Atramentum

by MJ Duncan

  “We can watch George tonight if you want,” Brock offered.

  “She’ll do better at home,” Joss told him as she squeezed her eyes shut against a stab of pain that radiated through her. Hooking her thumb in the waistband of her warm-up pants helped take some pressure off the joint, and she sighed as she opened her eyes again.

  “Joss?” Maeve asked, her tone and expression worried.

  “I’m fine,” she assured her. “I promise.”

  “That has yet to be proven,” Maeve said, shaking her head as she placed a gentle hand at the small of Joss’ back to lead her from the field.

  “Keep us posted,” Scott said.

  “We will,” Maeve promised.

  “I’ll need my bag,” Joss said as they got to the dugout. “My wallet with my insurance card and everything is in there.”

  “I’ll get it,” Herold said as he hurried past them to grab the black duffle that Joss had left on the end of the bench. He handed it to Maeve. “Here ya go.”

  “And this is for you,” Brock said as he popped an instant ice pack and handed it to Joss.

  Joss smiled her thanks as she took the ice and pressed it against her shoulder. Come on, baby, start working your magic, she thought as the ice pack began chilling the fabric of her shirt covering the injury.

  “Thanks.” Maeve shouldered the bag and tipped her head toward the parking lot. “You ready?” she asked Joss in a low tone.

  “Yeah.” Joss looked at Michelle, who was watching from the bleachers with a hand on George’s collar. “Can you fill in for me?”

  “Badly,” Michelle replied with a smile as she let go of George’s collar. “But yes.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Thanks for keeping an eye on George,” Maeve said. She whistled sharply, and George was at her side in an instant.

  The usually goofy dog was surprisingly subdued, somehow understanding that something bad had happened. She walked slowly beside them as they made their way to the car, stealing worried glances at Joss the whole way.

  “Let me help,” Maeve whispered as she opened the car door for Joss.

  Joss let out a soft hiss as she angled herself onto the passenger’s seat, and shook her head when Maeve started to buckle her in. “I can do that.”

  “I’m sure you can,” Maeve said as she pulled the seatbelt all the way out and carefully leaned across Joss’ lap to snap it into place. She guided it into place as it retracted, and kissed Joss tenderly. “Let me take care of you.”

  Joss sighed and nodded. “Okay.”

  Maeve kissed her again. “Good.”

  Even though Maeve closed the car door as softly as she could, the vibration of steel meeting steel still sent a shock wave of pain shooting down Joss’ chest, and she grit her teeth to muffle the pained “Fuck!” that escaped her. She focused on keeping her breaths long and even as Maeve helped George into the car, and forced a tight smile when Maeve climbed behind the wheel.

  “I don’t know where the hospital is,” Maeve admitted as she started the car.

  Joss smiled. “Let’s worry about taking George home first, and then I can tell you how to get there.”

  “You sure you don’t want me to drop you off and then deal with George?”

  “Nah, it’s okay.” Joss shook her head as Maeve shifted the car into drive and pulled out of the lot. The absolute last thing she wanted was to be in a hospital by herself. She hated hospitals. The last time she had been in one was the night her parents had died, and she had gone out of her way to avoid them ever since. She knew from the amount of pain she was feeling that Maeve was right and that she needed x-rays, but she also knew that the only way she would make it through the ordeal was with Maeve by her side. “I’ll be fine.”

  Maeve looked like she wanted to argue, but some of the panic Joss was feeling about going to the ER must have shown on her face despite her best efforts to hide it, and she just nodded instead. “Okay.”

  Joss blew out a soft breath and closed her eyes as she leaned her head back against the headrest. “Okay.”

  Twenty-Seven

  By the time Joss climbed back into Maeve’s car after spending three long hours in the emergency room, waiting to get x-rays taken so that a doctor could confirm what Maeve had suspected back at the field, she was beyond exhausted. “I can’t believe I actually broke my goddamn collarbone.” She tugged at the strap of the sling cutting into the side of her neck. She had only been wearing it for half an hour and it was already driving her insane—there was no way she was going to wear this stupid thing for the next week until her follow-up visit. “Scott's going to have too much fun teasing me about this one.”

