t caught it by now, I’m not going to.” Soft palms cup my beard and the gentleness brings to mind hundreds of images of her nursing me to health.
Day and night, she fed me, iced me down, and helped me in and out of the bathroom. How the hell did I get so damn lucky? I love her so much, my heart almost bursts.
She hands me a red plastic cup with a straw and I suck.
“Mmm.” My eyes pop open at the citric flavor exploding in my mouth. I plumb forgot what it was like to taste.
I gulp it all down and after, we stare for the longest time, holding hands. We’ve gone without sex for days and even though I’m weak, my cock didn’t receive the memo. I lift the covers so she can see what’s going on under my boxers.
The centers of her eyes widen, her nostrils flare, and she kisses me below the navel. Then, she pulls off all my blankets and shoves my ass forward on the futon.
“First, you need to eat and shower. How do you like your eggs?”
“Hard-boiled?” I wink, referring to the time she stunk up the entire apartment.
“Ha, ha, ha. I meant scrambled. Black or brown?” Pretty blond brows lift over an adorable snarky grin while I wobble to stand.
