Kendrick (Torey Hope: The Later Years #4)

by A. D. Ellis

  “Fine, we learned that bathtub sex can be quite enjoyable.” Kendrick winked at a blushing Jay.

  “Oh my God, Kendrick, is nothing private with you?” Jay laughed.

  “What, there’s water all over the floor, we’re both flushed and relaxed, and I’m sure they could all hear most of our interaction in here anyway. There are no secrets between friends and family.”

  “Although, if you wanted to keep a little bit to yourself so we had to employ our imaginations, that would be okay.” Zach hollered from the hall as he walked by.

  “Yeah, next time you need a bath, we’re investing in ear plugs first.” Luke winked.

  “Alright, alright, you’re all just jealous I was getting more action than you even in my injured state. Now get me the hell out of here before my balls shrivel up and we can’t find them until the next bath.” Kendrick reached up an arm and let Luke and Sawyer heft him from the tub. Jay wrapped a towel around him.

  “I’ll get him dried off, boys. Thanks for your help.” Jay winked.

  As the door closed again, Jay rubbed Kendrick dry with another towel.

  “Let’s get you dry and dressed before the pain starts up again. Are you sleeping here or at my place?”

  “Let’s head home. Will you sleep with me?” He held onto the counter while she helped him into his clothes.

  “You know I will.” Jay helped him with deodorant, and pulled a sock over the toes on his casted leg. Looking up at him, hands around his waist, her eyes watered as she said, “You know I love you too, right?”

  “Yeah, Pixie, I heard you the other night. But I’ll never get tired of you saying it.” He kissed her before they headed to say goodbye to the crew.

  Chapter 14

  “The hell I will!” Kendrick attempted to shoot up from his chair. Legs and arms flailing as he fought to gain some semblance of balance, he winced when pain shot through his body.

  The look on Decker’s face was one of smug satisfaction.

  “You okay?” Decker asked dryly. When Kendrick nodded angrily, Decker continued. “While you’ve almost knocked yourself flat just trying to get out of the chair, you proved my point precisely. You’re not ready to return to work full time. You’re not able to drive yet because of the medication and the casts. If you can get someone to bring you into work a couple hours a day, you can do some desk work. But, I want you to take at least two more weeks off.”

  Decker crossed his arms across his chest signaling the conversation was over.

  “Deck, I’m going fucking crazy at home. The medication has me in a fog, I’ve not felt this high since smoking pot back in school. Jay works every day, so I’m just sitting there watching soap operas. I haven’t watched Days of Our Lives since college, but I turned it on last week and can still mostly follow the storylines after just a few episodes. My life is a blur of pills, pain, daytime tv, and naps.”

  “Sounds pretty nice to me. Enjoy it while you can. It’s just a couple more weeks, three at the most. I know I won’t be able to keep you away once you get the casts off.” Decker walked around to sit at his desk.

  “Can I at least come in here and hang out? I can staple papers or make coffee or run copies. Something. Please?” Kendrick pleaded with his cousin.

  Decker watched him for quite a while before shrugging. He sighed heavily, “Fine. But you have to get a ride in. If you get tired, take a nap in someone’s office. And if I think it’s too much, I’ll send you home, no questions asked.”

  “That’s fine. It won’t be a problem. I just need to be out of that house. I’ll have someone bring me each day. Thanks, man. You’re saving me from going insane.”

  “Whatever.” Decker started to go back to his work, but looked up thoughtfully. “You know, Dr. Parks is here a lot lately helping Zoey with the therapy sessions she’s running. Maybe you could get him to do your sessions here so you don’t have to find a way to his office. Just a thought.”

  “Yeah, man, that’s a good idea.”

  Kendrick checked his watch. Thank God, it’s almost time for another pill. My neck and shoulder are fucking on fire.

  “Hey man, one last question,” Kendrick had gingerly heaved himself from the chair and hobbled toward the door, but he turned with a shit-eating grin on his face.

  Decker raised an eyebrow, waiting on the question.

  “Can I get a ride tomorrow morning?” Kendrick laughed at Decker’s eye roll.

  “Only because you’re on my way. But I’m not going to be late for you, asshole. Be ready or you can find some other way to work.”