  “No, he won’t.”

  Joss shot her a disbelieving look.

  Maeve laughed and tipped her head in defeat. “You’re right. It’s going to be open season on your pathetic ass.”

  “Hey!” Joss protested with a laugh. Pain shot through her from the small lift of her shoulders that accompanied the laugh, and she hissed under her breath as she shook her head at the look of concern Maeve gave her. This really was going to suck. “You’re supposed to be on my side, you know.”

  “I am at your side, as I’ve been all night.” Maeve smiled sweetly.

  Joss rolled her eyes, only marginally annoyed at how well it worked. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

  “I know, right? It’s come in quite handy over the years.” Maeve winked as she twisted her key in the ignition. “So, Ms. Grumpy Butt, can I interest you in a lazy late-night-slash-holy-shit-it’s-already-morning cuddle in my ridiculously comfy bed where we fall asleep to the melodious sounds of whatever the hell is on Food Network?”

  Joss smiled. “Well, gee, how can I say no to an offer like that?”

  “Pro tip, Perrault,” Maeve teased as she shifted into drive. “When the woman you’ve just started dating asks you to come to bed with her, you should at least pretend to be excited about the opportunity.”

  “Ah, okay. Got it,” Joss sassed with what she hoped passed for a playful smirk. She shook her head and wished that her left arm was not rendered completely useless so that she could reach out and take Maeve’s hand into her own. “In that case, I would love to go to bed with you, Maeve Dylan.”

  “Good.” Maeve rolled her eyes as she pulled her phone from her pocket and quickly glanced at the screen. “You need to call Scott and let him know that you’re okay so he stops blowing up my phone.”

  Joss laughed. “Has he really been that bad?”

  “He’s worried about you,” Maeve said with a small shrug. “It’s cute.”

  “I’ll make sure to tell him that,” Joss chuckled as she pulled her phone out of her pocket. Even though Maeve had said that he had been texting her all night checking-in, she was still surprised when he answered before the end of the first ring.

  “You’re alive.”

  “And kicking,” Joss confirmed. “Maeve was right, I broke my damn collarbone. Doc is delusional and told me to keep a stupid-ass sling on for a couple weeks, but he said there should be no lasting damage. Oh, and Maeve says you’re cute.”

  Maeve laughed and shook her head.

  “While my ego appreciates the compliment, do I want to know why?”

  “I dunno, Sir Textsalot. Do you?”

  Scott laughed. “I was worried.”

  “I appreciate it.” Joss smiled. “But I’m fine. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Nah. Take a day to rest. I got the store for tomorrow.”

  “Scott…”

  “Joss,” he countered. “I’m serious. Atramentum will still be there on Tuesday—just take a day off. You’ve been working yourself to the bone since you got back, it won’t kill you to just relax for twenty-four hours and let your body begin to heal.”

  It was clear by his tone that he meant it, and Joss sighed as she scrubbed her good hand over her face. He was right, of course, even Helen took the occasional “mental health day” during the high seasons, but she hated the ide
a of abandoning Scott when the store would most likely be bursting with customers. “You’re sure?”

  “Yeah. You need a break. Just hang out with that pretty girlfriend of yours for a day and watch some Netflix or something.”

  “I like the sound of that,” Maeve spoke up before Joss could argue with him further.

  Joss looked at her and arched a brow in surprise.

  “Sorry. But you’ve got the volume turned up really high on that thing.” Maeve waved a hand at Joss’ phone. “And, since I can see that you don’t want to do it, I figured I’d add my two cents.”

  “You’re in the middle of edits. You don’t have time to waste an entire day watching TV,” Joss reminded her.

  Maeve shrugged. “So? I’ll add a chapter or two to my schedule for the next few days to make up the difference. It’s one of the perks of being self-employed.”

  Joss sighed. “Two against one isn’t fair.”

  “Deal with it,” Scott chuckled. “Nicely done, Maeve.”

