Chapter Eleven

 

Evan

 

My internal alarm chimes through my body, rattling me awake. I reach out for my phone to see the time. It’s 5:13 a.m. Yawning, I flip back over, reaching for Gabe only to find his spot on the bed’s empty. I sit up and luckily we left a lamp on last night, or I would have stepped in the plate with the melted popsicle he never got around to eating.

“Gabe, where are you, babe?” I get no response and freak out. I run out the bedroom door and down the stairs. “Gabe, are you down here?”

Still nothing, so I dart back up the stairs, taking two steps at a time, almost plowing through the wall at the top landing, and head back in the room. Just as I do, he walks out of the bathroom, with a towel wrapped around his waist, and hair a hot mess. I bend over, putting my hands on my kneecaps and try to catch my breath.

I know better than to move this fast with no caffeine in my blood yet.

“What happened to you?” He starts laughing. “Forget where you are or something and having a panic attack?”

“No smart-ass. I was looking for you and couldn’t find you.” I stumble over to the bed and toss my body back against it. “I know better than to move this fast with no caffeine in my blood yet. Damn near ran through your fucking wall.”

“Hahaha. What, did you think I was lost in my own house?”

He just thinks he’s something else now, doesn’t he?

“I told you, I have a thing about being dirty, so I grabbed a quick shower. Sorry I didn’t get permission, Nurse Sexy.”

The urge sweeps over me to go yank that towel off him and pop his lily-white ass, but I refrain, not knowing how he’s feeling. He seems much better this morning.

“How did you sleep?” I sit up and slap my hand on the bed for him to come sit by me.

“Like a rock. I slept hard and sound for the most part. Had a couple dreams, but none about my parents. That’s strange, huh? I’ve been having them for twenty years, and for the first time, nothing to do with them, just other stuff that happened back then.” He holds up a finger, then grabs a Q-tip and dries out his ears. Next, he brushes his teeth, then makes his way back to the bed.

“Maybe it’s because you’ve never told anyone and kept it all bottled up inside. It’s not such a bad thing to have someone you can trust.” I bat my eyes at him.

He reaches over and runs his hands through my hair. “Never tried it before. This is new territory to me, so bear with me.”

“You should try it more often, like telling me about this Officer Harrison.”

“And you need to pick a little patience off the vine.” He leans over and kisses me, then changes the subject. “I already took my medicine, and I’m starting to feel better now. Those must be some damn powerful antibiotics Doc sent for me.” He climbs off the bed and heads to the vanity, grabbing a brush.

“Apparently so, you’ve been up and on the ball. I slept through it all, didn’t even feel you get out of the bed. I think your story wore me out mentally.”

“I don’t doubt it. It’s twisted me up for years.” He turns to face me, as his smile fades and his eyes zoom in on me. “But right now, we have an issue to discuss and a serious one.”

“Oh Lord, am I in trouble?” I ask. I hope I’m not pushing him too hard for answers.

“Well, not quite yet, but if you don’t get that perfect little ass to the Walmart super center and get the stuff for your infamous vegetable soup, I’m going to go. I’m starving, and this liquid shit is for the birds.”

“Okay, okay, give me about thirty minutes so I can make a cup of coffee or ten, then grab a shower. Is that okay with you, my frisky, yet impatient and very demanding patient?” I wink at him. “Apparently, I’m dangerous when operating equipment without the proper levels of caffeinated beverages, including my own legs. Imagine me behind the wheel of a truck. You might not have a house, or even a neighborhood by the time I’m done with it.”

Gabe runs his chin between two fingers like he’s thinking about it, while I climb out of bed, again. “Hmmm… Well I reckon, but make it snappy. Would you like me to just hook you up to a coffee IV bag?”

“That might just work.” After I’m cleaned up and downed half a pot of liquid energy, I grab my truck keys and head down the stairs. Before I get to the front door he hollers down for me.

“Grab some beef stew meat to put in it too.”

“But Gabe, then it won’t be vegetable soup, will it now?” I laugh.

“Just do it already and hurry back. Drive safe.”

I slam the door behind me.

While rushing through the aisles, I decide to fill his fridge up a bit and grab everything to do that. Just getting the plain ol’ basics like butter, milk, eggs, bacon, more lunch meat, frozen meat, canned goods, then head to the vegetable and fruit section. I spot some fresh cherries, no clue if he likes them, but take a chance and grab them anyway. After I run through self-checkout, I’m back to his house in under an hour. I hate shopping and rush through it, but I’m fairly certain I got everything needed.

Carrying the groceries in, I place them on his kitchen counter and run upstairs to check on him. He’s asleep again.

Placing my hand on his head, he still has no fever, good deal.

“What took you so long?” Gabe sits up straight, and I jump back about five feet.

“Fuck, I thought you were asleep. You scared the crap outta me, dude.”

“I just wanted to see if you really do check on me while I sleep. Guess you do.”

“I told you I did, why would I lie about it?”

“People lie for stranger reasons than that, now lean down to me.”

I bend over and he wraps his arms around me, planting those pouty lips against mine. His tongue slips inside my mouth, circling my tongue and I almost cream myself on the spot. He’s so passionate and tender. He delves in deeper, and we tongue tie each other in a fight for possession. Of course he’ll win, because I become melted butter around him and lose control of all my senses. When he does, his lips crease at each side and I know he’s grinning about it. He slows his pace, then pulls back, tugging on my bottom lip as he does, then sucks it into his mouth. Our eyes meet.

By God, he’s the hottest fucking kisser on the planet.

“What was that for?” We finally break apart.

“Because I miss your taste. You’re tantalizing, by the way. I want you so bad, but maybe later. After you build up my strength.” His stomach growls right on point.

“Looks like you’re building up just fine to me.” I point down to his hard on hidden under the towel.

“That beast, it never knows when to behave.” He acts like he’s slapping it down.

“Don’t you dare punish it, hurting it means you hurt me too. Okay, let’s change the topic. It’s like six-thirty in the morning, do you really want me to start the soup now?”

“Absolutely, it’ll take a few hours to cook, so get to it, Nurse.”