by Nicole Dykes
Shriller nods his head as his eyes go to the list. “Okay. Got it. Thanks.”
“I know you are a coffee drinker so I’ll try to pick up a coffee maker tomorrow. Just let me know what kind of coffee you drink.”
He grins over at me, supporting his entire body weight on one arm. “You don’t have to do that Alex. I can order one.”
I put one hand on my right hip and tilt my head, “Up to you.”
I’m trying to be nice here.
He smiles again, but it’s not his usual big smirk. It’s hindered by the damage inflicted by the wreck. “Thanks for the offer, Alex.”
I shrug. “No problem.” I continue down the hallway as he hobbles behind and stop at the bathroom. “Okay, as you can see this is the bathroom. I only have one so we’ll have to share.”
I see Shriller examining the room. “Not a problem.” He walks over to the antique clawfoot tub in the room. “Wow. This is nice.”
I smile. I love that tub. It’s deep and perfect for bubble baths at the end of a long day. “Thanks. It’s actually one of the things that really sold me on this place.” I point to the shower stall next to it, “And there’s an actual shower which is nice too.”
His eyes move to the glass-enclosed shower and he nods his head. “This is a great place, Alex. I don’t get what Stephen’s problem is.”
Dammit. I really don’t want to talk about this again. I just ignore it and walk over to the sink, pulling open the cabinet below and grabbing an extra toothbrush. I hand it to Shriller. “It’s brand new, and there’s toothpaste on the sink.”
He just chuckles at my blatant attempt to change the subject and thanks me.
We walk out into the hallway again and I lead him past my bedroom to the spare. I flip on the light and walk inside with Shriller right behind. “Okay, here is the guest room. It’s not much.”
He looks around at the modest room that is only furnished with a full-sized bed, a small table next to it, and a dresser with a small flat screen TV on it. “This works.”
He sits down on the bed, no doubt grateful for the break from the crutch under his arm.
I point to the TV. “It’s hooked up to cable. So, if you have to watch porn and jerk it, please just remember to keep the door closed and keep it quiet,” I joke.
He laughs at that. “No problem, if I jerk off it’ll be in that nice shower anyway.”
He winks at me and I can’t help but to laugh while shaking my head, “That’s disgusting! You better not do that. If I find out you did, I swear I’ll kill you.”
He laughs again and I’m glad he’s momentarily brought out of his funk. I walk over to where he is sitting, looking at the sling still on his right arm.
“Okay, so I’m going to bed, but do you want me to help you with your shirt?”
His gray eyes look up at me, surprised. “Excuse me?”
I sigh with frustration. This is so awkward. “Do you sleep in a shirt?”
He looks down at the light blue t-shirt I bought for him earlier today and then back up at me. “No.”
“I didn’t think so.” I put one hand on my left hip. “So, do you want me to help you take it off?”
He rubs his eyebrow with his good hand and then moves it to his temple, rubbing in circles. Clearly the day is getting to him. He drops his hand and then smirks up at me. “You know Alex, if you want to see me shirtless all you have to do is ask.”
Ah there’s the Shriller I know. I roll my eyes at him, “I’ve seen you shirtless plenty of times, shithead. You’re nothing special.”
He laughs, “Please, you’ve been with a dude with a ‘dad bod’ for far too long. You have to be dying to see a real man in the flesh.”
He waggles his eyebrows at me, and I resist the urge to punch him. He’s in enough pain right now. Later. “Stephen doesn’t have a ‘dad bod,’ asshole, and don’t forget the first time I saw you shirtless, you had zero muscle tone.” It’s true, Stephen isn’t as toned or muscular as most of the men in my life, but let’s be honest, they are all kind of freaks of nature. He doesn’t have a gut or anything and is quite trim.
“Bullshit. I’ve always had the body of a Greek God.”
I can’t stop my eyes from rolling in my head yet again. “Do you want my help or not?”