  “Thanks!” Maeve replied loudly. “I’ll keep her home tomorrow, but come Tuesday, she’s your headache again.”

  “I wish I could say that I look forward to it, but…”

  “You guys do know that I’m the one holding the phone you’re conversing through, right?” Joss grumbled.

  “Whatever, Perrault,” Scott said through a yawn. “Right, well, I’m gonna go to bed now. Call me if you need me.”

  “I won’t,” Joss promised.

  “I will,” Maeve assured him.

  Joss shook her head. Part of her wanted to be annoyed by their meddling, but there was a part of her that found it sweet. It had been a long time since anyone had cared enough to insist she put herself first. “Yeah, yeah. You’re best buddies,” she muttered. “Call me if anything happens tomorrow, Heitz.”

  “You got it, boss. See you Tuesday,” Scott signed off with another yawn.

  “You need to rest so your body has time to heal,” Maeve said when Joss flicked off her phone and dropped it onto her lap. She reached across the center console and gave Joss’ leg a gentle squeeze.

  “I know.” Joss looked down at Maeve’s hand on her thigh and covered it with her good hand. “I don’t do sitting still well,” she confessed, stroking her thumb over the back of Maeve’s knuckles as they turned off the main road and onto their driveway. “I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I spent an entire day doing nothing. I’ll probably drive you nuts by noon,” she added only half-jokingly.

  “Nah, maybe by dinnertime, though,” Maeve sassed. She chuckled and gave Joss’ thigh a light squeeze. “I’m sure we’ll be able to come up with something to do to keep you from going stir-crazy. Hell, worst-case scenario, I’ll just make you take George on a walk or something.”

  Joss sighed and shook her head. “You’re sure you want me to bug you all day tomorrow?”

  “Today,” Maeve corrected with a grin as she nodded. “And, absolutely,” she added as she pulled to a stop in front of her garage and killed the engine. “In case you haven’t noticed, I kinda like spending time with you.”

  Joss smiled. “I kinda like spending time with you, too.”

  “I’m glad,” Maeve murmured. She leaned across the center console and kissed Joss softly. “Do you want to shower before we get in bed?”

  Joss grimaced as she imagined how much it was going to hurt to take off the sports bra she had managed to talk the doctors into letting her keep on during her exam, and nodded. “I probably should.”

  “What’s that face for?” Maeve asked.

  “Getting this sports bra off is gonna suck.”

  Maeve waggled her eyebrows. “Oh, well, lucky for you, I’m pretty good at getting you naked.”

  Of all the responses Joss might have expected, that one was nowhere on the list, and she huffed a small laugh that had her wincing in pain as she nodded. “Yes, you are.”

  Maeve smiled, clearly pleased that her quip was well-received, though her brow wrinkled with concern at the grimace on Joss' face. “In all seriousness, though, would you like me to help you?”

  Joss nodded, her amused smile softening to one of gentle affection as she whispered, “I would.”

  Twenty-Eight

  Joss sighed as she caught sight of her reflection in the windows beyond the large, cast-iron clawfoot tub at the far end of Maeve’s expansive en suite master bath. She looked even more exhausted than she felt. Her hair was falling out of the ponytail she had pulled it back into for the game, the usually wavy strands falling imply around her ears and over her jaw, and there was an anguished slant to her mouth that belied the pain she was doing her best to pretend she did not feel.

  The sound of water beating against travertine-tiled walls drew Joss’ eyes to the shower on the other side of the bathroom that was more than large enough for two and had enough shower heads for six. It was the kind of shower that graced the pages of design magazines, and even though she was practically dead on her feet, a small smile tugged at her lips as she imagined how nice it was going to feel to step into the hot water.

  “You ready?” Maeve asked.

  “As I’ll ever be,” Joss muttered. She grit her teeth to keep from wincing as she gingerly removed her sling, and blew out a soft breath as she tossed it onto the vanity behind her. She averted her eyes as she hooked the thumb of her good hand into the waistband of her pants to push them down over her hips, and looked up in surprise when Maeve’s hands took over the task.

