Page 97 of Hard to Get

“Yeah.”

“On it.”

I zip around his condo, switching out the warm gel pack for a cold one, then finding a pair of flannel pants and T-shirt and some pillows. I grab the comforter off his bed, too. If he’s staying downstairs, he’ll need something.

He changes his clothes with minimal help from me, then I get him all comfy with pillows and blankets and ice. And then a cold drink because he’s thirsty.

I sit on the floor next to the couch. “Let me know if there’s anything else you need.”

“Well…”

“What?”

“You know how an orgasm helped your cramps?”

I stare at him. “No.”

He laughs. “It might help. Can’t hurt.”

“You’re high on OxyContin. I would never take advantage of you that way.”

“Damn.” He closes his eyes. “Fuck. I’m tired.”

“I’m sure.” I lean over him to run my fingers through his hair.

“That feels nice.”

I smile and stroke his hair.

“Come up here.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“It’s fine.”

I carefully stretch out next to him and he slides an arm around my waist.

“I need more Oxy at two. And the Naproxen. I set the timer on my phone.”

“Okay.” I adjust a pillow beneath me.

Soon his breathing slows and his body relaxes against me.

I’m relieved he’s okay but I still hate it that he’s hurt. Will he be able to play? Their next game is Friday night, in Charleston. My mind keeps racing and it takes a while before I fall asleep.

His phone jangling wakes me up. I carefully roll off the couch. His bottles of pills are there on the table but I get him a glass of cold water. I perch on the edge of the couch and touch his face. “Hey. You awake?”

“Mmm.”

“Here’s your pills.”

“I don’t need them.”

I frown. “Yes, you do.”

“I don’t like taking those things. They’re addictive.”

“I know, but you need it. And with this type of painkiller, you can’t wait. You need to take it now. And you need the anti-inflammatories.”