Regretfully, she pulled away.
“I’ll turn on the bath water, and you take a hot soak. I’ll toss your clothes in the dryer and grab the meds for you.”
She pushed her hair away from her shoulder at the same time the top of the robe by her neck slid open slightly, and a wave crashed into me. I could hear the thud of my heartbeat in my ears. My body was hurled into a solid brick barricade as my eyes locked on the little butterfly tattoo just below her left collarbone.
I knew she said something, but I couldn’t hear what. My brain was being whipped as if in the center of a tornado while a disbelieving confusion constricted my breathing. The tiny tattoo was identical to Amy’s butterfly tattoo and in the same exact spot. WTF? The delicate curves, black outline, and the softest of blues in the wings. I swallowed hard, at the same time my finger traced the butterfly like I felt I’d done one hundred times before. I was lost for a moment as the past and present wove through me so tightly my head spun.
Déjà vu.
A few seconds later, I snapped back into reality when she cleared her throat. My eyes found hers and the soft smile on her lips. “Hello?”
I pulled my hand away. “Sorry, your tattoo. It’s, uh, beautiful.”
“Thank you. Dave took me to Rockin Tattoos in Egan on my birthday a few years ago. I have a slight obsession with butterflies so it felt right.”
I was searching her face but wasn’t certain for what as a fog overtook my brain. I stood there for another moment, trying to comprehend. “Okay then. I’ll turn on the water. Just give a holler if you need anything.”
I stood in the hallway for a few minutes with a little freaked out thing happening. I’d taken Amy to get her tattoo at Rockin Tattoo in Egan. WTH? Amy had picked the tattoo from a book that contained thousands. Had Fern looked at the same book at the same place and chose the same one?
I ran downstairs for supplies with the butterfly still floating in my mind. While the odds were slim, they both chose the same tattoo. Not too weird, correct? So what? Maybe it was only a little weird. Not super-duper weird after all. Right? I quickly came to the conclusion that it was just one of those things. Nothing to be weirded out about. Why was I using the word weird so much?
Once she was out of the tub, I was waiting in the hall for her. I scooped her up and walked toward her bedroom.
“Really, Gabe, I’m fine.”
Once inside, she pointed to the tray on the nightstand that contained a pile of scrambled eggs, strips of bacon, and hash browns I’d prepared while her hot, naked body lay in my tub. MY BATHTUB.
“I knew I smelled something.”
I set her on the bed before grabbing an extra pillow from the closet and tucked it behind her back. “I’d be a crappy host if I didn’t make sure you were good and comfy.” As if Santa Claus, I pulled out the bottle of muscle relaxers from my pocket. “The directions call for one every four hours. As I’m sure you’re aware, they can make you a little loopy so I thought we should get some food in you. And who doesn’t love breakfast for freakin’ dinner?”
She raised her hand. “I do. I like breakfast for freakin’ dinner.”
“Great minds think alike.” I placed the tray on her lap.
She pointed to plate. “You’re an impressive chef.”
“I know. I’m pretty awesome.” I cracked open the medication, handed her one, followed by a cup of hot chocolate.
“You made hot chocolate?” Her eyes, that I do not love BTW, twinkled. “Nobody ever cooks or makes me coco.” She swallowed the tablet.
“Somebody should make you hot coco every day.” Stop! “Or not.” Now ya just sound like an idiot. I grabbed the remote control from the dresser. “You eat, and I’ll put the remote for you on the bed. You probably should get some rest though.”
She somehow made eating a piece of bacon sexy. “You’re right, I should.”
Damn. “Well, if you need anything, I’ll be downstairs.” I headed toward the door.
“Gabe, would you stay with me for a while?” Her eyes dropped.
I had to fight back the urge to do a backhand spring onto the bed. “Sure. Is there anything I can do?”
“I’m just feeling tied up in knots after the car thing. I can’t seem to push it from my mind.”
I sat next to her.
She reached over and patted my leg. “Put your feet up and eat bacon with me.”
I stretched my legs out and tossed a strip into my mouth. “I think we should circle back to my culinary skills. This is kind of amazing.”
