“No, you choose,” he said, pushing the remote back to her.
“What do you want to watch?”
“I don’t care.I just want you here next to me.”He stretched one arm around her shoulders and tugged her against him.She liked that he wanted her close.She turned on the TV and flipped through the channels until she found something she could zone out to, and hoped he would do the same.She wouldn’t mind if he drifted off to sleep right there.PT had obviously taken a lot out of him this morning.With the TV onBob’s Burgers, she pulled her Switch onto her lap and powered it on.
“What are you going to play?”Spider asked, his voice soft, almost sleepy.
“I’m not sure yet.I thought I’d sit here with you and play for a little bit.Would you rather play?”She offered him the device.
“No.you go ahead.I’m going to rest.I’ll just rest better with you here.”The arm around her shoulders tightened for a moment, then relaxed.She tilted her head to fall against his chest.She liked his hugs, even if most of them had been from the side or when she’d bent down over him, either in bed or in the chair.Though she couldn’t help but think of waking up yesterday afternoon in his arms.It was something she could get used to if she wasn’t careful.
Chapter Twenty-One
Spider looked downat his leg.His calf looked so much smaller than it used to be.Not that he had anything to compare to, but he would swear it was smaller.
“It’s normal to lose muscle tone.You’ve not been able to use it for nearly two months,” the orthopedic P.A.who was overseeing his care said as he picked up the bits of cast liner that had been shed when he cut the cast off, and put them in the trash.He’d already asked if Spider wanted to keep the cast, but he’d refused.He didn’t need any more reminders of what he’d gone through for the last two months than the ones he’d never be able to get rid of.
“Okay, so what now?”Spider asked, looking up at the doctor who appeared several years younger than him.
The PA bobbed his head from side to side.“Normally we would put another cast on, this one smaller, but you’re healing particularly well.We’re going to go with a brace.That will give you more flexibility and range of motion.But you need to be careful how much you use that leg.I get that it will be hard not to put your entire weight on it, everything considered.I want you on your feet for no more than an hour a day.Total.”He met Spider’s gaze with a stern look, as if he could tell that Spider was going to be difficult about this.“If you don’t listen to me, we’ll be able to tell, and I’ll put a cast back on you.”
Spider sighed and nodded.He wanted to be on his feet but knew it would take time.Though, right now, Spider wasn’t sure he could manage even an hour on crutches.He was still going to PT three times a week and it still totally kicked his ass.
“I’ll listen.No more than an hour a day,” Spider repeated.“How long until I can lose the brace?”
“Depending on how well you follow instructions?Four to eight weeks.”
Spider’s shoulders slumped.He’d hoped to be more mobile, but he’d take what he could get.Even an hour a day on crutches would be better than every movement needing the wheelchair.He’d been out of rehab for a couple of weeks, and between that and the time he spent in one before his release, he was sick of it.When this was all over, he planned to take the fucking thing and add it to the bonfire they had for Fourth of July on the Angels’ compound.
Just the mental image of watching his wheelchair burn was enough to motivate him to follow the doc’s orders.If he could get the brace off, and take a few weeks off PT, he might manage that trip Jordon had been talking about.
“What are the chances I could get this thing off by the first of May, then take a few weeks and do a little traveling?”
“What do you mean?”the PA asked with a frown.
“My girl has been talking up this trip to me, a road trip from here to Alaska.A trailer to sleep in, camping along the way.I’d like to be able to do it.”
