Mark groans and stirs. “The fuck?”
“And he lives.” The lady snorts. “Told you to go to a doctor. Didn’t I?” She dabs the wound with another gauze pad. “But no. You’re a stubborn, stupid man who’s scared of doctors.”
“I’m ’ot ’cared of ’octors.” Mark slurs, so I have to use my imagination to try to figure out what he said.
“Yes, you are. Why didn’t you go when I told you to?”
“’Cause I din’t have time, Rashel.” His speech is funny, and I’m getting more worried. And so is Rachel. Suddenly, I remember I should have properly introduced myself when she arrived.
“Now you’ll have plenty of time for plenty of visits. I’ll let Austin know you’ll be out for a few days.”
“No!”
It came out louder than we both expected, and I share a look with Rachel. The corner of her mouth quirks up.
“I’m honna go to the shiff.”
“The only place you’re gonna go is your bed.” She snorts. “And tomorrow I’ll come back to check on you.”
“I’ll be fine.” He rolls his eyes.
“Me here or you at the doctor’s office. Your choice.” Rachel presses her lips together, trying to suppress her laughter.
Another eye roll, more exaggerated this time. “Fine. You here.”
“Good choice.” She digs back into her bag, gets a syringe and an ampoule out, and fixes a shot. “It’s an antibiotic and a fever reducer. Should be enough to bring it down for tonight, and I’ll come check on him tomorrow to see if he needs more or if oral antibiotics will suffice. You’re staying here, correct.” She delivers the information on the same note, but at the end, she lifts a brow in question, even though she already told me what my answer is supposed to be, so I nod. It’s not like I can leave him alone. “Good. Now, hold steady, this big guy is scared of needles.”
The idea of Mark being scared of anything sounds funny, but here he is, pouting like a baby at the mention of a doctor’s office.
Rachel puts the syringe on the table, stands next to Mark, and is prepping his vein when he stirs.
“Your tits are so ni-i-ce.” He snuggles deeper against me. “Firm but so soft. Been dreaming ’bout ’em fuckin’ fo’ever.”
We both pause, stunned into silence.
A loud snort followed by uncontrolled laughter makes Rachel step back in order to gain her stability back.
“Gi-i-irl, I’ve never seen him say anything like that. I didn’t even know he could.” She snickers. “Oh, Mark.” She laughs again.
I’m too stunned to move. Every time someone looks at me in a sexual way, I go into the dark place in my head. And here hesaidit. And yet, all I want to do is to laugh. I mean, it’s hilarious. The way he slurred his words is funny. And let’s not forget the way he’s clinging onto me. Or is it me clinging onto him?
The weight of his heavy body feels… safe. It’s an unorthodox feeling.
When Rachel has had enough of this fun, she takes a few deep breaths and wipes the tears in her eyes with her forearm. “All right, big guy, let’s do this.” She cleans the area on his arm again and quickly pinches the skin, shooting the medicine in. She puts a Band-Aid on and stands. “You can put him back.”
I try to move him backward, but he squeezes me tighter. Yeah, I’m not ready to let go yet either, but I have to, so I whisper into his ear, “I’ll be back in a minute.” My lips accidently touch his earlobe, and he shudders. “I promise.”
Only then does he relax and let go of me. I help him lie back down and throw a cover on top of him. I’m trying to fix the pillows under his head when I feel a gaze on me.
“How do you two know each other?” She crosses her arms, observing us on the couch.
“We’re neighbors.” I try to sound calm and collected.
“Oh, you rented Mrs. Jenkins’s place?” An understanding passes over her eyes.
“Yeah.” I fidget with another pillow I’m trying to stick under his head. I feel like the one pillow he has is not enough.
“Well, Mark’s lucky you were here.” She collects everything into her bag. “I’ll come to check on him tomorrow.”
