by C. T. Oliver
“Good God girl, no one wants your stinky foot. What is that? Is that sand crusted under your toenails?” Blu has a disgusted look on his face as he straightens the afghan to cover my foot. He sits back propping my foot in his lap. He must have taken off the ice and wrapped my foot in a heating pad.
“Are you taking care of me now? Aww Blu, I’m touched.” I slowly lean back into the pillow.
“I’m always going to take care of you, Mel. But just as a reminder, I’m not your chicken-noodle-soup kinda friend, I’m your lend-you-my-emergency-stash-condom kinda friend.” Blu smiles proudly at me and I have to laugh at him even though my leg is throbbing.
“Mel?” Blu starts to run his hand through his hair, a sign that he’s nervous.
“Yeah?”
“You know I’m sorry, right?” His light brown eyes looks at me with so much sorrow.
“Goodness, calm your face. You don’t have anything to be sorry about. It was an accident, a minor sprained ankle.” I wave my hand back and forth. It feels as if it weighs a ton. I must have taken a major pain killer.
“I don’t think so, did you see the bruise? Looks like one of those fat ass eggplants.” Blu’s eyes widen with his explanation.
“Thanks for the imagery. I could have done without it.”
Blu smiles and pats my hand with his. “I’m just warning you to save you more trauma. Trust me, somewhere someone with elephantitis of the ankle is jumping for joy they’re not you right now.”
“Thanks.” I try to shift my body to get comfortable. I’m swimming in this blue bag I’m wearing and it’s not hot. I must look like am escapee from a mental ward.
“But Mel, you know I’m sorry, right? You know I’m more careful—”
I squeeze his hand. “I know. This is a tough time for you. A few drinks here and there is okay. You were never an addict. I’m just asking that you’re truthful with Pen and I. Talk to us, okay?”
Blu looks at me for a second and nods with a relieved smile on his face. “Thanks, Mel.” He gently shifts and places my foot back on the pile of pillows. “Stop fidgeting. I’ll go get you something to change into. You look like a large Viagra pill.”
I laugh and shift slightly to nuzzle my face back into the pillow. I love soft and fluffy pillows.
Someone is combing my bangs back and has placed a warm hat on top of my head. It’s nice and warm and even has a nice thumb to massage my head. I’m being kissed and licked on the forehead. Sometimes a cold kiss is given and I don’t like it. Someone is lifting up my skirt and being naughty—must be Craig. He must be massaging my foot with his nice warm hands that just turned burn-your-wart-off cold. I gasp and snap open my desert-dry eyes as Larry squirms down my face and nuzzles his face into my neck.
“I’m sorry, baby. But it was time to switch over to cold.” Craig gently tapes a bag of ice that must weight two hundred pounds to my foot.
I don’t usually complain, but being fussed over and under the influence of drugs is turning me into Eliza Doolittle before her lessons. “Craig, please stoooop.” I kick my right foot a little and hold out my arms for him to come up to me.
“What’s wrong, did I tape it too tight?” Craig leans into me, radiating concern.
“No, I need you to stop, please. I’m okay.” I let him lean back to look into my eyes. “I know, it’s a bad sprain, but please, just relax. You being relaxed will help me heal faster. I promise.”
Craig brushes back a few strands of my hair. “I’m trying, but Amelia it aches my heart that you’re hurting. I want to help.”
“Just sit with me and hold me. Okay? I don’t need anything else, just you—here, with me.” I smile shyly at him.
Craig lets out a relieved sigh. “I can do that, but first how about some dinner?”
I look down at the nasty Smurf blue outfit and snap my eyes shut. No wonder patients want to be heavily medicated in the hospital. No one looks good in this color. “I want to freshen up first, please.” I open my eyes to focus on his gorgeous face.
“Sure. I think Blu brought something down for you earlier, but you drifted off again.” Craig turns to grab a pile of clothes behind him. “How about we take you upstairs? You’d be more comfortable and we can also get your contacts out.” His smile dulls some of the pain radiating up my leg.
“Yes, please,” I say, holding up both my arms, ready to wrap them around his shoulders.
