By the time she’d finished at the store, she thought someone should be back to the house they’d just moved into, so she headed that way.
Sure enough, the pickup they used when they took Spider anywhere was in the driveway.She parked at the curb, then grabbed all the groceries and went to the door.It swung open before she had a chance to knock.
“Here, let me help you with some of that.”Dax took the bags she carried, first from one hand, then the other.
“I’m okay carrying things,” she said with a laugh.
“Let him.It’s part of our thing,” Spider said from where he sat on the sofa, on the end this time, with his cast leg up on the footrest with a pillow under his knee.He looked pale and exhausted.
“What do you mean?”She stepped close enough she could lay a hand on his forehead to see if he was feverish.
“We know our women are capable.But if one of the Angels is around, they don’t have to lift and tote.That’s our job—it’s part of showing them respect.”
She lifted her brows at the ‘our women’ part but didn’t say anything about it.
“You’re clammy,” she said instead.
“I’m tired.We just got in.I’m going to sit here for a few minutes and rest a bit.I took a shower before coming home.That’s part of it.”He shook his head.“I would rather wait until I’m here but there are nurses and PT who can help while I’m there.It’s safer, at least until I get this thing off.”He laid one hand on his cast.
“Any word on how long until that happens?”
“They said maybe a week, maybe a month.I’m going next week for X-rays to check how it’s healing.They’ll make a decision then.”
She nodded.“I need to go take care of my groceries.I’ll be right back.Can I bring you anything?”
“Just you, wildcat.Do what you need to, then I’d like it if you’d come sit next to me and just be for a bit.”He patted the couch beside him.
“I can do that.Give me a few.”
In the kitchen she found that Dax had already put nearly everything away, except the cookie ingredients.Those were set neatly on the counter, as if just waiting for her.
“Does that mean what I think it means?”Dax said as she stepped into the kitchen.
She looked at the food then back to him.
“It does, but they’re a surprise for later.If you tell either of them before I do, I’ll make sure you don’t get any.”She narrowed her eyes as she spoke, hoping he wouldn’t laugh at her attempt to look mean.
He held up both hands in front of his body.“There’s no way I’ll put homemade cookies at risk.I’ll keep my mouth shut.Can I watch you make them, though?I’ve done a lot of cooking but it’s all meal stuff.I’ve never done any baking ...well, anything other than food like lasagna or enchiladas.”
“Sure.I don’t mind.I’ll start them when I start dinner, as I planned on having them for dessert.”She glanced at the clock on the stove.12:17.“That will be around 4:00 or so.Sound good?”
“Sure.”He turned away then turned back around as if he forgot something.“oh, and I noticed the Brussels sprouts instead of the green beans.I’d like to learn how to make those too.I’ve never had them.”
Jordon shrugged.“I don’t mind but if you hang around too long, you’re likely to be put to work.”
“I can live with that.”He picked up the things he’d left on the counter and put them away.
She took a bottle of water and a can of soda and went back into the living room.There, she offered both to Spider.He took the water, so she popped the top on the soda and tipped it back.
“Where do you want me?”she asked, looking down at him.He looked worn out.She wished he would go take a nap.
He patted the seat next to him.“Right here.”
She stared at the seat for a moment.“Any way I can talk you into lying down for a little while?”
Spider shook his head.“Nope.But we can sit here and relax.Grab the remote and we’ll turn something on.”He didn’t bother to lift his head, even as he watched her.
She watched him a moment longer, then shook her head, grabbed the remote as well as her Switch, and took them back to the couch.She settled in beside him and handed him the remote.
