by Lizzy Ripp
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry. You are definitely not Yaro.”
“I could be,” came a grizzled voice from the other side of the bed. “But you’ll have to give me a look-see first so I know what I’m getting into.”
“No, uh - that’s okay,” Julia said, backing out and getting caught up amongst the curtains with another small shriek.
She heard familiar laughter from the next bed over and made her way in that direction, feeling distinctly frazzled as she swept back the curtain to find Yaro doubled over, laughing and grimacing alternately.
“It hurts to laugh,” he giggled, holding his head with one hand, “But that was fantastic. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who got to experience Mr. Beauregard’s bare ass.”
“Yes, well,” Julia mumbled. “Thank you for sharing that with me.”
The two of them stared at one another for a moment, smirking before breaking into a fresh peal of laughter that left Yaro grimacing once more.
She laid a hand on his head. “Hurts a lot, huh?”
“God, yes,” he mumbled. “It’s like someone took a hammer to it.”
“Concussion then? Like they said?”
“Yeah,” he nodded grimly. “I’ll be out for a little while. They did some scans but the results won’t be in until tomorrow. They said I could go home if I had someone to watch me, but apparently they’d rather keep me since I live alone,” he looked annoyed. “So I guess tonight it’s just me and Mr. Beauregard there.”
“I could watch you,” Julia said, feeling suddenly shy as soon as the words were out of her mouth. “I mean… I wouldn’t mind.”
He blinked at her. “It’s uh - it’s not going to be very entertaining. Because I’m pretty sure, if I feel anything like I feel now, I’ll just be moaning the entire time.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t mind. It’ll be like a slumber party. An adult slumber party,” she corrected, then reddened at the implication. “Not that I -”
He shook his head, watching her bounce between blunders with the speed of an Olympic squash game, a small smile on his face that she didn’t quite know how to read.
“Well, if you’re genuinely offering, that’s… That’s really kind of you,” he said. “I’d like that.”
“Okay,” she said, giving him a small smile. “I’ll go let the nurses know.”
——
As Julia left the hospital room, she encountered a group of very large men, who had, it seemed, gotten into the closed ward through less than legitimate means. She recognized them all right away as Yaro’s teammates with Jonathan in the lead, and widened her eyes, ushering them directly back out the way they had come.
“You are NOT supposed to be here and I am NOT having a bunch of complaints against you clogging up my to-do list tomorrow. I have enough on my plate already, thank you very much. Waiting room. All of you.”
“We just want to see Yaro,” Jonathan protested as Julia forcibly corralled them all out the door.
“He will be out of here in about an hour,” she hissed. “So park yourselves in the waiting room and wait like everyone else!”
“What about you?” Luke LaRois asked, gazing at her with an eyebrow raised.
“I was sent here by Jerry to make sure everything is going smoothly,” she said. “Were you?”
“Fine, fine, we’ll wait,” Jonathan said. “There a bar around here?”
“It’s a hospital,” Julia said blankly. He stared at her.
“Just wait here,” she said, emphasizing every syllable. “Please.”
Sighing, all the men headed over to the chairs - comically small to their hulking frames, and sat down as Julia returned back inside to talk to the nurses.
“He’s all good to go in that case,” the nurse said as Julia informed her of her ability to take him home and watch over him for the evening. “But you’ll want to make sure he gets lots of rest tomorrow. He’s not to undertake any serious physical activity for at least the rest of the week.”
Julia’s heart fell. “Oh,” she said. “We were… We were supposed to fly out of town tomorrow.”
“Absolutely not, I’m afraid,” the nurse said firmly. “He’s going to have symptoms of concussion for at least a few days, maybe up to a week. He can’t do any travelling in that time.”
“Of course,” Julia said. “Thank you. I’ll let him know.”
“I’ll be in shortly with his discharge papers,” the nurse said, giving her a small, terse smile before returning to her work. Julia walked down the hallway, putting on a smiling face and peppier attitude before she went through his door.
“You’re all good to go home!”
“Oh good. With you?”