He shakes his head, “No thanks. I’m good.”
I drop my hand from my hip. I’m not gonna beg him to let me help him. “All right. See ya in the morning.”
“Thanks, Alex. I really appreciate all of your help.”
I give him a quick smile before going out the door and closing it behind me. I should just go to my room and let him figure this out himself, but I pause outside the door.
It doesn’t take long before I hear, “Ow! Motherfucker!” coming from the other side of the door.
I sigh loudly and open the door to see Shriller still on the bed. The sling is unhooked and his left arm is out of the shirt leaving it pulled up on just that side. I tilt my head to the side, “Really? So do you still want to continue to be a stubborn asshole, or do you just want to accept my help so we can both get some sleep?”
His eyes pop up to mine. “What the fuck, Alex? Were you just waiting outside my door?”
I walk over to stand in front of him. “Yep.”
“I can do it. I just didn’t realize it was going to hurt so fucking bad to lift my arm.”
“Well the doctor said it was a nasty break and it’s going to take a lot of time to heal. That’s why I offered to help you.”
He sighs, defeated. “Fine.”
I ignore his indifference and reach up, carefully removing the sling from around his neck and sitting it next to him on the bed. I momentarily take in his fresh, clean scent and suck in a quick breath. I haven’t been this close to him in years.
I pull back and shake off that odd moment before saying, “Okay, so this part may hurt a little, but just work with me.”
He nods, totally trusting me. I slowly take the t-shirt in my hands and guide it up and over his head. So far, so good. I’m fully aware that my tits are directly in his face as I very slowly slip the shirt off over his arm, careful not to lift it up at all. He only flinches a little and then I hold the shirt in my hands.
He reaches up with his left hand to gingerly feel the spot that is broken, before pulling it away. “Fuck, who knew a collarbone could hurt so bad.”
My eyes move to his collarbone and take in the bad break. He’s definitely going to need at least one more surgery. I notice the checkered flag tattoo that he got with Brooke in high school on his left pec and take in the rest of his well inked, nicely defined torso. He’s added a few more tattoos since I’ve seen him shirtless the last time.
“Like the view?”
I quickly look back up at his eyes that are staring accusingly at me. Shit. I need to get laid like yesterday. Stephen has been really unavailable lately. Even for a quick roll in the sack. He’s been extremely busy with work, wanting to wrap up a lot of projects before our wedding and honeymoon. Truth be told, I’m going a little stir crazy.
My eyes drift back for a second and I notice a tattoo I definitely haven’t seen before. On his bruised right side, there is a name. He actually had that skank, Tiffany’s name permanently tattooed on his body!
I gesture toward it and his eyes drop down to see what I’m looking at. “You didn’t.”
For the first time ever, Shriller looks embarrassed. “Shit. She really wanted me to get it done. Said it made her hot that I would be on the cover of a magazine with her name tattooed on my side. Fuck.”
I shake my head and laugh, “Wow, Shriller. That’s really bad.”
He runs his hand through his hair, “Yeah. Oh well. I can get it covered up.”
I nod my head, trying not to laugh more. My eyes move down to the basketball shorts he has on. I’m sure he doesn’t sleep in his pants either. “Are you wearing underwear?”
“Are you?” He shoots back with a cocky smirk playing on his lips.
“Haven’t worn them in years.”
“Sleep in your shorts then.”
With that I walk out, closing the door behind me. This is going to be one hell of a challenge.
Chapter 6
Shriller
I
groan as I slowly lift my body up, slowly kicking my feet over the edge of the bed in Alex’s guest room. The pain should be getting better, right? But I swear it’s only getting worse, especially in my ribs. I look down at the purple nasty bruise spreading over my bare right side and grimace.
I grit my teeth and stand up on my left leg and hobble over to where the crutch is propped up on the bedside table. I position it under my arm and finally make my way to the bathroom.
