A WEEK AFTER MY ACCIDENT, I was finally being discharged. I would need to use a wheelchair for a few weeks until the incisions in my side healed and I could use crutches. Anna had originally planned to stay for a week or two, but since she didn’t have any classes, she decided to stay until I was back on my feet, despite my protest.
Cooper had gone back to work Tuesday but had taken off early today. He had finally got the transfer to Aberdeen like he had wanted. He moved back to the farm and had been helping his mom with his dad. Despite hospice being brought in almost two months ago, Scott hung in there. Having Cooper around took some of the pressure off Ashton, and I could tell he felt lighter. Then again, that could be all Anna’s doing.
When Mom started talking about bringing me home, Ashton and Cooper both offered to carry me up the stairs to my apartment. The problem was once I got up there, I would be stuck. Anna couldn’t carry me down the stairs.
“What if you come stay at the farm?” Cooper sat on the foot of the bed on my right side. I had my right foot tucked under my left thigh. It was as close to cross-legged as I could get for now.
“That’s crazy.” Mom shook her head. “Maria has enough on her plate. Kinsley can stay with Phillip and me in the main house.”
“There are still stairs to get to the bedroom and out the front door. I think Cooper’s idea’s pretty good,” Ashton said. “She can stay in my room.”
Cooper’s eyes cut to Ashton as he grumbled. “I don’t think so.”
“Kins could take my room and I could stay in her place like I have been.”
I knew that Ashton had been staying on the couch, so Anna wasn’t alone, but I had a sneaky suspicion that it was much more than that. I couldn’t be the only one noticing the subtle glances and hands brushing each other when they were close.
I grinned at Anna. “Anna, how do you feel about this? I mean, I could stay at my place with you but getting up and down the stairs would be impossible. Then again it’s not like I have a reason to be out and about.”
“Your apartment has a large shower that you could be able to sit down to shower,” Mom added.
We all sat around the hospital room debating the pros and cons of each place. I would feel more comfortable in my own space, but it would not be functional. The O’Loughlin’s house was all one floor and already had a ramp in place for Scott. It would be more practical and easier for me to be independent.
“You need to talk to Maria before we just spring this on her.” Mom was not happy about the arrangement but agreed for the first week or two it would be the better option.
“I’ll go call Mom.” Ashton stood and walked from the room, but not before his leg brushed along Anna’s knees.
“Mom, could you go see if they have the discharge papers ready?”
“Of course, honey,” she smiled and vacated her chair.
I waited until she was out of the room. “Coop, can you give me and Anna a minute?”
“Sure. I need to check in with work.” He rubbed my knee.
I watched as he left. I was chewing on my bottom lip, craning my neck, checking out his ass when he turned and looked over his shoulder.
“Busted,” Anna whispered, moving closer and sitting in my mom’s chair closest to my left side. “What’re you up to?”
“What’s going on with you and Ashton?”
“Uhh,” she smiled like an idiot, “I’m not sure, but I really like him, Kins.”
“I can tell.” I laughed. “You two are hilarious.”
“What do you mean?”
“If you two think you’re hiding whatever it is, you’re sadly mistaken. It’s as obvious as a Clydesdale in a field full of Shetland ponies. Even Mom asked about you two.”
“And . . . you’re okay with whatever this is?” Anna asked hesitantly.
“Of course, Anna. I think you two are adorable together.”
Cooper and Ashton came back in together as we whispered back and forth. Mom wasn’t but a second behind them.
“The nurse said they’re waiting on your last set of labs before the doctor signs off on your release,” Mom said, sitting back down next to Anna. “I think I’m going to take a walk and call your dad.”
“Okay, Mom. We’ll be here. If they come in to discharge me before you get back I’ll call,” I said, holding up my new phone. My dad had gotten me a newer iPhone, but it was the same rose gold color.
“Mom said she’d love to have you come stay at the house.” Ashton plopped down in the chair near the window, in front of the vase full of beautiful flowers.
“I don’t want to be a bother. She has so much going on with your dad.” My heart sank at the thought of her running herself ragged taking care of both of us.
