“I oftentimes get insights when I’m out battling waves,” he said to her then. “The mental space I’m in out there…it’s unlike any other. The clarity, but also the way whatever is on my mind becomes the only thing there.” He sounded like a drunkard in his head. Stood by what he’d said as he told Iris something he’d never put into words before. Not even for Sage.
Her expression softened, which did nothing good for his midsection. But eased the tension in his heart some. More when she said, “Strangely enough, I get that.”
The way she said it, as though she’d been there, left him in no doubt that she had been.
And called to him, too.
When? Where? Why?
He couldn’t ask. Not without knowing what dangerous territory it could lead to.
But wished he’d said something, anything, to keep the conversation going, when, instead, she asked, “What clarity did you get this morning?”
He wasn’t ready to talk about it. Didn’t have anything concrete. “We’re going to have to tackle the sex thing head-on.”
“Have it, you mean? We already tried that.”
And it hadn’t worked. Or rather, had worked far too well for his body’s sake. And maybe for hers, too. He couldn’t help but notice that she hadn’t proclaimed being over it. Which would be half the battle right there.
He shook his head, herhave it, you meanstill ringing through him. “No,” he told her unequivocally. “Just…acknowledge it. Fight it together.” Peace settled as he heard the words aloud.
And when he saw her features relax, too.
They didn’t have to fight each other. They had to join forces, allow their friendship to work for them and, as a team, battle that which was threatening to ruin them.
A new regime. One that could actually work.
His body might be a little the worse for wear, but surfing had been a success once again.
* * *
She’d iced him several times already that evening. Somehow, doing so at midnight, with the lights so low, and both of them having been asleep, felt entirely new.
Cozy.
And probably far too intimate. At the moment, she didn’t care. She could see pain on his face even while he slept.
“How you feeling?” she asked as she woke him with ready ice pack in hand.
He groaned. Helped bear the weight of his leg some as she slid the pack in place. Adding another pillow to the elevation. And then went for the pack for his back. The leg was ten minutes longer. Came first. She had it down to a science.
So did he.
Hadn’t even opened his eyes.
“Turn your head.” He did, confirming that he was still awake, and she put the fancy digital thermometer in his ear.And when the reading was normal, reached for his arm, applying the blood pressure cuff.
As long as vitals stayed good for twenty-four hours, they were in the clear in terms of invisible enemies creeping up on him. At least enough to not need to monitor blood pressure and body temperature. There were still symptoms to watch for.
And dangers to prevent.
At least his penis wasn’t hard. She wasn’t proud that she’d looked. But they were fighting together. She had to take an active role to ensure success.
And for honesty’s sake, too. Both self and otherwise.
When she saw his chin tighten, she asked softly, “You ready for a pain pill?”
“No.”