After a quick stop, I walk out into the kitchen area and see Alex in the kitchen. Her red hair is piled on top of her head in a messy, sexy bun. She’s wearing a pair of jean shorts and a black lowcut shirt that is riding up showing a hint of tattoo peeking out on her hip, which let’s be honest, is hot enough, but she’s perched on her tip toes reaching up in the cabinet, letting enough of her smooth, toned thighs show that my dick instantly stirs in my shorts.
Fuck. I’m a dude, we notice things like this, I really can’t help it. My cock really can’t tell the difference, but I try to reason with it anyway. That’s Alex. Ballbuster galore and great friend. That’s right, just a friend. Just like Dylan and Jax.
I clear my throat and Alex jumps, knocking down a couple of boxes from the cabinet and turning to me, “Shit, Shriller! What the hell are you trying to do? Give me a heart attack?”
I can’t help the full laugh that comes out of my mouth. Alex is hilarious when she’s pissed off. Well, most of the time.
She glares at me, “It’s not funny, asshole.”
I hold up my hand in surrender, still propping myself up on the one crutch. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. What are you looking for anyway?”
“Sugar.”
She turns and grabs a canister and places the boxes that fell down back in their rightful spot, while I try not to check out the way the shorts hug her ass.
Yes, I know I’m an asshole.
Alex has always been hot. I’m not blind. It’s funny though because when I first met her at fifteen she was totally opposite from this Alex we all know and love. I shit you not, the first time I saw Alex she was dressed in a sundress, with a cardigan and her long naturally sandy blonde hair was tied with a matching bow.
I let out a small chuckle and Alex turns to me, hand on one hip. “What are you laughing at?”
I don’t think she would appreciate me bringing that up so I just shake my head and sit down at her dining room table. “Nothing.”
She rolls her eyes at me, but doesn’t push it any further. She walks over carrying a cardboard coffee cup and a scone from the bakery near her place. I noticed it when we got out of the cab yesterday. “Here, but don’t expect this every day.”
I look at the food and coffee in front of me and then look at her stunned. “You bought me breakfast?” Man, I’m so pathetic at the moment, even Alex pities me.
“No.” She answers instantly and then sighs, “I just know how crazy addicted you coffee drinkers are, so I thought I would go get you a cup of coffee and then just grabbed a scone.”
I grin over at her, “Aw, how sweet.”
“Shut up. It’s literally three buildings down. No biggie.”
“Thanks, Alex.” Then I add, “For everything.”
I can see the seriousness in my tone has made her uncomfortable. “I have to get to work. Do you need anything else?”
I take a bite from the blueberry pastry and then answer, “Nope.”
She grabs her purse, “Okay, no parties while I’m gone.”
I laugh and she leaves, locking the door behind her. I start to really dig in, when my phone starts vibrating in my pocket. I pull it out and see that’s it my manager.
Not exactly who I want to talk to, but I answer anyway. “Hey, Dick. What’s up?”
I hear an exacerbated sigh on the other line and then, “Shriller, I have told you repeatedly that my name is Richard. Not Dick.”
I try to stifle the laugh, “I keep forgetting. What’s up?”
“Just checking on your progress.”
Right. He’s just checking on his paycheck. “I’m fine.”
“Have you seen a doctor yet?”
I take drink of the plain coffee and add a little bit of sugar that Alex left on the table for me. “I just got here yesterday.”
“Well, I’ll have my assistant make an appointment for you at UCLA.”
Shit that’s right. He came to see me in the hospital the night of the wreck. That was before Tiffany and deciding instead to come to Kansas City. Oh, he’s going to love this. “Actually, I’m not in L.A.”
“What? Where the hell are you?”
I grin, knowing this will eat at him. “I’m in Kansas City.”
“Why the fuck are you in Kansas City? Have you lost your damn mind? They can’t help you there.”
“They actually have some great medical facilities here and I have some friends that I’m staying with.”
He groans. “Shriller you really should have talked to me first. Who knows what they are going to do to you there.”
