I hesitate, not sure I really want to know the answer to my question. “Did you have to try not to laugh when you saw me go ass over teakettle down the hill?”
He inhales deeply, then clears his throat. “No. Course not. Wasn’t the least bit funny. All I could think of was making sure you were okay.” The way he clears his throat again makes me think he’s trying not to laugh. I suppose I can’t blame him.
It doesn’t take nearly as long to reach the bottom of the hill as it took to climb it. Thankfully, Hugh was right and this trail wasn’t as steep as the one we took to the top. He gets me situated in the backseat of his vehicle with my foot propped on a folded blanket. On the way home, he asks one more time if I want to go to the hospital, and I assure him I’m fine. The pills he gave me kicked in a while ago, reducing the pain to a dull ache.
Back at my apartment building, Hugh pulls his car into a visitor parking spot. With my arm looped around his back and him supporting my weight on my right side, I manage to hobble all the way inside the building. By the time we get off the elevator on my floor and make it down the hall, I’m gasping almost as hard as I was when we reached the top of the hill this afternoon.
Outside my door, I collapse against Hugh, resting my forehead on his chest. His quiet laughter ruffles my hair as his arms encircle me in a loose embrace.
“That’s my exercise for the rest of the year.” I shift so my cheek is pressed against his chest. His heart thumps out a steady, reassuring beat. I’d stay like this for the rest of the day if my ankle wasn’t starting to throb from all the exertion.
His arms tighten around me. “I’m sorry our day ended so badly.”
“Not so badly,” I murmur. I’m suddenly exhausted; my limbs are heavy and my brain is filling with fog. I wonder if it’s the adrenaline wearing off or if the pills Hugh gave me were stronger than I’m used to. Either way, I feel like I could sleep for a week. “I had fun except for that whole…” I move my hand in a rolling motion, and Hugh laughs again.
“I had fun too.” His words are followed by warm lips on my forehead. I tilt my head up and his lips come down on mine. The kiss is soft and sweet. If I had more energy, I’d wrap my arms around his neck and pick up where we left off earlier.
I’m contemplating asking him inside when the door opens.
“Oh.Oh.” Celia’s eyes are wide as they move from Hugh to me and back again. “Thought I heard something. Didn’t realize it was you two. Don’t mind me, I’m not here.” She ducks back inside, practically slamming the door behind her in her haste.
The moment I meet Hugh’s eyes, we both dissolve into laughter. We return to our original position of my cheek on his chest and his arms around me. The rumble of his laughter leaves me with what I’m sure is a goofy smile on my face even after my own giggles have subsided.
“You should get that ankle elevated with some ice,” he says. “Shall I come inside and help you?”
I’m momentarily distracted by my attempts not to swoon at the way he says ‘shall I’ in that deep, rumbly voice. “I think I can manage.” As much as I enjoy his company, he doesn’t deserve to be subjected to Celia’s snark. “Thanks, though.”
“If you’re sure. I’ll call you later to check in, okay?” He waits for my nod, then kisses me quickly. He swoops back in to kiss me a second time as he reaches past me to open the door.
I thank him again for everything and limp inside. Celia is in the kitchen getting a glass of water. She jumps when the door closes, whipping around to face me.
“I’m sure I can find somewhere else to spend the night if he wants to come in,” she says, moving around the counter and heading for the hall that leads to our bedrooms.
“Don’t worry about it,” I tell her. “I wouldn’t expect you to leave for the night. Plus I hurt myself on the hike anyway.”
“Oh.” Her gaze moves to my wrapped ankle and the shoe I’m carrying. Her expression doesn’t change. “Okay. Well…” She motions over her shoulder and starts down the hall again.
I want so badly to make a sarcastic remark.I’m fine, thanks for asking. It’s not broken. I’m not sure which is more bruised, my knees or my pride after taking a dive down the hill.Bridget would be falling all over me right now, hugging me, getting me ice, asking what she could do to help.
Longing for my best friend hits me so hard it brings tears to my eyes. I suddenly feel like a lost little girl, desperate for a bit of comfort and maybe even some coddling. I swallow all my possible responses and instead say, “We need to talk about yesterday.”
Celia waves a dismissive hand over her shoulder. “Not right now, Ivy.”
My whole body deflates when I hear her bedroom door close. “You’re lucky I can’t chase after you,” I mutter.