  “Let me help,” Maeve whispered, her gaze cautious and concerned as she watched Joss’ face for any sign of discomfort as she began undressing her.

  Part of Joss wanted to insist that she could handle her pants and stuff herself, but it was late and she was exhausted, and the light brush of Maeve’s fingers against her skin felt so nice that any words of protest died before they could form on her tongue. She braced her right hand on the edge of the vanity to steady herself as Maeve knelt before her, tossing her warm-ups and underwear aside before starting on her socks, and smiled shyly when Maeve stood back up in front of her.

  “Hi.”

  “Hey, beautiful,” Maeve murmured, a small, lopsided smile quirking her lips as she reached for the hem of Joss’ tee. “Ready?”

  Joss nodded and held her breath, knowing that this part of the process was going to hurt. They worked her good arm around of the shirt first, and she angled her head through the neck opening that Maeve lifted carefully higher. Sliding it off without putting too much stress on her affected shoulder was easy at that point, and Joss let the breath she had been holding go in a long, slow stream as she prepared herself for the next part. There were tears in her eyes when Maeve finally finished removing the sports bra, and she swallowed hard against the pain as Maeve tossed it aside. “I’m okay,” she insisted, trying to soften the worry that was written on Maeve’s face as she cradled her left arm in her right hand, taking the weight off her shoulder.

  The hold granted her immediate relief from the intense, stinging pain that had burst through her shoulder and upper chest moments before, and she sighed as she realized she would be wearing the stupid thing for the next couple weeks like the doctor had suggested.

  Damn it.

  Maeve did not look at all convinced by Joss’ assurance, but she nodded. “Okay, then.” She bit her lip as she looked at Joss’ injured shoulder, and shook her head as she leaned in to press a soft breath of a kiss to the very edge of the bruise that marred her upper chest, avoiding the raised bump beneath the angry, purple-black center of the bruise that marked the spot of the fracture.

  The feeling of Maeve’s lips against her skin was heavenly, and Joss sighed as she leaned her cheek against the side of Maeve’s head. “That feels good.”

  “Good.” Maeve lifted her head and dusted a similar kiss across Joss’ lips as she pulled the rubber band from her hair. She smiled and took a small step back, her fingers trailing over Joss’ sides and hips as she glanced over her shoulder at the shower, whose glass d
oor was already beginning to steam over. “Looks like the water’s ready. Do you think you’ll need help washing your hair?”

  Pride demanded Joss say no, that she would find a way to manage the task on her own somehow, but exhaustion forced the truth from her lips instead. “Probably.”

  “Okay.” Maeve nodded. “Why don’t you get in before you get too chilled, and I’ll be there in a sec.”

  Joss nodded and slipped past Maeve to pull open the shower door, and she adjusted the water temperature as she stepped inside. The feeling of hot water shooting against her back was glorious, and she groaned as she tilted her head back beneath the spray, turning her body enough that the falling water did not hit her injured shoulder. Maeve had already anticipated how the various showerheads would hit her, and she had only turned on the two on either end that were more traditional fittings. There really were few things in life that were better than a hot shower with incredible water pressure.

  One of those things that was better, however, was the feeling of soft hands sliding lightly over her waist as Maeve joined her.

  “Keep making noises like that and I’m going to get jealous of my shower,” Maeve teased as she ducked her head under the spray shooting from the shower head opposite the one Joss was under.

  Joss chuckled as she blinked her eyes open, and smiled when she saw Maeve standing across from her. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about,” she murmured as she let her eyes sweep over Maeve’s body.

  “Sweet talk like that will get you exactly nowhere tonight.” Maeve winked and picked up the bottle of Dove body wash and a loofa from the array of shower products that lined the built-in shelf that spanned the back wall of the shower.

  “That’s good,” Joss admitted. “Because I’m tired. And sore.”

  “I’ll bet,” Maeve murmured as she knelt down and started spreading the soap over Joss’ legs. She worked quickly and efficiently, moving up over shins and thighs and hips, and she waggled her eyebrows as she swirled the loofa in a languid figure-eight around Joss’ breasts.