Inod, and say, “Iexpect you to have eaten the rest of that cheese by the timeIwake up.”
Ledgergets up, helps me to get my seat turned and reclined perfectly, and then arranges the pillows thatSaoirsebrought in under my leg, under my head, and at the sides of my hurt ribs.Hetakes off my one shoe, and then spreads a blanket over me, making sureI’mcovered.He’sso careful and tender about every bit of it that it’s almost more thanIcan take.
“Thankyou,”Iwhisper.
Henods. “Letme know if you need anything.EvenifI’masleep.I’veset my alarm to go off when it’s time for you to take medicine.Idon’t know how you respond to someone waking you up in the middle of the night, but remember it’s just me.Don’tassumeI’ma thief breaking in or something, becauseIdon’t think either of us will fare well if you attack me.”
Ichuckle, even though it hurts my ribs, and nod.
Hetosses a pillow and blanket on his seat, then closes the window shades and turns off the lights before getting in his own seat and reclining it.
Ishift a bit to get more comfortable.Betweenthose two close buildings by the citadel, that pipe, and the cobblestoneground,I’vegot bruises all over, including—Ifound out beforeIleft— on my spleen.Icouldn’t have told you where my spleen was located in my body before today, but now,I’macutely aware.Especiallybecause the pain radiates to my left shoulder and chest.
Ireach a hand up to grab hold of the pendant on my necklace, likeIalways do for comfort, but it’s not there.It’sprobably the fifth time since waking up from surgery and realizing it’s gone thatI’vereached for it, andIfeel the pang of its loss every time.
IhearLedgergetting situated in his seat, but it’s too dark in here to see him.Still, though,Ikeep looking in his direction, marveling at how much he’s shown he cares for me.Thething about being so good at reading body language is that it’s easy to guess how people feel about you.Ican tell when someone looks at me and appreciates what they see.Ican tell when someone is awed by my skills.
Rightnow,I’vegot neither of those things going for me.Ilook likeIfell off a building in the pouring rain, got all bruised and broken, had surgery, left the hospital early, and then got on a plane.AndIcan’t do a single impressive thing right now.Ican’t even walk up a ramp on my own.
Yetevery bit of body language thatLedgeris showing is confirmed by every other bit.Thereis no deception— the feelings he’s showing are genuine.It’s… unsettling.Idon’t understand it.Ijust keep looking in his direction in the darkness, trying to figure out what might be going on in his head, until my eyelids are too heavy to stay open, andIlet myself fall asleep.
CHAPTER 24
A BOOT, A BAG, AND A BUNCH OF FLOWERS
ZOE
Apparently, when your body commandeers all available resources for healing, it also commands brainpower.BecauseIdon’t realize until we are off the plane that my car is in the parking lot andIcan’t exactly drive it with this boot on my right leg.IguessI’llhave to call anUber, have the driver meet me at my car, get my bigger suitcase out of the trunk, then drive me to a hotel nearLangley.ThenI’lljust pay for however many days of extra airport parking it takes beforeI’mhealed enough to get anUberto bring me back to my car.
Aswe are walking out,I’mfeeling…I’mnot sure, exactly.Asad longing?LedgerandIhave spent so much time together over so many days, andIgot used to being around him all the time.Andnow, we won’t be.Wewill still have to finish this mission at some point, and thenIguess we’ll go back to seeing each other every now and then when our missions accidentally overlap.Ididn’t thinkthat would make me sad.IthoughtI’dbe thrilled at this point, actually.ButI’mvery much not.
“Didyou drive here?”
Ledgernods. “Didyou?”
“Yep.Whichway is your car?”
Ledgermotions off to the left, soIsay, “Okay, mine is this way, soIguess this is where we part ways until our debriefing.”
“Wait, no,”Ledgersays. “Youcan’t drive.”
“Iwas going to call anUber.”
“No,I’vegot you.Giveme your keys and point me in the general direction.You’regoing to sit on that bench untilIget your car over here, thenI’mgoing to drive you home.”
“Whatabout your car?”
“I’llcome back and get it later.”
I’dargue the point, butIreally do just need to sit.Iwasn’t sureIwas going to make it to my car.Afew minutes later,Ledgerpulls up and hops out to put both our bags in my trunk alongside my suitcase that was already there.Ihadn’t decided where, exactly,Iwas going to stay whenIgot back, but the hotelIwas in before we left is as good as any, soIdirect him there.
Theentire drive home,I’mmad.MadthatIneed so much help.Madat myself for making such a rookie mistake.Ishould’ve known better than to do something as stupid as falling off a roof.I’vetraveled across roofs in all kinds of weather before just fine.WasIjust distracted byLedgerthis time?
AndI’mmad thatIlost my necklace.It’sa small thing from a lifetime ago, and it shouldn’t matter, but it does.
Whenwe arrive at the hotel,Ifeel curiosity coming fromLedgerthatIled him to a hotel and not an apartment, but he doesn’t say anything about it.Hejust gets my bag and my luggage and goes with me inside to check in.
Ithink he’ll leave then, but he doesn’t.Hetakes my luggage all the way up to my room.AsksifIwant help unpacking. (Idon’t.)Asksme whatIwant to eat.Ordersit for me.Helpsme take off the boot soIcan change into yoga pants.Helpsme to put it back on, his hands carefully positioning my leg and arranging my pants before strapping it back on.Heeven stays and eats lunch with me.
