“Outside the door, or you’re going to have a mess to clean up. I’m seriously this close to losing all bladder control.”
His mouth opens like he’s ready to argue, but instead, he turns and leaves the room, shutting the door behind him. I expected that he’d leave the door cracked, but it shuts tightly with aclick.
Normally, knowing that someone is on the other side of the door would mean I have some flow issues, but I have zero problems letting go today. I’ve been holding it for a very long time, apparently. Considering I’m not sure when I got here, what day it is, or anything else, I’m not entirely surprised that it got to this point.
I flush the toilet when I’m finished wiggling all the drips away and stuffing myself back in my underwear—theyaremine, thankfully—and shuffle with minimal twinges to be in front of the sink. While I wash my hands, I stare at the too-big shirthanging off my shoulders and how thin I look. My skin looks sallow.
Maybe I’ve been here for a week. How much time have I lost?!
“Oxley?” I call.
The door opens, and he’s at my side before I’ve taken my next breath. My cheeks flush as he stares at me, trying to determine how much I’ve hurt myself. “Will you bring me back to bed?” I ask.
His shoulders relax. Once more, Oxley picks me up. He’s staring at me, but I can’t bring myself to meet his eyes. Not because I’m embarrassed or even self-conscious. It’s the way he’s looking at me. Intensely. Like I’m the only one he sees.
He’s very careful when he gets me situated on the bed. I try to remain sitting, but he gently leans me back onto the pillows and pulls the blankets up. I’m about to protest that eating while prone could not only lead to choking and be super messy, but I get distracted when he starts rummaging through the drawer of the nightstand.
After a minute, he comes out with a remote. With a smile, he presses a button, and the head of the bed starts rising. I grin. “Nice!”
Oxley nods.
Once he has me in a proper sitting position, he sets the remote down and picks up the plate, but doesn’t bring it to me. “This is cold now,” he says.
“It’s fine.”
He shakes his head. “I’ll warm it.”
“Don’t forget the butter!”
His look is wary as he heads for the door, and I snuggle back into the bed. It’s so comfortable. Have I ever been in a bed so… soft? I’m on a firm cloud!
My eyes are starting to droop by the time Oxley returns and sets the plate in my lap. I can already see the butter and smile brightly as I pick up my now-buttered toast. The bite mark has magically disappeared.
“I reheated it all but made new toast, otherwise it would have been burnt,” he says. “Wait,” he says as I bring a cracker to my mouth. Oxley disappears back into the bathroom and returns with a towel, which he lays over my lap like a napkin. “Crumbs are uncomfortable in bed.”
I bow my head to hide my smile. It’s good. I don’t even care that there’s exactly zero flavor besides butter on anything. “You called Mark, didn’t you?” I ask, taking a bite of the carrots.
Oxley hangs his head a little, his eyes leaving mine. “Yes.”
I grin and don’t comment again for several minutes while I shovel in the food. However, just as I’m about to pop the last cracker into my mouth, my stomach quite suddenly decides I’ve had enough. It’s not a full sensation so much as a ‘feed me anything else and you’re going to be covered in vomit’one.
I set the cracker down and look up at Oxley. He hasn’t moved from where he’s standing beside the bed. “I can’t eat anymore,” I say. “I’m sorry I didn’t finish it.”
Oxley shakes his head. “You don’t need to. I just wanted to make sure you had enough.”
Honestly, I’m touched. He takes the plate from me, and I watch him set it aside.
“Do you need anything? Does your leg hurt? Are you cold? Tired?”
I sigh, leaning back into the pillow as a yawn escapes. “Tired. It hurts a little, but I think that’s because I was stubborn and tried to walk. I’m a little chilled too, yeah.”
The bed begins reclining again, and I watch Oxley watching me. As soon as I’m flat, he sets the remote down. “Do you need more blankets? I’ll get you more.”
He’s gone again before I can answer. I’m only slightly aware that he’s laying them on top of me, carefully tucking me in, mindful of the tube and wires, and right up to my chin. I sigh. A man could get used to this kind of attention.
“Mark says I can give you another dose of pain meds if you want.”
I nod. “Don’t drug me, Ox.”