Craig laughs and reaches for one squirmy Larry, but he refuses to let go of me. “I think Larry wants to come along.”
“Okay.” I hold Larry to my chest as Craig lifts me slowly and gently off the couch. “Babe, you’re going to get bulky by the time I’m healed.” I giggle senselessly at the joy of being in his arms. If asked I’m going to blame it on the drugs.
“Baby, you weigh as much as one of my arms. I don’t think my body is going to notice the difference.” He leans in and kisses my forehead as he makes his way up the stairs.
“Good, I like you lean and cut the way you are.” I run my free hand on his chest and he lets out a growl at my touch.
“Amelia, please, I don’t want to drop you. If you keep touching me, I’m going to lose all the blood in my arms,” he breathes heavily.
I giggle and nuzzle my face into his neck and breathe him in. “But I’m just being good and touching you all over. And nuzzle you all over. And lick you all over…”
“Jesus, why would you say something like that? Now there’s movement in the lumber yard.” Craig rubs his nose in my hair as he walks us into the bathroom and sets me on the counter.
“Ohhh, does that mean I get to suck on your wooden straw?” I say brightly with a huge smile on my face.
Craig laughs and shakes his head. “I’m guessing this is why you don’t like taking your pain meds.” He reaches out for Larry and leans down to let him roam around the bathroom.
“No, I don’t like it because it makes me all dehydrated and makes all my arms and legs heavy. See?” Lifting both my arms, I drop them on his shoulders. “They make everything heavaaayyyyyyyyyyyy.”
Craig laughs louder and I can feel the sound vibrate through me. “Okay, let me help you lift your heavy arms and take this shirt off.”
“Yes, please. I don’t want to be a part of the Blue Man Group, PVC pipes intimidates me.” I lift up my arms for him to take off the top.
“Duly noted. I’ll protect you from PVC in the future.” Craig leans down and gives me a quick peck on the lips.
“And serial murderers, don’t forget.” I point my index finger at him.
“I think that’s goes without saying, but yes, and serial murderers. I won’t forget.” Craig drapes my arms around his neck, pulls me off the counter, holding me up with an arm around my waist and with his other hand works to get the bottom of the Smurf suit off of me.
“And my heart, you have to protect my heart, too,” I say sternly.
Craig stills both hands and looks up into my eyes. “Oh baby, of course,” he whispers and kisses me sweetly on the lips before pulling back to look deeply into my eyes. “I promise to always protect your heart.”
I wrap both arms and right leg tightly around him. “Thank you.” I place a big wet kiss on his neck and he hugs me for what seems like hours. For the first time, in a long time, I feel truly cared for.
I am dressed in my cute cotton red and white tank dress, glasses, and hair in a bun when Craig carries me down to Blu’s birthday dinner. All the guys even dressed up a little, in button up shirts and jeans, making the room look like a Vogue convention.
The birthday boy looks elegant in his form-fitting light pink button up shirt tucked neatly into fitted cream khakis. He’s looking a lot happier than he did this morning as he comes over and gives me a peck on the cheek. “Thank you for planning such a special meal, Mel. Actually, for such a special day. I’m so sorry you got hurt, though. I know how much you love to wear sandals with this dress,” Blu whispers to me with apologetic eyes.
I reach up from my seat to give
him a mini hug. “It’s okay, let’s celebrate your life. Your freer, happier life.” I smile back at him. “Okay?”
Blu nods and I think tears are filling his eyes as he turns to take his seat. Pen comes over with her famous roasted prime rib to accompany her roasted baby veggies and rosemary garlic mashed potatoes.
“Wow, Pen, everything looks so good. I’m sorry I knocked out all afternoon and didn’t help.” I look at my beautiful friend in her circa 60’s red chiffon cocktail dress.
“It’s fine. Ben and Cory helped, but I think we would have more veggies and potatoes if they didn’t,” Pen giggles softly.
“Well, I can’t help it if the smell of the roast had me drooling,” Cory sulks.
“You snacked on all the leftovers from the picnic all afternoon,” Ben says dryly.
“Okay. Let’s eat before Amelia falls asleep in her food,” Craig says, pulling me up closer to him with a smile on his face.
