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For the rest of the day, Sharon's words play in my mind, "I am here for you. We are in this together."
Is it her eyes? Is it the smile? Never have I seen a face go from red-hot rage to cool-blue calm in a minute and still look so beautiful. Not to forget the pink blush on the cheeks. Dead sure those cheeks are soft as petals, when and if I get to touch them. Within a day, I have learned to press a few buttons to get those reactions. There is a lot more to learn before I leave the hospital.
The way she fled from the room when I squeezed her hands, is an indicator. There is something between us, a definite spark. Those soft petite hands. I can't wait to hold them again.
Evening comes and merges into the night. The sedatives take effect, and I move in and out of sleep. Losing track of time but not of Sharon.
My mind zones in on Sharon when I wake up the next morning. Wonder which colored frame she will be wearing today?
Never have I felt so attracted to a woman. Not even to the one who left me with my five-month-old son. Valerie was bad. I should have realized that the moment we met. She used our one drunken night out. When I found out she was pregnant, there was no choice. I had to marry her. Valerie was a gold digger; she got the money out of me and fled.
The divorce, six years ago, was bitter. What a relief it was when she left with the money. What kind of mother would do such a thing? She did not want to have anything to do with my child giving up custody rights without a hint of regret. She did not ask for visiting rights for a baby she helped bring into this world.
"Hello Daddy," the soft voice brings me out of the funk threatening to surround me. The kid is too cute. Ladies beware. Lucky us, my genes dominated over Valerie's.
"What's up, champ?" I extend my arms to hug Nate. He runs towards the bed. Mom picks up Nate, so I can kiss my bundle of joy. The smile on his face is the sunshine I live to adore every day. And at this moment, I need all of it. Not only because Sharon is on my mind but also, at the prospect of eating the breakfast staring at me.
Someone needs to sue the people who decide the hospital recipes. If they keep dishing this stuff, I might be the one to do it. The breakfast is awful. The wait for her to turn up is doubling the misery. Every second seems like a minute.
"How are you, daddy? Grammy said there is a lot of pain. Did they give you lots of injections?" With a finger on his butt and crinkled nose, Nate gets everyone in the room to laugh. The antics this kid does confirm that he is mine.
"No bud, I got a big one here and lots through this." I point to my back. Then I show him the line in the vein on my arm.
Nate's eyes pop out of their sockets. He comes closer and pokes the cannula. "Is there a needle inside?"
"Nope," I ruffle his hair and then turn toward the clock on the wall.
"Why do you keep looking at the clock?" Mom catches me in the act.
"Nothing Mom, only trying to reorient myself," I avoid her gaze.
Jason lets out a laugh. I glare at him. "Jason, don't you have something better to do?"
"I just got here, mate and am not leaving till the show is over." Jason keeps his voice straight, but I know he is on to something.
After checking that Mom is busy with Nate, I flash my middle finger at Jason. "What are you up to?"
Jason plants himself on the chair next to my bed and sniffs the air. "Do I smell something?" He swats imaginary flies near my face. "Why are these heart-shaped flies hovering around your head?"
Shit, Jason's big mouth will land me in trouble. I imitate a zip on my lips, asking Jason to shut his mouth.
Jason though is hell-bent on stirring the pot. "What? Oh, oh. My bad. I did hear someone mention Catwoman? Mm, maybe not. What did the nurses say you called her? Ah-ha! 'Tigress', wasn't it?"
What did I expect? Jason would never let such a thing pass. He stands up, gloating then winks before taking another swipe, "Don't give me the dumb glare, blue eyes. I know what you are up to." Jason flutters his eyelids. I shake my head.
Jesus, he will ruin all my plans. I should warn him off. "Better mind your mouth, Jason. I can still kick your ass with all these bandages."
Lucky for me, Mom intervenes. "Why don't you rest Jon, there is still an hour to go before her rounds." If Mom was listening, she ignores Jason's antics, but her words are a reminder of the long wait ahead.
I go over plays from my last few games in my mind. The ones that I lost through tackles or interceptions. It helps me work out alternate plays and keeps me busy when I am alone. Today the strategy doesn't work. Dr. Sharon Wells is shining bright inside my head. Everything else pales into the background. I shut my eyes with her image and float into an alternate universe. No time like now to spend in the fantasy world.