Her eye roll says everything.
ten
Emma
It feels like I’ve been sitting on this dang couch for days instead of hours. Even reading my new book isn’t enough of a distraction from the boredom. I’m not used to being still like this. It helped when Asher was working in the kitchen, first cleaning up the mess from breakfast, then making something in the slow cooker. I think he’s just trying to show off his cooking skills now, not that I’ll admit how impressed I am.
Andrew and Aaron knocked on the door a while ago. With no clocks around, I can’t keep track of time. I’ve never thought I’d miss my darn smartwatch. Although the constant reminder to move would make me batty, for sure.
I’m not sure what they needed to talk about, probably business since they went into Asher’s office and closed the door. He told me to call out if I needed him, but it’s bad enough he has to take care of me. I don’t need to interrupt him when he’s working.
But now I need to go to the bathroom. Ash has been plying me with water all morning, and I feel like my back teeth are floating. I know he doesn’t want me to stand on my foot, but this is getting out of hand. If I could cope with being alone after my ankle surgeries, I can definitely make it to the bathroom. What’s he going to do? Spank me?
Hmm, maybe he will, and maybe I’ll hate it. Or maybe I won’t. Either way, if I don’t get to the bathroom soon, I’ll be sitting in a puddle of pee. After another couple of minutes, I give up waiting. It’s now or never. My hands don’t hurt as much today. I’m going to ask him to unwrap them so we can check. But that’s a Future Emma issue. Current Emma needs the bathroom—stat.
After carefully lifting my leg off the stack of pillows, I swivel until I have both feet flat on the floor. So far, so good. Asher put my crutches against the wall on the other side of the room, too far away for me. Leaning forward, I push off the sofa, keeping my sprained foot off the ground.
I’m not the most coordinated person on the regular. Just thinking about how often I trip over my own feet makes me giggle, which makes me need to pee more. Fudgsicles. Time to move it, move it. After standing slowly to keep from tipping over, I grab onto the coffee table as I take small hops. From the table, I reach for the edge of the couch. Slowly, I make my way to the hall.
It’s a little easier after that. Being able to lean against the wall is a lot better for my hopping. I’m making good progress, but all the bouncing is making my bladder revolt. I’ve never been so happy to have listened to a doctor as I am right now. Kegels are my friend. My only concern is Asher catching me. He’ll go full-on grump-meister, and I’ll probably pee myself. Not good.
If my need wasn’t so urgent, I’d be laughing. I can’t even imagine what I look like hopping down the hallway while simultaneously trying to be quiet. He must have his office soundproofed, or they’d have to hear the thumps every time I land. Thank God I didn’t have to go all the way to his bedroom. Hopping would have taken forever. Crawling might have worked—except for my hands. Maybe they’d be okay. I might try it on my way back.
Finally, I make it to the bathroom, and just in time. The relief is insane as I finally empty my bladder. With a sigh, I realize I need to unwrap my hands to wash them. There’s no way I’ll be able to hide this from the grumpy bear. Frack.
Oh well, his brothers won’t let him really hurt me. I’ve already dealt with him yelling. It won’t be worse than that, right? I try to convince myself as I toss the bandages into the garbage and wash up. The soap stings a little, but the scrapes have mostly healed.
After easing the bathroom door open, I peek down the hall. Asher’s office door is still closed. Maybe I’ll be lucky, and he won’t catch me. Again, I’m clinging to the wall for dear life as I take my hops, concentrating so I don’t slip and fall. Just a few more to go. The couch is in sight. Then the door opens behind me. Shiitake mushrooms.
“Emma! What on earth do you think you’re doing?”
Oh yeah, the grump-meister has returned in full force. So much for my teddy bear. I don’t stop. I’m worn out, and I just want to get my butt back on the couch. This is way more exercise than just walking. Someone should invent a hopping-only aerobics class.
“I had to use the bathroom, and you were busy.” I don’t turn to look around, but I can feel the three of them behind me.
“Easy, Ash, remember what we talked about,” Andrew warns.
“That was before she disobeyed me,” Ash grumbles.
“Andrew’s right, you’re way too high strung, bro,” Aaron adds.
When I finally drop down onto the couch, I sigh in relief. I plaster on a smile to face the fallout. “I’m sorry, but when you’ve got to go, you’ve got to go. You were behind closed doors. I didn’t want to bother you.”
“I told you to call me.”
“Yeah, you did. But I bet you wouldn’t have heard me. I couldn’t hear a peep coming from inside. I bet the walls are soundproofed, right?”
Surprise sends Asher’s eyebrows almost up to his hairline. I struggle to contain my giggles because there’s no way he’d appreciate them. I’m trying to mitigate whatever punishment he’s going to dole out, not make it worse.
“She’s right. Did you forget about that?” Andrew asks as he elbows Asher in the side.
“That’s beside the point.” He blows out an exasperated breath.
“It really isn’t. I would have had an accident if I waited any longer. You’re just going to have to get over it.”
Asher’s gaze narrows and his lips press into a thin line. Craptastic. I’ve pushed him too far. Let the fun begin—not.
“Not smart, little Raindrop,” Asher says. Then he turns to his brothers. “Thanks for stopping by, but it’s time for you to go home. I’m sure you have other work to do. JNG Enterprises isn’t going to run itself.”