  “Aye-aye, Captain Tight Ass.” Kendrick tried to offer a mock salute, but he misjudged the angle of the cast and ended up beaning himself in the forehead. “Fuck!”

  “Serves you right. Now go home.” Decker laughed before turning back to his paperwork.

  **********

  Kendrick was able to meet with Dr. Parks at The Center+ which allowed him to spend more time in the place he loved, with people he loved even more.

  Dr. Parks still had him working through the loss of the baby, but the accident and new baby had somewhat distracted Kendrick from his anger and guilt.

  “Doc, I know Sarah’s suicide and the baby’s death weren’t my fault. I guess I’m starting to understand it’s just one of those sucky things in life we all face at some point or another. I mean, my uncle Kyle did nothing to deserve to lose his wife and baby, it was just a really shitty thing that happened. So I don’t think I feel so much guilty now, but I’m sad. I just wish I could have gotten to know him or her.”

  “I think it would be good for you to have a memorial for the baby you lost. It would likely bring you closure. You’ve said Kyle found a lot of peace once he was able to name his lost baby and officially say goodbye to her. No pressure, but keep it in the back of your mind as something you may want to do.” The doctor made notes as he spoke. Looking up again, he continued. “How are things with Jay?”

  “Good, really good. You’ll probably make notes that I’m crazy, but I’m in love with that girl. Never expected it, don’t really know what to do with it, but I love her. And, maybe even crazier, I love that baby. I don’t care if she looks like me, looks exactly like Tony or some other guy, or comes out green with orange hair, that’s my baby.” Kendrick spoke confidently, but then looked up hesitantly to see what the doctor would say.

  “No judgement here, Kendrick. No one can control who they love or when it happens. As far as the baby goes, I think as long as you and Jay keep the biological father in the loop as much as he wants to be included, things will be okay and that baby will be lucky to have you for a dad. And a girl, huh?” The doctor smiled with eyebrows raised.

  “We don’t know for sure, but I want it to be a little girl. Daddy’s little girl, I can protect and spoil. If it’s a boy I’d worry I’d corrupt him and he’d turn out too much like me. The world wouldn’t know what to do with a little me running around.” Kendrick laughed.

  “How’s the neck and shoulder? You have that pained look around your eyes. You doing okay?” Dr. Parks asked as his therapist, but his concern came across like a friend.

  “Yeah, the pain’s still pretty intense. The pills help quite a bit.”

  “Be careful with the pills, huh?” Dr. Parks gave him a pointed look.

  “No worries, Doc. They are take as needed for the pain, but I don’t go over the dosage.” Kendrick didn’t feel the need to share he’d maybe doubled a dose here and there, or taken a pill earlier than the allotted time period. He tried to shake off the guilt. Could the doctor tell he was hiding something?

  “Well, to be honest with you, it’s that as needed that gets most people in trouble. Just let me know if you start to feel like you’re needing the pills too often.”

  Dr. Parks glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to scoot, Zoey has a therapy group coming in and I said I’d help her lead it.”

  Kendrick watched the doctor walk away. The ever-present pain began its ascent from dull to throbbing to
searing within moments. Looking at the time display on his phone, Kendrick swallowed thickly to see it was still an hour until his scheduled dosage. Fuck it. I’ll just take the meds now and push the next dose off a bit longer since I’ll be asleep. He popped the two pills in his mouth and swigged his water. Next week he would be down to just one prescription. He was really hoping the pain was more under control by then.

  **********

  “Are you sure you’re feeling up to this?” Jay turned concerned eyes toward Kendrick as they walked toward the baby superstore in a neighboring town.

  Glad he’d taken the extra pain pills that morning because he knew he had about four to six hours free of excruciating pain, Kendrick smiled down at her before kissing her nose. “Yep, let’s go get our baby some bling.”

  Jay laughed. “I don’t think registering was designed to get baby bling, but if that makes you feel better about it that’s fine.”

  Once inside the store, the two of them stood in awe taking in the vast and varied products lining shelf after shelf after shelf.