“Uh. I didn’t mean you, Mr. Beauregard,” Julia said, making a face at Yaro.
“I meant you,” she said, sidling up to Yaro’s bed and putting a gentle hand on his arm. “Also, some of your teammates are outside waiting to say hello. Do you want them to come in here or do you want to catch them in the waiting room on the way out?”
“Nah, I’ll catch them then. I’m not a big fan of talking to people with my ass hanging out. No offence to Mr. Beauregard.”
“None taken,” the grizzled old voice piped up.
“I’ll um, meet you outside,” Julia said. “Do you need someone to help you get dressed?”
“Tempting. But I’m fine, thanks,” Yaro smiled. “Head out to the waiting room, I’ll meet you out there.”
With a smile and a nod, Julia left him.
A few minutes later, seated with the rest of the team, Julia found herself cheering with all the rest when Yaro made his way out a little unsteadily through the doors of the emergency ward. He raised his hands like a conquering hero and Julia rolled her eyes as Jonathan went up to give him an adorably gentle hug.
After a general congratulations on scaring the crap out of Ryan Sorbo in front of a televised audience, it was clear to Julia that Yaro was starting to get tired.
"Okay. Time to get him home," Julia said, breaking through the crowd of men, most of whom stood a good head and shoulders taller than she did, even in heels. "He's got a concussion, in case you've forgotten."
"You guys need a ride?" Jonathan asked amid the scattering of the team members, all of whom called well-wishes as they headed off into the night - home for a restful night's sleep was Julia's fervent, but she feared unlikely, hope.
"I was just going to call an Uber, but yeah. That'd be great if you've got time," she smiled gratefully, as Jonathan took his place on Yaro's other side, walking close beside him out the door to surreptitiously guard his friend from falling.
The night air was chill, and Julia felt goosebumps rise up on her bare legs as the wind whipped by in the parking lot.
"I thought you had a date with Cassie tonight?" She asked Jonathan as they navigated the crowded sea of cars.
"Yeah, but you know what they say."
"If you say bros before hos, I will put it in writing, swear to god," Julia said, only half-joking.
Jonathan looked honestly offended. "Ahem. I was GOING to say, a friend in need is a friend indeed, but okay then Ms. Internalized Misogyny."
Julia had to laugh at that. "You got me."
Grinning in triumph, Jonathan went on. "I told her I'd make it up to her at the benefit tomorrow. Besides, can't make a much better impression than being in a tux, am I right?"
"You right," Yaro agreed. "It's been a long time since I put one on, I hope I haven't lost the touch."
Julia bit her lip and decided against letting Yaro know he wasn't coming at this particular moment. He'd been through enough that evening, she didn't want to stress him out in this environment. She'd let him know sometime around 3am, when he was drowsy and comfortable at home with Max curled up by his side and liable to take it better.
"Here we are," Jonathan said, clicking the keys to his Maserati remotely. The car, deep jade in color, jumped to attention, its lights flicking on and the car door opening of its own accord
.
"Did you seriously bring your Maserati to the hospital? How are we supposed to get home in that?"
"What?" He shrugged. "It's got a backseat."
Julia peered into the minuscule backseat, hardly appropriate for the convalescing.
"Well, I guess that's where I'm sitting," she sighed, bending down to squeeze herself into the small space.
"I've never seen someone so cranky about getting into a damn Maserati," Jonathan said, shaking his head. "You're nuts. You need help bro?" He asked Yaro, who was lowering himself into the passenger seat carefully.
"Nah, I'm all good," Yaro said, looking comical as his huge bulk was neatly ensconced in the luxurious leather seats.
"Good, good," Jonathan said, letting himself into the driver's seat and running his hands lovingly over the steering wheel. "Just sit back and relax. Maria and I will get you home safe."
"Maria?" Julia asked, smiling. "Does Cassie West know you have another woman in your life?"
"Not yet, but I'm sure they'll get along," Jonathan said, grinning at her in the rearview mirror. "Besides," he said, starting the engine up with a satisfied nod, "Maria's my first love. Cassie'll just have to learn to share."
