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Emerson
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“COLT, JUST SHOOT ME. It’ll save you a lot of trouble. Put me out of my misery,” I say as Colt helps me into the bathroom.
Trying to get around on one leg and with one arm is incredibly difficult. You never realize how much you use a limb until you can’t.
I wasn’t aware of it the first week because I was in so much pain and placed on strict bed rest until I recovered from my concussion. The painkillers kept me drugged up enough that I didn’t have a care in the world for the first day or so. After that, I was so desperate to move I didn’t care that Colt had to carry me wherever I needed to go.
It wasn’t until I was finally out of bed and told to go about my day as normal as possible, that it sunk in how difficult it would be to do ordinary tasks.
“It’s no trouble.”
“This is pushing our friendship way over the line though. You shouldn’t have to help me pee.”
“You want to help me pee? Will that make you feel better?”
I slap his chest. “Gross.”
Colt tips his head back and laughs. “Offer’s there. I wouldn’t mind an extra hand.”
“Pig.”
“Relax, I’m not helping you pee. You can do that yourself. I’m your legs and arms.” He places me on the floor in front of the toilet before dropping to his knees in front of me.
He smirks, and I can almost hear the thoughts screaming in his head.
I rest my good hand on his shoulder for extra balance while I stand there on one foot. Colt’s fingers slide under the hem of my shirt, his shirt, and grip the waistband of my panties. He drags them down my legs and stands up, placing his hands on my hips to hold me so I don’t fall over. With his help, I’m able to sit myself down on the toilet.
Colt leaves, giving me what little privacy I have left. And once I’m finished, I call out to him again.
“Colt.”
“Finished?” He knocks on the door and peers around the corner.
I nod. It’s so embarrassing, and if it were anyone else helping me, I’d be mortified. The hospital wanted me to take a wheelchair but living in such a small apartment would have made it harder to move around. Colt has been my savior.
He comes in, helps me stand, and pulls my panties back up my legs then deposits me in front of the sink so I can wash my hand.
“Thanks,” I say and take in my appearance in the mirror.
I look terrible. My hair is greasy and knotted. My eyes are black and sunken in. I haven’t slept well in two weeks. It’s hard to get comfortable when you have plaster from fingers to shoulder, and your foot propped up on a pillow all night.
“Gross. I need to wash my hair.”
“We can do that.” Colt shrugs before picking me up and sitting me on the counter beside the sink.
“How?”
He stares at me like I’m stupid and glances at the bath.
I raise my eyebrows. “Colt, I can’t get my casts wet.”
“I know. Stay there.” He disappears and returns a minute later with a chair and two pillows. He places the chair in front of the tub and drops one pillow on the seat, and the other on the floor.
Picking me up, he lowers me to the pillow on the floor, helping me to lean back against the tub, and props my arm up on the chair so I can hang my head over the tub.
Colt turns the water on and tests the temperature, then runs out of the room only to come back with a jug. He fills it and pours water over my head.
I moan in delight as the warm water cascades over my head, drenching my hair. I would kill for a real shower or the bath right now. Two weeks of sponge baths and dry shampoo are not enough for a girl to feel clean. Though Colt certainly has fun playing nurse.
“Like that?” Colt chuckles.
“So much.”
Colt pours shampoo in my hair and lathers it up, massaging my scalp. Tingles run down my spine and I shiver. My eyes drift closed, enjoying the sensation of his fingers in my hair. He rinses the soap out before rubbing conditioner into the ends.
“Can you leave that in for a few minutes before washing it out?” I ask as he fills the jug again.
“Sure.” He drops the jug in the tub and massages my shoulders and back. I take a deep relaxing breath as Colt’s fingers work their magic on my tense muscles.
After a few minutes, he stops and rinses the conditioner out of my hair. He moves to shut the water off, but I reach out and grab him.
He stops.
“Wait, leave it on.”
He does, instead wrapping a towel around my hair. He lifts me up and sits me on the chair.
“Can you pass me a washcloth?”
Colt wets a cloth and squeezes my body wash on it. “Need some help?”