  “Whoa. Baby supply overload.” Kendrick whispered. “Maybe you should have brought one of the moms with you to do this.” Doubt crept into his words.

  “Nope. All the moms and grandmas swore up and down this was something we needed to do together. They said it would be a fun bonding time, and we needed to register for the products we want, not for what others suggested to us.” Jay grabbed his arm and marched up to the registry desk.

  After the bored-looking teen had introduced herself as Hannah, she showed them how to input their information into the computer and how to use the scanners to mark the items they wanted to apply to their baby registry. Assuring them it was as easy as it looked, but promising to help if they needed it, Hannah went back to her perch behind the desk and glued her face back to her phone.

  “Okay, first things first. Our names. I guess this is so any family or friends outside of the Torey Hope clan can look it up if need be. But, I have no one, and almost everyone you know is in Torey Hope. But, it’s a required step, so…” Jay started typing in the information.

  Mother’s name: Jaymison “Jay” Keller

  Father’s name: Kendrick Jordan

  “I don’t like that.” Kendrick stated.

  “Like what?” Jay wrinkled her nose at his words.

  “Keller and Jordan. I know it’s maybe old-fashioned, but I’d like to see our last names matching on there. And the prospect of the baby’s last name…it’s just something that eats at me a bit I guess.” Kendrick shrugged.

  “People have different last names even when they are legally married sometimes. We’ve got time to figure it all out. Let’s just take it one step at a time.” Jay worried her lip slightly before returning her attention to the computer screen.

  Once all of the pertinent information was entered, they picked up their scanners and started around the store.

  Kendrick knew Jay had been reading and researching certain products, so he let her call the shots on the big pieces. Stroller, car seat, bouncy seat, bassinet, carrier, and breast pump were all on Jay. Once she had scanned those, they started in on the smaller items.

  “Do you like this color? I mean, this is the diaper bag I like, but I figure you should like the color too since you’ll be carrying it as well. I don’t want something too girly in case it’s a boy.” She held up a nice-looking bag that appeared to have more functions than most adult carry-all bags.

  “It’s nice, I think it would look hot slung across my chest.” He put it on and did a model-like walk down the aisle. “I’m going to be a DILF.” He winked at her. “You know, Dad I’d Like to Fu…” he stopped when her hand covered his mouth. Biting at her hand, he let fiery eyes travel down her body as he nipped at her fingers.

  “Shhhh! That’s enough. I know what DILF stands for.” She tried to sound stern, but couldn’t keep the laughter from her voice. “And while I agree you’ll be a very sexy dad, I don’t think we need to announce it in the store.”

  “We should get t-shirts. Yours could say I’m a MILF and mine would say I’m a DILF. It’s a good idea. Think about it.” He laughed at her eye roll, and they continued down the aisle.

  “Diapers, and onesies, and booties, oh my!” Kendrick sang as they went section by section. “Wipes, and bottles, and butt cream, oh my!”

  Jay laughed at him and compared two boxes of diapers. “How the hell are you supposed to decide on a type? Maybe we can register for a small box of several brands and try them all out before deciding which we like best?” She mumbled more to herself than to him. Beginning to scan various packages of diapers, she didn’t appear to notice when he wandered off.

  Several moments later, she looked up to find she was alone. “Kendrick?” Shaking her head, she took off to find him.

  After one lap around the store, Kendrick came strolling from the book area with a smirk on his face.

  “Where’d you disappear to?” Jay asked suspiciously.

  “Nowhere, just doing some scanning of my own.”

  “Oh, Lord. Do I even want to know?” She couldn’t help but snigger at the thought of Kendrick scanning items like a madman without her there to keep him in check.

  “I just got some things to keep our buyers laughing. It’s not like I can get into much trouble in a store dedicated to baby items.” He wrapped an arm around her. “Now, if you want to go to the adult-themed store a few blocks over, I’m sure we could have a good ol’ time picking out items for future sexcapades.” Wagging his brows at her, he kissed the top of her head.

  “No, I think we’re good for now. Let’s get a few more things scanned and then we’ll grab something to eat before heading home. You can take some medicine with dinner if you need it, and I’ll drive so you can sleep.”

