The metal spoon clangs against the ceramic bowl and Gabe pops his head up. Shit! I’m having a hard time balancing the blue and white bowl on a matching saucer with crackers in one hand, while holding the pharmacy bag between my lips and keys and phone in the other palm.
“I bok,” I mumble out and spit the bag out on the bed.
“What was that? Your bok?” Gabe starts laughing.
“Back, dumbass. I’m back. Kinda had my mouth full.” I smirk.
Gabe grins, and it’s the first time I pay attention to the tiny dimple he has on his left cheek. How did I miss that hottie little detail?
“Multitasking?”
“Playing nurse maid for you is all. How you feeling now?” I place the bowl down on his nightstand. “I see you were able to drink a little water. Good boy. Are you hungry, not like this is a meal or anything, but at least it’s flavored liquid. Yummm…” I wiggle my eyebrows at him. “Tasty.”
“I’ll try anything at this point, I drank a little, then snoozed back off. I can’t believe I’ve been asleep for two days straight. I never even heard you leave or come back. I kept waiting to hear your bike crank up or a door shut, but then was out of it.” Gabe tries to lean forward, and finally manage to sit up and zings the washcloth across the room and lands it perfectly in the hamper. He almost falls back against the hard, oak wood headboard, but I quickly grab him under his arms and slide him back to it.
“You okay?” I shove a pillow behind him.
“Lightheaded and a bit weak,” he gasps, out of breath.
“Here, before we do anything, let’s get some drugs in you, then food. Oh, and I didn’t bring my bike, I came in my truck. That’s why you never heard it crank up.”
After he’s situated comfortably, I lean across him, grab the medicine and read the instructions.
“Thank you for everything, Evan.” He strokes my back, giving me chills. He does that to me, sends my body into sporadic bouts of shivers.
I love that about him.
“No prob, it’s my pleasure. Now quit distracting me so I can feed you.” I tilt my head and a smile peeks. “I’m going to have my hands full with you, aren’t I?”
“Who me? Nah, I’ll behave as soon as you slip out of those clothes and quit scaring up my inkwork.”
“Open wide, big boy.” I toss three pills in and hand him the water.
Gabe chokes them down in one swallow, then sticks that delectable tongue out at me to prove he swallowed them. “Do I get a lollipop now? Or at least a sticker?”
“I got your lollipop, but you can’t have it until you’re all better and we build your strength up again. Your doctor has you due for these meds every two hours for some, every four for others. He wants you well.”
“Well then what’s the hold up, feed me something.” His puckish grin is adorable. “Build me back up to par, Nurse, so I can have that lollipop.”
“As you wish.” I spoon feed him a couple of mouthfuls, making sure to dab the juice that drips down his chin.
“Ewww, that’s some nasty stuff, but I’ve never had such enthusiasm to get better and quick.”
“Too funny, well short of pouring it all over you, this might take a little time,” I joke with him.
After he finishes two bowls of broth, he’s still hungry, but I don’t want to overload his stomach, so I refuse a third as he requests. Gabe wedges himself back down and turns to his side. I take the dishes down to the kitchen and rinse them before loading them in the dishwasher. Making myself yet another sandwich, I finish it before going back upstairs. The man has nothing edible in his house, just bachelor pad grub, like sandwich stuff and chips, milk and beer. As soon as he dozes off I’m out the door to get something to make vegetable soup tomorrow. Hopefully he’ll be up to holding a little more in his belly by then. At least the antibiotics should be in his system good by then, since the doctor ordered a double dose the first time of taking them, to knock this shit out of him.
Running back upstairs, he’s still awake, much to my surprise.
“I thought you’d be zonked out again by now.” I walk over to him and press my hand against his forehead. “I think the ibuprofens finally kicking that fever out, you’re still clammy though.”
“My head doesn’t hurt anymore, so maybe so. I’m tired, but can’t get to sleep for some reason.”
“Probably those dreams you keep having. Do you remember them? Are they nightmares or what?” I ask, very curious about them now.
“I’d rather not remember them so instead of me telling you random bullshit that my brain concocts, why don’t you crawl in and tell me something about you and your life. Like a bedtime story.”
Man, did he ever slip right on out of that discussion, so he gets a summary and nothing more until I know more.
“Not much to tell. I grew up in a decent enough family. Standard parents. Dad owned a construction company, Mom worked for the school district. My sister is far too young for us to ever be close, she was the surprise baby. But I’d still kick someone’s ass if they messed with her. I have a brother out there somewhere, or so I’m told. Mom and Dad had a horrible marriage, but put on a good front most of the time. Hell, I didn’t realize that until I was older. Mom was never happy and downgraded everyone on the spot. She placed her judgments when it wasn’t her place. Dad, well rather than divorce her, threw himself into work and occasionally ran around on her, hence the brother out there somewhere. Me, I sucked at school for the most part, got too bored with it, so never tried much. Got the reputation of being a rebel, hence the rock band image, but for the most part, I faked my way through everything, just trying to fit in somewhere I didn’t belong. End of story is Dad retired, I took over the company and here I am.”
“Oh Evan, that’s not a fun bedtime story, I’m sorry you had to go through that. Do they know you’re gay?”
“Ha! Are you kidding me, hell no, no-one does, but you. Let something like that slip out of my mouth and the family would fall to pieces and crumble, believe me.” I look down. “Oh and by the way, I’m going to make you my famous vegetable soup tomorrow, to help strengthen you up if you’re able to hold it.” Quick change of subject for me.
“Oh, I will be. I’m starved right now, but my Nurse seems to think it’s not necessary to feed me anything, even though he knows I’m a growing boy.” He laughs and reaches for me, trickling fingers up and down my side when I start giggling. “Ticklish, I see. I’ll have to remember that.”
“Okay, I’ll make you a deal. You tell me something about you since you took my virginity and all, and I just spilled my guts about family secrets. Tell me a secret you never told anyone else, and I’ll feed you a popsicle or two as a treat.” I wiggle my eyebrows at him.
“What am I, like a dog? Feed me a treat, really? Okay, fine, you win, go get some.”