Four

 

Enzo

 

 

I've been in this hospital bed for days. I'm so done with it. I want to go home to my own bed. I can't sleep here unless I'm doped up to my two eyeballs. And I fucking hate being doped up! I don't need painkillers I need to get back to normal life.

I'm a terrible patient. I don't know how Paige has put up with me. I've done nothing but snap at her and make her feel like crap. And I was a complete cunt to her earlier. Why did I speak to her the way I did? Why did I tell her she and I could never be anything to each other? We can't, but I didn't need to speak to her the way I did.

The look on her beautiful face tore my heart out and I had to turn away from her. She thinks I fucking hate her. How could I let her think that I hate her? I'm a fucking cunt, that's why. That, and I'm sick to death of my brother pointing it out. It's not like I'm deliberately trying to upset her. I just don't understand why each time I close my eyes I see her leaning over me. Her beautiful smile that reaches her mesmerizing green eyes. That rocking body of her. Her lips touching mine, sending me crazy with want. Her hands traveling down my body until she reaches me co... “Good evening.” Fuck. Shit.

My eyes dart wide open. Somebody always has to disturb my sexual thoughts about Paige. Not that I should be having any such thoughts about Paige let alone sexual ones. 

As my eyes come into focus I realize that's exactly who's walking towards me with a smile on her face, Paige. God, those fucking jeans are so tight. I can only imagine how tight her ass looks in those jeans right now. Better still, how it looks out of them.

Wait, is she a glutton for punishment or what?

“What the hell are you doing here?” Why did I have to snap at her like that? What the fuck is wrong with me?!

She flinches a little and stops in her tracks. There's that look in her eyes again, the painful look she gives each time I snap or say something not necessary. It lasts only a second before she masks it, but I see it every single time.

“Well, I just came to see how you're doing. I know you told me not to but I guess I don't believe that you don't want me as a friend anymore.” She shrugs.

“But if you're going to be a jackass to me again I won't bother. I'll just leave.” She turns her heel to leave.

She shouldn't be here checking on me, she should be home getting some much-needed rest. She's got dark circles forming under her eyes, and the fact she's not wearing makeup makes them more visible.

“No, wait!” I try pulling myself up, but the pain in my ribs causes me to hiss through my teeth.

“Sit back,” She pushes me back by my shoulders. I hadn't even realized she'd walked back towards me. “Why must you be such a stubborn patient?”

I rest my back against the pillow behind me as I look up at her. God, she's so beautiful. I can feel the heat of her body against my bare chest. I can see her chest rising and falling, her breasts falling heavily with every breath she takes. “I'm sorry. For what I said earlier and they way I've been acting towards you.” I offer up.

“It's fine.” Her eyes close as I tuck a stray strand of hair that's fallen from her ponytail behind her ear. I just want to touch her. I want to know that I have the same effect on her that she has on me.

Of course, I do, she's biting her bottom lip with her eyes closed, all the time trying to steady her breathing. The flush creeping up her neck proves she's aroused right now. I used to see the same flush when she was teenager every time I so much as smiled at her.

I slide my thumb over her full lips. I want so badly to kiss those perfect full lips of hers right now. I want to know what it feels like to taste her lip gloss on my tongue as I kiss her with reckless abandon. I want to slide my fingers into her hair as I hold her head in place. I want... So much.

“You're so beautiful.” And just like that, she pulls away from me. There's so much confusion written on her face. I've done that to her, confused her with the way I act towards her. One minute I'm a bastard, the next I'm touching her any way I can because I need to feel her. “I'm sorry.”

“I'm your nurse, Enzo. Nothing more.”

“Yes, I know. Kyle.”

“Kyle?” She narrows her eyes in confusion while folding her arms around her body. “What's he got to do with anything?”

“You're together. Even though I have no clue why when all he does is cheat on you.”

She raises her eyebrow at me. “You know that yet you've never once said anything to me about it. Wouldn't a friend tell another friend if they knew something like that was going on? Maybe save them the embarrassment of finding out another way?”

“How could you not know, the whole friggin' town knows.”

“Well, I guess that just makes me stupid. But thanks anyway.”

“That's not what I meant, Paige. Don't put words in my mouth. I wanted to tell you. But you looked...”

“Happy?” I nod. “Yeah. Looks can be deceiving, Enzo.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing at all. Look, I'm not here to talk about Kyle and me. I'm here to ask who's going to be helping you out once you go home. It's not ideal for you to be alone. You're going to need help.”

“No, I don't. I can take care of myself.”

“Please don't be so stubborn, Enzo. You're not going to be able to bathe and get around the house without help.”

She's right, but I'm not the kind of man who has people in and out of my house thinking I need them. It pissed me off after Autumn died and Paige refused to leave my house because she thought I need help. I have never needed anyone in my life and I'm not about to start now. Maybe with the exception of Paige. I don't want to need her, but I don't think I can stop myself.

When did this beautiful woman grow up?

One minute she was a chubby teenager living across the street from me, the next she's this gorgeous, hot, sexy, feisty woman who has me so confused inside that I don't even know who I am anymore. Her constant change in hair color, those damn tattoos, and the knowledge of piercings in places so personal only a lover would find them drives me crazy.

And how do I know about these piercings? Kyle had a big mouth. He also almost had a broken jaw for talking about Paige like that.

“I don't need anybody's help.”

“I know you're a proud man and you like your privacy, and you don't like asking for help. But I worry about you.” She rubs her forehead with her hand.

Why is she so worried about me? I'm not worth it, why doesn't she understand that?

“I worry so much about you that it keeps me up at night, do you know that?” I shake my head slightly. “Well, it does. I won't have you going home without someone being there to help you. And I doubt you want your brother helping you bathe and such. So I'm willing to help you with your everyday needs until you're back on your feet.”

“And how are you planning to do that when you have to work. And from what I've seen, you never clock off.”

“I do clock off! Point is, I have the next two weeks off work. I can use those two weeks to help you. Things will become easier for you after that.”

“I have to wear the cast for another five weeks.”

“Yes, and I can still come check on you before and after work. I've already sorted my shifts out with my boss in advance. I won't be working nights, and I won't be doing sixteen-hour shifts. Not until your cast comes off at least.”

“Why would you do this?”

“Because,” She exhales loudly, “You might hate me, Enzo, but you're still my friend, even if I'm not yours.”

“I don't hate you, Paige.” Her eyes scan mine, darting from side to side. “I have never hated you. I'm just a grumpy son of a bitch and I take that out on you. I shouldn't and I'm sorry.”

“Apology excepted.” There it is, that beautiful smile that hits me square in the chest each time I see it. “Will you let me help you?”

Let me think about this. Paige Monroe in my house helping me bathe and dress? I know I can do it myself, but I can't deny having her touching me in any way is most appealing right now. But why hasn't she given up on me? Surely, after the way I've treated her, she should have given up by now? But she hasn't and I can tell from the fire in her eyes that she has no intentions of giving up anytime soon. She's just that special.

“Okay,” I say with a sigh. Well, come on, I can't have her thinking I want this as badly as I do.

“Okay?”

“Under one condition.”

She sighs loudly. “How did I know you'd say that. Okay, what condition?”

“You move into my place for these two weeks. That way should I need anything you'll be there to help me.”

She raises both eyebrows before laughing to herself. She rubs her forehead with her hand. “Okay, fine. But I'm there to help you, nothing more. And I'm not going to be your slave in any way so don't even think about it. Right?”

“Right.” I agree.

No, she won't be my slave, but I'm going to make sure she knows why she should never want anything to do with a fucked up guy like me. As much as I want her, I need to protect her. And I will do anything to make sure she's protected.