With that, he stepped on the accelerator and reversed jerkily, zipping out of the parking lot at an alarming speed, clearly enjoying all the admiring looks that came his way.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
JULIA GRIPPED THE side of the car door with terror as Jonathan tore through the streets, seeming to view the traffic signs as mere suggestions. She made eye contact with Yaro in the rearview mirror, and even in his addled state he seemed alarmed, widening his eyes at her.
Jonathan kept up a steady stream of chatter as they roared through the streets, but Julia heard almost none of it, instead praying to whatever deity she thought might be listening that she could get out of the expensive monstrosity in one piece. It was with great relief that they finally pulled up in front of Yaro's building and, judging by Yaro's deep sigh of relief, he was equally pleased to be home.
"Can you help me get him up?" Julia asked Jonathan. "It's four flights up."
"Oh I know," Jonathan said, already hopping out of his side of the car. "I've carried his giant ass up those stairs more times than I can count."
"Are you going to leave your car here?" Julia asked, as she squeezed herself out of the backseat and staggered back onto the street. She looked around doubtfully. It wasn't a BAD area by any means, but it was on the edge of a not-so-savory one.
"Not a problem,” Jonathan said, looking around him. He trotted across the street to a man wearing a Timberwolves jersey, a beanie and a pair of headphones on the shoulder. Julia and Yaro watched in interest as the man pulled his headphones from his ears, looking stunned and then smiled ecstatically. After a moment, he and Jonathan snapped a selfie together, and then Jonathan slipped him a bill, which the man at first tried to refuse. Jonathan insisted, taking the man's hand and pressing the money into it, closing his fingers around it. The man nodded, then shrugged and followed Jonathan back across the street.
"Oh man, you're..." The man said, staring with starstruck eyes at Yaro, who smiled genuinely but tiredly back.
"Yeah, you might have seen my man had a bit of an encounter tonight."
" Sorbo," the man said, shaking his head. "That guy's such a dick. "Jonathan and Yaro laughed. "You're not wrong, my man.”
Jonathan turned to Yaro. “My dude Alex here is gonna watch Maria for us while I help you upstairs, okay?" He told Yaro, who nodded gratefully.
"Absolutely," Alex said, looking seriously from one to the other. "She'll be safe with me."
"Not even worried about it, man," Jonathan said, slapping him on the shoulder.
Even with Yaro doing his best to assist them in getting his bulk up the stairs, it was slow going, and when they finally reached his apartment, everyone was grateful - perhaps no one more so than Max, who bounded up to his owner with unbridled glee before giving Julia a hearty lick on the leg and Jonathan an unwelcome crotch sniff.
"Poor little dude," Yaro said, running his hand over Max's bobbing head. "He's been stuck inside all day. He'll be busting to go for a run."
"Do you want me to take him home with me?" Jonathan asked. "So you can get some rest?"
"No, that's okay, you don't have to -"
"I know I don't have to," Jonathan said, "But would it be helpful."
"It really would," Julia interrupted. "Even though he won't admit it. Would you please?"
Jonathan nodded dutifully and Julia began trotting around the room gathering all of Max's things together. As she handed them all gratefully off to Jonathan, giving him Max's leash last of all, she added confidentially - "And just so you know... Cassie adores dogs."
"Is that so?" Jonathan said, one eyebrow cocking wildly, Jack Nicholson-style.
"Uh huh," she said. "She's got one of her very own. Why don't you suggest a late-night doggy playdate?"
Jonathan pointed at her as if she's just invented toast. "Amazing. Thank you. I've got to run bro, I'll check on you in the morning. Feel better!" He called as he and Max bounded down the stairs, one just as puppy-like as the other.
Yaro shook his head as his friend disappeared. "He's too much," he said, smiling fondly after him.
"Ah, I think he might meet his match in Cassie," she said, her own fond smile settling on her face at the thought of her friend.
"So you guys are friends now?" Yaro asked. "Legit friends?"