  They chose a few outfits, blankets, and other essentials before returning to the counter to turn in their scanners.

  “You guys want a printout of your registry?” Hannah asked.

  “Yes, please.” Jay turned wary eyes to Kendrick as the papers shot from the printer.

  Walking to the car, Jay scanned down the list. “Ah, here we go. Let’s see what Kendrick added. Butt Paste? Anti-Monkey Butt? Baby Butz? Did you think we needed an assortment of diaper creams?” She smiled at him, knowing why he’d picked those items.

  “What? Those are funny. Maybe we’ll give the Anti-Monkey Butt to Sawyer and Luke, tell them it’s for the morning after their rough ridin’.” Kendrick laughed out loud.

  “Nipple cream?! You put nipple cream on our registry?” Jay smacked at him.

  “What? The hemorrhoid pads and nipple cream are to take care of two of my favorite spots on your body. Our family will like to know their gift is going toward the well-being of our sex life.” He edged away from her, laughing, when she smacked at him again.

  “Kendrick! You don’t put nipple cream and hemorrhoid pads on a registry! Oh my God, I’ll be so embarrassed when people see this. And if they actually buy these things I’m going to punch you. These are things I send you out for, late at night, so you have to ask the pimply kid at the pharmacy to look up a price and he shouts ‘Need a price check on nipple cream and hemorrhoid pads please.’” She couldn’t help but laugh through her blushing cheeks.

  Continuing to scan down the list, she found the section of books.

  “Oh! Books. I didn’t even think to register for those yet. That’s such a good idea, Kendrick.” She kissed his cheek. “Love You Forever, On the Night You Were Born, and….Kendrick, tell me you didn’t register for a book called Go the F**k to Sleep.”

  Jay looked at him in exasperation.

  “What?” He tried to look innocent. “I’m sure there will be nights when we want to scream that. I figured having the book might help.”

  She could only shake her head at him. “I don’t know how you do it, but somehow you make me love you a bit more each day.” Popping up on tiptoes she kissed his lips, “Thank you for loving me and this baby. Now, let’s go eat
, I’m starving.”

  Their drinks and food arrived just in time for Kendrick to take another pill. By the time they’d eaten and paid their bill, he was beginning to feel the effects of being on his feet all day, but he had no intention of letting on he was in pain.

  “I’ll take you up on driving, I don’t want to drive when I’ve just taken that pill.” He stretched out the best he could in the front seat and made small talk with her as they drove.

  The last thing he remembered before giving into slumber was Jay squeezing his hand, “Thanks for today, Kendrick. It was fun.”

  See. I can deal with the pain my way, and still give Jay the things she deserves. I just have to stay on top of the pain.

  **********

  “What the fuck is up your ass, Kendrick?” Katie poked a finger at his chest.

  “Sorry, Katie, I didn’t mean to snap at you.” He felt bad for responding the way he did when Katie had only asked a simple question about the paperwork he had handed her.

  His casts were off and he’d returned to work. He really wanted to start weaning from the medication, but fuck if the pain wasn’t more than he could handle.

  If he took the medication, the edge came off the pain and he felt a lot more mellow. If he didn’t take the medication, his mind was a bit clearer, but he was snappy and the pain seemed to sear through his body. So did the people around him want a foggy, mellow Kendrick, or a snappy, stressed, prick Kendrick?

  Katie finished thumbing through the paperwork, then slapped it back against his chest. “Well, figure your shit out, I don’t need you snapping at me.”

  Her eyes softened. “Kendrick, you look exhausted. Go home, take a hot shower, and get some sleep. Tomorrow is a new day, and as long as you’re not biting my head off, we will be just fine.”

  Kendrick smiled slightly as she turned to leave. Heaving himself down on the chair, he took out the pill bottle he’d taken to carrying with him. Take one pill up to six times a day as needed for pain. Well, he wouldn’t take them while he was sleeping, so he could push the every four hours instruction. And he damn well needed them for pain. He shook a pill into his hand. Damn, it wasn’t even officially time for another one, but he’d obviously waited too long if his hands were already shaking. Swallowing the pill and washing it down with water, he headed to his car. He had to get home before the pill made him too drowsy to drive.