“Andrew, are you all right?” I asked.
“Yes. Sorry.” He studied his watch for a moment and then looked at me again. “It’s been a long day at work for me. I forgot to bring my medicine tonight. I raced home after work and changed to come here, and I forgot to grab my pill for later.”
“What’s it for?”
“It’s a pain pill, but I also take an antibiotic still. Each time I think I’m ready to come off of it, the doctors say not yet. I start to feel the pain as the medicine wears off.” He suddenly looked as if he were ashamed. “There were a few knife wounds, cracked ribs, and a collapsed lung. The collapsed lung wasn’t from the knife, though. She threw some things at me. Everything is healing up well,” he quickly added. I gathered that was his attempt to make multiple stab wounds, rib injuries, and a collapsed lung caused by his significant other not sound as horrific as it actually was.
“Maybe you should head home and get your medicine and relax. As you mentioned, it’s been a long day for you.”
“I will, but I’m enjoying talking to you.”
“I’m enjoying it as well. But I’d feel better if I knew you were on your way home to the medicine you need,” I encouraged, but tried not to sound like a Top giving direction to her bottom. Based off our conversation tonight, Andrew needed to be spoken to as a friend.
“I’ll head home as soon as I finish my Coke.” His tone sounded a little tense. I looked at his hand that was gripping his shirt at his side. Andrew’s knuckles were white. I fought the temptation to go find Sam, or at minimum, James.
Andrew was now leaning forward with one arm on the bar top clutching his glass while his other hand remained on his side. He had slid forward on the bar stool so he was barely sitting anymore. He was obviously uncomfortable.
I turned to see if I could spot James. Relief washed over me when I saw him standing not too far from us. His arms were folded across his chest, and he nodded at me, letting me know he was aware of Andrew’s body language. I didn’t see Brandon and thought James might have sent him to the locker room to change.
I decided to change the topic with Andrew while he finished his drink. The topic of Elise would cause unnecessary additional stress to his system right now.
“How are you liking the owner and operator hat?”
“I love it, but I’m still getting used to it. I like being able to walk around and talk to people. The great thing is that everyone was very happy with the way things were going here, so I didn't step into the role to make changes. I only want to keep things going and for people to be happy.”
“Keeping people happy,” I repeated his words. I’d hoped he heard the words and connected the dots. “That’s the submissive in you talking.”
Andrew laughed and looked down at the half-full glass in front of him. He jostled the glass in his hand just enough to shake the ice around. When he looked up at me again, his eyes were troubled and unsure.
“I’m not sure I want to have my switch flipped back to being submissive.”
Andrew coughed, and as I was about to respond to this comment, James appeared.
“Andrew, Brandon and I will walk out with you.” James’s hands curled around Andrew’s shoulders.
Brandon had just come from the direction of the hallway that led to the men’s locker room. He waited a few feet behind James and was fully clothed in jeans and a gray t-shirt with bright blue Converse. He literally looked like the boy next door, and sometimes I wondered how a young man who looked so innocent could keep up with James’s sadistic side. Granted, he was a nurturing sadist.
“Okay, I think I’m ready to go.” Andrew stretched his arm out, setting his glass on the edge of the bar. “Have a good evening, Mistress Tabitha,” Andrew said as his foot bumped the leg of the bar stool.
“Thank you, Andrew. I think I’m going to retire for the evening as well. If you guys don’t mind, I’ll walk out with you.”
I shot James a look to make sure he saw the concern in my eyes. James walked close to Andrew, and once we’d entered the lobby, Brandon raced around to hold the door open. Andrew coughed hard and reached for his side and James.
“Easy, Andrew. Stop trying to walk, son,” James calmly said. I was sure glad he was able to be the calm one because I was about worried sick over the thought of Andrew driving himself home. I wasn’t going to keep my concern quiet and looked at James.
“How far does he need to drive?” I asked.
“His place is about ten minutes from mine.”
“It’s a quick drive. I’ll be home in no time,” Andrew advised.
I tilted my head to the side and raised my eyebrow at Andrew’s assessment of his ability to drive home safely. Thankfully, James wasn’t having any of it.
“Keys, Andrew.” James held his hand out, and Andrew quickly produced his key fob. James looked at Brandon and held the fob out to him. “Pup, bring Andrew’s car over, please.”
“Yes, sir.” Brandon took off for the parking lot in a sprint.
“I could have walked to my car.”
