Coal and I were still opening and closing the gym together, but we each took extended breaks during the day. For mine, I usually went back to our apartment for a nap, but it had been over a week since I’d seen Avery, so I texted her and asked if I could stop by for a visit. She replied instantly saying I could, and fifteen minutes later I was knocking on her front door.
When she opened the front door, I knew she wasn’t feeling well. “Are you okay?” I asked.
She nodded. “Yeah. I had a rough night last night, and this morning wasn’t much better.”
“Is there anything I can do?”
She flopped onto the couch in her living room and covered her face with her hands. “I don’t think there’s anything anyone can do,” she said and sniffed.
I gathered her in my arms and smoothed my hand over her very tangled hair. “There’s got to be something I can do. Whatever it is, just name it.”
She pressed her face against my shirt and hiccupped. “There is one thing, but I hate to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Will you help me wash my hair?” she asked and started to cry again. “The hot water from the shower makes me sick, and I can’t tolerate a cold shower. Leaning over the tub makes me sick. Everything makes me sick. I’m sorry. I’m just so miserable right now.”
“Where’s your shampoo and conditioner?”
“Upstairs in my bathroom.”
I ran upstairs and grabbed the bottles from her shower as well as a towel. After putting them by the kitchen sink, I scooped her from the couch and placed her on the kitchen counter.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Washing your hair. Turn around and I’ll help you lean back.”
Once she was situated, I used the sink sprayer to wet her hair with cool water and proceeded to wash and condition her hair while she groaned in pleasure. I willed my cock to behave, but he’d heard those noises come from her mouth in very different circumstances and he was ready to recreate those memories.
After rinsing her hair, I squeezed the water from it and carefully wrapped a towel around her head before I helped her sit up. “Thank you,” she said softly.
“I’m not finished yet. Come on,” I replied and lifted her from the counter. I carried her back to the living room and sat on the couch with her in my lap. Then, I picked up the comb on the coffee table and started combing the tangles from her long, auburn hair.
The whole time, she watched my every move but never said a word. When I was finished, I put the comb down and pulled her against me so her head was resting right under my chin. “Better?” I asked.
“Much,” she sighed followed by a yawn.
“Sleep, baby. I’ve got you.”
* * *
Muffledlaughter followed by the sound of a door opening woke me. It only took me a few seconds to get my bearings and remember where I was, but it was too late to react. Avery’s front door swung open and her mother stepped inside followed by her children.
“Nana, who’s that?” Riley asked.
Claire didn’t miss a beat. “That’s the Sandman, sweetie. He’s helping your mommy sleep. You and Braxton run upstairs and be quiet until she wakes up.” Riley glanced at me, as did her brother, before they both quietly went upstairs.
I started to move, but Claire held her hands up to stop me. “Don’t get up on my account. She needs to sleep. I’ll just be in the kitchen starting dinner.”
I probably should have objected and moved Avery to the couch so I could leave, but I was damn comfortable where I was. And she was right; Avery did need the rest. And apparently so did I, because I closed my eyes and went right back to sleep.
My phone buzzing in my pocket woke me, as well as Avery. She shot up with a look of panic on her face. Then, she was up and running for the bathroom. I pulled my phone out and cursed when I saw the time. “Sorry, man, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” I said by way of greeting.
“Just checking in. You don’t usually stay gone this long,” Coal replied.
“I forgot to set the alarm on my phone.”
“It’s all good, man. Listen, why don’t you take the rest of the day off. I don’t mind closing tonight. We were planning on starting the new schedule tomorrow anyway,” he offered.