I open my droopy eyes. “Told you it makes everything heavy.”
The delicious meal and desserts float by as I try to keep my eyes open and enjoy everything around me. I love this feeling of sitting down to dinner with people who I care for. It gives me sense of security and family that I never got when I was younger. No one is worrying about job security, social security, 401K’s, or breaking six figures. They are happy and joking with each other, getting to know one another and laughing. The laughter is the best of all. This is what all family dinners should be like.
I am cradled in Craig’s arms with Larry held close to me. “We’re off to bed already?” I ask nuzzling my face in Craig’s chest.
He smiles at me and takes the stairs up to the bedroom. “Amelia, you’ve been napping at my side for the last twenty minutes with your fork in your hand.”
“See? This is why I don’t take pain meds, they poop me out. I’m no fun snoozing all the time.” I let out a yawn and hug Larry closer to me.
“Well then it’s a good thing that we’re going to bed. You need another pill since it’s bedtime.” Craig sets me down on the counter in the bathroom.
“Oh no, you’re not trying to convince me to take more, are you?” I ask. I can feel my eyes getting wider with each word.
“Amelia, it’s going to hurt and throb if you don’t. What if in the middle of the night I accidently kick your foot or Larry bumps into it. It hurts me to see you in pain.” Craig shakes a pill out of the bottle and gets me a glass of water.
“But it makes everything weird and wobbly.” I stare at him.
“Again, it’s a good thing you’re going to sleep. You won’t notice anything wobbling,” he counters. “Amelia, just take this tonight and tomorrow we’ll switch over to aspirin, okay?”
I sigh and do as I’m told. I’m too sleepy to argue. Craig helps me change and get ready for bed. He’s so gentle and caring with me. In my groggy, drug-fogged mind, I allow myself to dream about marrying him and having beautiful children with teal-gray eyes playing in a big yard with their dad. And in my mind, I dream of him crawling into bed and saying he loves me as he pulls my body to his.
I am laying on a cold surface and I can’t see anything. I feel as if my body weighs a ton and I can’t move. My brain is telling my body to move but the only thing that’s happening is the twitching of my left leg. There’s pain and it’s shooting up my leg like a blowtorch is being held to it. Burning my flesh off slowly as it travels up my thigh. I will my body to get up as fear and panic set in. Tingling sensations prickle down my spine as adrenaline shoots through my body and I sit up gasping to take air into my burning lungs. My heart is going a mile a minute as my eyes adjust to the dimly lit bedroom and I remember where I am. I look around and barely recognize the room in the dim light.
Outside, the once picturesque and idyllic ocean is now raging with waves only the guys on Deadliest Catch would want to deal with. That’s Oregon weather for you.
I lie back down. Letting the cool sheets calm my overheated skin. As I stretch out, I look over at the nightstand. It’s a little after eight in the morning. Craig and Larry are nowhere in sight but I can hear noises downstairs. I roll over a bit. I can smell Craig on one of the pillows. My body tingles and I have a giddy feeling between my thighs. Man, that guy is sexy. I let out a yawn and it feels as if I just licked a tennis ball. Damn Oxycodone, more like oxy-coat-fuzz-on my tongue. I turn to get out of bed, wanting to rid my mouth of this feeling. The second my left foot hits the floor I fall back into bed and huddle my body into a ball.
“Son a of bitch that hurts!” My face scrunches in pain. Tears are seeping out the sides of my eyes as I take in deep breaths to ride through the burning pain. I’ve had other sprains, a broken tailbone, bruised ribs, but nothing has ever felt this painful before.
“Damn it, the moment that I leave to let Larry out, you have to get up!” Craig bursts through the bedroom door, gathers and pulls me into his lap. His kisses down the side of my face to soothe me. “Are you okay?”
I nod. Rubbing my face into his warm chest. “I don’t know why it hurts so badly this time.” I chance a look at my foot for the first time. I want to claw at Craig’s arm in fear and disgust with what I see. Blu’s description didn’t do justice. I have a dark purple seventy year-old lady’s swollen cankle. Oh my God, I’m going to have to wear those leather orthopedic shoes that only come in black, cream, or white.
