“Hey,” she greets me with a wide smile. “I thought that was you shuffling about.”
“Hi, pretty girl…” My body shudders as I tilt down and press a kiss to her forehead. I would give anything to kiss her lips but she’s far too short for me to get away with the motion without giving away just how much pain I’m in.
“Tea?” she offers, turning her back on me and moving to the kettle.
I gingerly rest my back against the counter opposite, toeing out of my shoes. “Yes please.”
If I can just angle my shoe onto the lip of the other one, Ishould be able to slide my foot out without any bending required. My shoe slips off the other and I almost lose my balance completely.
“What’s wrong with you?” Rosie asks suspiciously, watching me flail about like I’ve forgotten how humans take their shoes off.
“Nothing.” I brush her off. “Is it okay if I take a shower? It’s been a long day.”
Her eyes narrow behind her glasses. “Sure. I can make a start on dinner.”
“Thanks,” I mumble as I awkwardly shuffle out of the kitchen.
Just as I’m about to cross the threshold, Rosie stops me with a hand on my arm. “Are you sure you’re okay? You look…stiff.”
I force myself to bark a laugh and shoot her a wink. “Later, pretty girl.” Well, I mean at this point it will be a miracle if I can get my boots off, so we’ll have to reassess that later.
She rolls her eyes but bites her lip anxiously.
“I’ll be fine after a shower,” I reassure her and attempt to widen my stride on the way to the bathroom.
As soon as the door closes behind me, I sag against it, my energy depleted.
Thankfully, I’m wearing a shirt so it only takes a few tugs with shaking fingers to undo the buttons and pull it off my shoulders.
I turn the shower on and steam fills the room almost immediately. I glance in the mirror, turning my back and peering over my shoulder to see the angry red mark that’s likely going to turn into a pretty nasty bruise spreading across my side. Rosie’s biggest concern was my arm being yanked from its socket, but we didn’t really consider whatwould happen when I was thrown onto a mat so forcefully I had the wind knocked out of me and a medic going on about bruised ribs. I’ve had worse, walked off worse, but production still insisted they rearrange the schedule to give me a few days rest. Normally, a few days off would be a blessing but this one comes with resentment from the higher ups for adding days to the schedule.
Gritting my teeth, I sit on the closed toilet seat and fumble with my boots until they’re finally off. I’ll probably burn them. Jandals only from now on.
Once I’ve got my jeans and boxers off, I think the worst is over, until I have to step over the lip of the bathtub.
I grit my teeth. I can’t wait for a walk in, six nozzle shower head with a bench seat and heated flooring.
I cling onto the white porcelain as I swing my body over into the water. If I slip, I honestly don’t think I’ll get back up.
I hang my head, letting the warm water pound my body and soothe my muscles. With each drop that hits my skin, I will for it to heal me. I’ll get out of this shower refreshed and healthy, and ready to tease Rosie until she blushes, and tumble her beneath her sheets. I just need five more minutes.
Maybe ten.
“Jackson,” Rosie’s voice calls from the other side of the door.
“Just a minute,” I call back.
“Too late, I’m coming in. I hope you’re in the shower and not on the toilet. We’ve been moving very quickly, but I think it’s still too soon for that.”
My laugh bursts out breathlessly, causing my ribs to clench and pain to shoot down my side.
The shower curtain pulls back gently and her big eyespeer at me. “I’m going to ask you one more time. Are you okay?”
I suck in a breath. “I’ve been better.”
“Eric just dropped some painkillers off,” Rosie says quietly. “Why didn’t you say anything?”
I shrug and attempt to hide the wince at the motion.