I roll my eyes. My manager is one of those people that thinks L.A. is the only place in the world worth a damn. “It’s done.”
Hopefully he knows not to argue with me by now. “Fine. I’ll have my assistant research the best place and call you later with the details.”
“Sure. Anything else?”
“One last thing. That Billy kid’s funeral is on Friday. Everyone will be there. You should attend if you are able to.”
I swallow hard at the thought. I hate funerals, but I’ll be there. It pisses me off that he’s making it sound like a chore, but that’s Dick for you. “Where?”
“Austin or some hick place.”
“Houston.”
“What?” He asks.
“He was from Houston, Texas,” I answer, angered by his nonchalance.
“Right. Well whatever. I’ll have my assistant send that information as well. I have to go.”
“All right.”
We hang up and I finish my breakfast thinking about the kid and facing his family.
I jump, startled from my thoughts when there is a loud bang on the door. Dammit. That better not be Stephen hoping for some morning love. He’ll be sorely disappointed.
“Shriller quit playing with yourself and open the fucking door!” I hear Jax’s loud voice boom through the door.
I laugh and stand up on the crutch making my way to the door, opening it. Jax is standing with a grin on his face. I move out of the way to let him. “What the hell are doing here? Shouldn’t you be at work?”
“Fuck that. I’m the boss. I go in whenever I feel like it.”
He flops down on the couch, propping his feet up on the coffee table. I close the door and sit in the living room with him. “You don’t have to check up on me.”
He shrugs, “I was on my way to work, thought I’d make sure Alex hasn’t murdered your ass yet.”
I laugh at that, “Not yet.”
“Yeah, I give it a week, but I’m glad you came to your senses.”
“Me too. So, what’s up?”
“Luke and I are heading to L.A. tomorrow. Just wanted to see what you wanted us to pick up. Anything special?”
“Just some clothes. I’ll get you the key to my house real quick.”
I start to stand up and Jax says, “You know if you tell me where it is I can get it.”
He’s trying to help, but I cringe, “I can get it.”
He holds up his hands showing surrender and I walk into the bedroom grabbing the key and a piece of paper. I walk back out and hand them both to him. “That’s the
security code.”
He nods and slips them both into his pocket. “Sounds good, man. Anything else new?”
“Nope, just stuck in indoor hell,” I bite out without thinking.
He just smirks, “Well if you need to get out just let me know.”
I nod. “Thanks. I’m actually heading out of town in a couple of days.”
Jax’s face darkens with worry. “Where you going? Can’t be back to L.A. since I’m getting you some clothes tomorrow.”
“No, I’m going to Billy’s funeral.”
He nods, scratching his chin. “You want me to cancel my trip and go with you?”
I shake my head, “No, I’m capable of going somewhere alone.”
He takes in the sling on my arm and my knee still in a cast. “I don’t think so man. You gonna hobble all over? That shit will get tiring.”
“I’ll figure it out.”
He stands up. “Dylan will be here. He can go.”
“No, someone needs to take care of the shop.”
“Brooke?”
I give him a look and he laughs. “She’s a mother and has a demanding job. No.”
“Well there’s no way I’m loaning you my girl for the weekend.”
“Smart man,” I laugh.
He shrugs his shoulders, “All right then, you know who you have to ask.”
I shake my head again, “Alex has done enough. Don’t worry about it.”
He chuckles and walks toward the door. “Just ask her shithead. She’ll go and you need someone right now. Don’t be a pussy.”
Damn. I hate that he’s right. At the moment, Alex is the one person I have to almost completely rely on.
Chapter 7
Alex
W
ork was fairly uneventful today, and at around seven I decide to call it quits, leaving my manager to close up at nine. I wonder how Shriller handled his first day here? He’s always been an active guy, so being trapped inside all day had to have bugged the shit out of him.
“Alex!” I’m walking toward my car when I hear Stephen’s familiar voice calling me.