"Yeah," Julia said, shaking her head in amusement. "Weird but true. We got along really well the night we both had a date with you," she laughed. "Which I'm not sure many friends can claim as their origin story."
"Probably not," Yaro agreed. Julia noticed suddenly how tired he looked and remembered that this wasn't a date night. She was meant to be looking after him.
Eyeing the ladder to his loft bed, Julia ordered him to sit on the couch and scrambled up herself. Once she was up there - it was surprisingly neatly made for a single man living alone - she was tempted to lay back in the sheets and blankets that smelled so richly of him, just for a moment, but stopped herself. Instead, she fished around in his wardrobe and tossed down a pair of sweatpants and a tee-shirt before carefully lowering herself back down to the floor.
When she came back down, he was in the midst of slipping his shirt off, apparently finding it difficult to navigate with his sense of balance off kilter. Getting on top of the sofa, she helped Yaro slide his shirt off, resisting the urge to run her hands over his broad, smooth chest, and discarded it before assisting him in getting an old Pearl Jam concert tee over his head.
Then, to recover from her embarrassment and prevent him from noticing her flushed face, Julia entered into something of a maternal flurry, helping him to lay himself down on the sofa, which thankfully was the perfect size for him. She fluffed pillows and tucked him in with a throw and asked him if he was hungry and thirsty and comfortable until finally he said, "Okay already. You can put the nurse uniform away now."
Julia smiled wryly at him. "Sorry. I take my duty seriously, you know."
"Duly noted," Yaro said, settling back into the pillow and closing his eyes before leaping up again. "Ow! What was that for?"
Julia, who had given him a surreptitious pinch, said, "You need to stay awake for a bit. I’m supposed to make sure your symptoms have subsided enough before I let you turn in for the night."
"I was just resting my eyes."
"Sure," she said. "But I take your point. I'll stop pinching you. Instead, why don't you tell me why you went after Ryan tonight?"
Yaro shrugged his shoulders, disinterested. "Why not? Guy's an asshole. He's had it coming for ages."
"Yeah, but why tonight?" Julia asked. "You guys were already ahead, why did you bother?"
"I was at the Keg and Brew earlier and he was mouthing off. I made a note of it," he said casually. Too casually.
"About what?" She asked, her curiosity piquing. She was aware that she was be
ing intrusive but found herself unable to stop.
"Oh, the usual," he said, rolling his eyes. "The team sucking. Me sucking. His buddies said something about me being a fake Russian... something about you." This last bit was added as an afterthought.
"About me?" Julia blinked. "What would he possibly know about me?"
"I mean... You know we've been all over the Internet from the other day. At the coffee shop. And you're definitely keeping us in there with the - you know."
Julia blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I mean - you've kind of changed your game in the work wardrobe stakes, no?" His smile spread across his face, warm and sweet like honey.
Julia felt a twinge of pleasure that he noticed and gave a tiny, pleased smile.
"Oh yeah," he said. "Don't think I haven't noticed."
"That was the whole point," she said archly.
"Well. Mission accomplished."
She was silent for a moment and then she said, "You know, you don't have to fight anyone on my account. It's really not something I require as part of the bargain."
He smiled again. "Well, as it turns out I didn't really get to fight anyone except the boards, so that's okay."
Julia smiled. "You gave them a pretty good beating though. With your head. How's it feeling, by the way? Do you need any pain medication? They sent me with a whole bundle of goodies."
"Ooh. Intriguing. Anything interesting?"
"How do you feel about opiates?"
"Generally I avoid them, but in this case I think I might make an exception," he grimaced. "It feels like someone is sawing my brain in half."
"Oof. Yeah, let's do something about that. I'll be on hand to make sure you don't develop a habit," she grinned, rushing off to the kitchen to grab him a glass of water.
She popped two of the pills out of their bubble-packet and handed them to Yaro along with the chilled water, watching as he downed the whole glass in several gulps.
"Thirsty?"
"Like you wouldn't believe," he said, with a lascivious grin her way. She rolled her eyes, but felt a flush roll up on her cheeks as she remembered the last time she'd been in his apartment.