“I think I got it. Thanks.” I smile at him. He places the cloth in my hand with a pout and leaves the bathroom.
It’s slow going and awkward, but I rub the cloth over my bare legs, under my shirt and inside my panties. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than nothing. I rinse the cloth under the running water and repeat the process, wiping the soap away from my skin.
“Finished,” I call out to Colt, and he comes in, turns the water off and carries me back to the living room.
Once I’m settled on the sofa, he brings me a water bottle and a sandwich cut into four triangles like I’m a toddler. He’s so caring and thoughtful.
“You good?” he checks, fussing with my pillows and making sure I’m comfortable. He’s been so attentive for the last two weeks. Doesn’t like to leave my side unless I’m asleep and he’s sure I won’t need him anytime soon.
“Yeah, thanks.”
“Good. I’m going for a run, but I won’t be long. Here’s your phone. Call me if you need anything.”
I roll my eyes. I’ll be fine alone for an hour. He pulls his shoes on and stands up. Grabbing his keys from the coffee table, he turns back to me to make sure I’m okay, again.
“Can you get my hairbrush?”
My hair is still wrapped in the towel, and if I don’t brush it while it’s wet, it will end up a matted mess.
Colt grabs my brush from the bathroom and hands it to me. “Anything else?”
“Kiss me?”
“No.”
***
I WAKE UP TO THE KEYS rattling in the door. It opens, and I almost jump out of my skin. I must have dozed off. The sandwich has slid off the plate to the floor, and I’m still gripping the hairbrush in my good hand.
It’s not Colt. It’s Austin.
“Hey.” He gives me a small wave. “Can I come in?”
I try to push myself up to a sitting position. “Sure.”
He smiles sheepishly, closes the door and drops Colt’s keys on the table.
Sitting down on the sofa beside me, Austin lifts my legs and places them in his lap.
I try to tame my hair and brush the breadcrumbs off my shirt. I’m a mess, but Austin doesn’t seem to notice.
“How are you feeling?”
“Be better when I get this cast off. I lift my foot, showing my ankle.
“When does that come off?”
“I have a doctor appointment at the end of the week to see how it’s healing. I might get a moon boot put on instead of the plaster. At least then I’ll be able to walk around and not have Colt carry me everywhere.”
“Fingers crossed,” Austin says. And If I could cross my fingers, I would. I’m over not being able to move without Colt’s help. If I can walk and balance on my own two feet, I’ll be so much more capable of looking after myself. I’ll be able to go to the toilet at least.
“Where is he, anyway?”
Austin shrugs. “Ran into him at The Brew and asked about you. He threw me his keys and told me to see for myself. Then he walked out.”
“Probably saw a hot chick out the window.”
“Austin laughs and reaches for the remote on the coffee table. “Movie?”
“Sounds good,” I say before snapping my fingers at him. “The Brew!”
“What?”
“You were at The Brew. How are things going with Keely?”
“She doesn’t like you.”
“I get that a lot.” I shrug, and Austin gives me a curious look, so I explain. “I live with Colt and other women don’t like it when he drops everything for me.”
He glances over his shoulder at the screen partition dividing the living room from the bedroom. “You guys are close, huh?”
“The closest. More so after these last two weeks.” I laugh.
“He watches out for you. And he’s different with you.”
“You’ve noticed?”
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t have a great childhood and spent most of my time next door at Colt’s place. It was my safe space. Where I escaped to when things at home got bad. He’s seen me at my worst and has never given up on me. A lot of people don’t understand the bond we have. It’s stronger than family. Life or death.”
“It’s rare to find that. Something you have to hold on to and never give up.”
“Don’t plan on it, but it makes finding friends difficult. I’m only ever seen as a way to get to Colt, or a threat to get rid of. So Keely not liking me doesnt come as a surprise.”
“She’ll come around, eventually.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. As long as she realizes you belong with her, I’ll be happy.”
Austin doesn’t say any more so we settle into a comfortable silence, watching an action movie until Colt comes home.