“I feel like we’re cheating.” Andre drives, and while I’m really grateful that he’s helping me out, I wish he’d do it without talking. I’m in so much fucking pain! This is why I stopped going to appointments. “How are you holding up?”
“Fucking peachy.” All I wanted to do was set up some appointments, but when my doctor met me in the waiting room, he made me show him my knee. Let’s just say he was not happy one bit.
They brought me back and gave me a joint fluid aspiration. So much fun. After that little treat they gave me a corticosteroid injection, and it somehow feels ten times worse than before.
“Isn’t this what your caregiver is for?”
“He’s not my butler.” And this errand is for him. “Sorry to bother you on your day off.”
He shrugs. “I was planning on spending the day coloring in the arms of the sexiest man alive, but you know... hanging out with your grumpy ass is just as good.” I flip himoff. “What about Atlas? Or even Oli. Why me? Oh! Am I your favorite? Please say I’m your favorite.”
“No.” He pouts. God, he’s ridiculous. “Atlas asks too many questions and he’s still mad at me.” He never even wrote me back. Which fair. I know I hurt him. “And Oli is an asshole.”
A dreamy look settles in his hazel eyes. He sighs. “That he is. Damn I love him.”
A small smile slips onto my face. A small one! “Great game last night. You were fucking incredible.” Andre’s head whips to me. “Eyes on the road.”
“You watched the game!? Damn. Look at you coming around.”
“Wore my Pride jersey too.”
“Aww, adorable! In your living room like a little fanboy. So cute.”
“Shut the fuck up.” He laughs at me.Dick. “Felix will take me from now on.” I only got a glimpse of the things I want Felix to tell me—the things I’m assuming. People don’t just up and leave without any of their belongings and show up somewhere with bruises like that. I remember what Oli had told me about Andre and the bruises he had on his skin. “I appreciate this.”
“So, where is your hot caregiver anyway?”
What?! “He’s not hot.” His brow arches. “He’s not!”
“Uh-huh. Alyssa made sure to pick some eye candy this time so you can’t fire them as easily. I see right through her.”
“She didn’t know what he looked like for one... two, I’ve had other male caregivers... and three, mind your damn business.”
“Ooh, someone’s blushing,” he singsongs. “He looks like a hot librarian. Or like a computer repairman. Gonna let him take a look at your hard drive?”
“Will you shut up?”
“Have you ever seenCriminal Minds?”
“No!” Why is he still talking?
“Look up Spencer Reid. Same vibes. Trust me.”
I turn as best I can in my seat to glare at him. “Does Oli ever tell you how fucking annoying you are?”
“All the time, sweetheart.” He blows me a kiss.
“Anyway! My totally normal-looking, average at best caregiver isn’t feeling well.” Hungover as hell. I told him to get some rest. He looked damn near green this morning. I told him I was meeting up with a friend. Andre glances over, a bright shiner on his face from the game last night. “Nice shiner.” One of the Florida players knocked into him with a force that sent his helmet flying. Oli made sure to come to his rescue and spent five minutes in the sin bin as a result.
A feral grin slides onto his lips. “Don’t worry about me. I was well taken care of.”
“Gross.”
“Head tappies on the ice, downstairs head tappies off the ice.” I’m going to be sick.
My head rests on the window. “Where is the idiot I call best friend anyway?”
“He had a bit too much to drink after the game last night. He’s sleeping it off with Atlas. You know, I understand you being upset, but I didn’t know that meant Oli and I were adopting him. He’s very needy. The cuddling is out of control.”