“Amelia, your doctor said it was a bad sprain.” Craig sweeps some of my hair out of my face. “Will you please take your pain pills now? It will help.”
I sigh heavily at the idea of feeling groggy and being weighted down all day, but right now it’s more appealing than the blinding pain shooting up my leg. I look up at Craig and give him a reluctant nod. “That means I’m going to be knocked out all day,” I pout.
“Well, it’s a good thing the weather is crappy. You’re not going to be missing anything…and on the plus side, we can spend the whole day in bed like we’ve wanted to before.” Craig wiggles his eyebrows at me.
I laugh as he cradles me in his arms and takes me into the bathroom. I can get used to this form of transportation. “Umm, you smell good.” I rest my head on his shoulder cuddling my face into his neck.
“Why, thank you ma’am.” He sets me on the counter and turns to start the water in the tub. “How about a bath?”
How can I say no to getting naked with the gorgeous and sexy smelling man. “Sure, as long as you join me.”
“That’s a given,” he chuckles while tossing bath products into the tub. He helps me rid myself of my clothes before I sit back and enjoy my strip show. Where’s a wad of cash when you want to make it rain.
I let out a contented sigh when he slowly lowers me into the soothing bath with him. “Craig, what’s poking at my butt?” I lean back onto his chest.
“I think it will help with the swelling.” Craig starts pressing his thumb on my shoulder working out the knots.
“What if it bruises my butt and dehydrates us? I’m already feeling dehydrated from the meds. I’m scared I can’t handle it.”
“It’s okay, baby, trust me. Afterward, I’ll rub lotion on it while you have some soup.” He leans down and starts nipping at my neck.
I squirm and wiggle my bottom, trying to get accustomed to the foreign probing. “Will it hurt for long, it’s not very comfortable.”
Craig smiles against my neck and wraps an arm around my waist. He pulls me up to him so my bottom is off the tub and brushes the pile of rock salts away so I’m no longer sitting on it. “Better?”
“Yes, thank you. Soup, you said?” I turn to look over at him. He hasn’t shaved in the last two days and his stubble is forming a dark beard. It’s thigh-clenchingly sexy.
“Yeah, Pen made it this morning. Everyone is downstairs having some. Blu mentioned something about his undercover alias and I think Cory and Ben are planning on going for a hike over at Devil’s Watering Hole.” Craig continues to work his magic fingers on the knot in my neck.
“Oh, are they w
aiting for you? You should get ready. I can make it down stairs if you could bring me the cru—” Craig starts to nip at my neck again and all thoughts leaves my brain.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m right where I want to be, next to you,” Craig says against my skin.
My insides melt with the excitement of spending a whole day next to Craig, but I wouldn’t want him to sit around waiting on me when I know how much he loves being outdoors. “No, you should go. You’re just going to be sitting around all day and I don’t want you to miss out on anything.” I reach up and run a hand across his sexy stubble. “Besides, next week you’re going to be back in school wishing you were out hiking.”
Craig pulls me firmly to him and kisses me passionately on the lips. “I am where I want to be.” He presses another firm peck on my lips before letting his hands roam all over my body.
“You’ll be bored when I knock out from all the meds,” I say with a sigh.
“No, I won’t. I’ll bring out the study materials and you can help me review for the bar.”
“Oh, when’s your exam?” I ask.
“In June. A little over two months from now.”
I know that Craig has mentioned that he will be moving to Seattle to intern at the firm there, but a part of me doesn’t want to believe it. If I do, that means he’s going to be leaving me. “Should I quiz you with or without my clothes on?” I quickly ask to step away from my sad thoughts.
Craig chuckles as his hands roam down my stomach between my thighs and cup my sex. “Baby, I’m not going to remember anything if you’re stark naked in front of me.” He trails kisses down my back while his other hand works one of my breasts. I squirm and rock my hips rubbing my back against his erection while working my clit against his fingers. I’m so close and I can feel the muscles in my stomach twitching. Rocking my hips just a bit and I feel my body tightening for that release. I curl my toes and blinding pain shoots at lightning speed up my leg and takes the pleasure away from me. My body goes limp from the pain.