I start to climb out but am stopped by him. He scoops me into his arms and strides toward the house.
“I can walk,” I protest.
“You’ve been on your feet enough today.”
He repeats the same pattern as yesterday, sitting me on the sectional. Then he goes back outside and grabs the box.
“Let’s see how this feels.” He opens it, then carefully slides the sock over my foot. “This may hurt, but I need you to help me get your foot in here.”
I nod. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
I brace myself, but he’s so gentle, it doesn’t hurt nearly as much as I anticipated. He adjusts the straps, then asks, “How does it feel?”
“Kind of heavy.” I frown at it.
“They are clunky.” He holds out his hands. “Let’s try walking.”
I take a lap around the island and back to the couch.
“Still feel good? Not too tight?”
“It’s fine. It’ll just take a little getting used to.”
“I’m going to go for groceries. Do you want to come along?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I think I’d rather rest it and watch some TV. If that’s okay with you.”
He looks slightly disappointed, but masks it so quickly, I wonder if I imagined it.
“Let me get you set up. Keep the boot on while I’m gone.”
He covers me up with the blanket that still smells like him, then gives me a remote tutorial. He grabs me a bottle of water, then heads to the door.
“You have my number in your phone, right?”
I pull up his contact and hold up my phone. “Yup.”
“Okay. Text me if you need anything. Including whatever you want from the store.” He points at me. “And don’t say ‘I don’t wanna be a burden’ or ‘I don’t have money.’ It’s my treat.”
I nod. “Okay.”
He opens the door, then pauses. “Behave. No dancing or running while I’m gone.”
I snuggle into the blanket. “Haha. Hardly. The couch and blanket are more my thing than running.”
He shoots me a smile that still has my head reeling long after he shuts and locks the door.
Through the window, I watch his SUV travel down the lane.
A sigh slips free.Why do I miss him already?
I glance down at my phone and pull up the notes app. Imake a list of things I like to eat and drink, then text it to him.
He responds a couple of minutes later.
Daltyn: Is that it?
I snort, respond.
