“You’re not accustomed to losing, are you? Been handedeverything you wanted your whole life but think you know something about struggle so decided to run a gym where you teach people how to punch because that’s the way you’ve always solved any minor inconvenience you’ve faced.”
“You know me,” he said.
I must’ve hit a nerve because, for the first time, his snarky smile was gone. His jaw jumped as he clenched it. He was wearing scruff on his face again today, and once again, I noted how well it suited him. It softened the sharp edges of his jaw, both darkened and lightened his face in a way. It intensified the color and depth of his eyes. His nose was strong, just crossing over into large, but again, suiting the shape and size of his face. Why was I studying his face so much?
The waterfall over his shoulder was going strong. I wondered if it ran all the time or if Rebecca turned it on for this appointment.
“If you look away, we have to start the timer over,” he said.
My eyes snapped back to his. “Wait, who’s timing this? Did you start a timer?”
“I forgot,” he said.
“Shit,” I responded. “I think it’s been five.” I stood.
“I think it’s been three,” he said.
“I guess we’ll never know.” I smiled over my shoulder as I walked away.
When I was almost back to Tara, I heard a loud, high-pitched scream. I ran the rest of the way, only to learn that Michael had jumped out of a bush or something, scaring her. Apparently, he didn’t need to miss today at all, he just thought it would be funny to surprise her. I couldn’t decide by the look on her face if she found this surprise funny or annoying.
I’d ask her later.
CHAPTER 10
“I thought the physical therapist said you could use this arm now,” I said, wrapping a towel around her body because my first attempt to move her from the shower stool to her wheelchair was a series of slippery fumbles.
“He said that I could try more, but it still hurts.”
I just wanted her to help brace herself. She was like a floppy fish, offering little to no help in my attempts.
“I hate this chair. And I hate that you’re in here invading my privacy.”
“Mom, I’m not looking, I’m just helping. Once you start using your arm and you’re less dizzy, maybe I won’t need to be in here. I don’t want you to fall.” I had spent the morning doing phone interviews for the server position. They hadn’t gone well. And this wasn’t a good follow-up activity to help lift my mood.
“You don’t have a great bedside manner. It’s a good thing you didn’t become a nurse, like Tara. She’s a sweetheart.”
“She is,” I said. “And yes, I’m glad I’m not a nurse.” If thiscaretaking gig proved anything to me, it was that. I finally got a good grip with the towel, and I moved her to the chair.
She settled in. “You’re going to blow-dry my hair too? I’m cold.”
“Yes, I am. Do you want to get dressed first?”
“Of course I want to get dressed first.”
“Okay, let’s go.”
The house wasn’t made for a wheelchair, and that was never more apparent than when trying to squeeze her chair out of the bathroom. Every time it nicked one side or the other of the doorframe, and every time she complained about the paint job she was going to have to take on when I was gone.
In her room, I dug through her drawers for the things we needed and proceeded to wrestle her into her clothes. At least that’s how it felt, like a wrestling match. Like she was fighting the process instead of making it easier. It was worse than clothing a squirmy baby.
As I kneeled on the floor in front of her, pulling a sock onto her one exposed foot, I felt a hand along my cheek. I looked up at her in surprise.
“You’re a pretty girl,” she said.
“Thanks, Mom.” A compliment from my mom was rare, and I felt my cheeks heat a bit from it.
“But that color looks terrible on you,” she said.