“I’ll be there to take care of you,” Anna said, looking up from her cell phone. “I’ll sleep at your place, but I’ll be at the farm otherwise.”
“And I’ll be at home every night. We got this covered, Kins,” Cooper added and my heart flipped inside my chest while my mind crossed its hypothetical arms like a bouncer at a bar, daring me to get excited. “Plus, I think it will do Dad some good to have you close by.”
Mom looked around the room with glassy eyes. “You have such great friends.”
“I do.” I grinned.
* * *
Three hours later, Anna wheeled me through the big house into Ashton’s room. Much to my surprise, his room was clean and did not smell like sweaty gym socks. His queen size bed had been made with a plush, green and blue tartan plaid comforter and sat conveniently low to the floor. It looked the same as it did when we were in high school; the only thing missing, his poster of a half-naked woman. His numbered Ducks Unlimited prints hung on opposites walls, giving the room a country-boy feel.
Ashton did not have a television in his room, which normally wouldn’t bother me, but it looked like I would be in bed more than normal.
“Anna, when you come over in the morning, will you bring my laptop and iPad? I can watch Netflix on either of them.”
“I can run and grab them now.” She laid across the foot of the bed. She had already brought over some of my clothes and toiletries.
“Tomorrow is fine. I’ll probably just sleep tonight or read on my phone.” I tried to get comfy on my right side, propping my leg up on a few pillows. I fluffed the pillow under my head.
“You can always watch TV in my room too,” Cooper offered, leaning on the doorframe. “I had a spare TV, but I left it with my old roommates on base.”
“Really, I’m fine, guys. It’s only for a few weeks. And there’s a TV in the den.”
The O’Loughlin’s house was a long ranch with Maria and Scott on one end and the boys on the other. The kitchen, dining room, and family room were in the middle, but the boys also shared a cozy den on the other side of Storm’s room at the furthest end of the house.
The house had been built about a hundred years ago, but you would never know to look at it. Scott had always taken care of his family home and updated a room at a time. When I was home last year, Maria had just gotten her dream kitchen.
“Anna, can you please help me to the bathroom?” Jesus, I was embarrassed to have to ask the question.
“Sure.” She rolled over, sat on the edge of the bed, and held out a hand to me. “Let’s sit you up first.”
Cooper watched from the door. “Wouldn’t it be easier if I just picked you up?”
My vagina screamed, YES, but that pesky bouncer inside my head again shut it down before my girly bits took it too far.
“I got it.” Anna waved him off, sitting me up. Pulling the wheelchair over, I stood on one foot, holding my broken leg out of the way as I carefully grabbed a hold of the arm of the chair and hoisted myself into the seat. It took all of my strength, but no way was I admitting defeat.
Ten minutes later, I was back in the bed and begging for pain medication.
“Ash, will you please get me the bottle of pain pills?” Getting into bed had been much easier than getting out.
“Of course.” He disappeared from the room but quickly returned with cooler of sodas and bottled water, holding the pill bottle out to me.
Reaching up, I took the orange bottle from him as Anna opened a soda. “Thanks.”
Cooper had disappeared in my absence, but Ashton was in his room, pulling clothes out of the drawer when Anna and I returned.
The white mini-blinds were closed but I could see the evening had faded into night. Looking around the room, I realized there wasn’t an alarm clock anywhere. I would need to plug my phone in next to the bed.
We all laid around on the bed playing cards when the day’s activities finally caught up to me. Yawning, I stretched my arms over my head and scrunched up my shoulders.
“We should head out, so you can sleep,” Anna said, gathering the cards on the bed in front of us. “Do you need anything before we go?”
“Nah, I’m fine.”
“Okay. Will you text me in the morning once you wake up? I don’t want to wake you up if you’re resting.” Anna stood up and stretched her arms out to the side. “Wow, I didn’t realize it was almost eight-thirty. You ready, Ash?” Her voice turned to honey as she addressed him.
“Whenever you are.” He smiled back as if she was the only person in the room.
“I’m gonna use the bathroom really quick, then I’ll be ready.” Anna held out the deck of red playing cards.
“Cool,” Ashton said, taking the cards and returning them to his desk under the window on the far wall.
Sitting up in the bed, I waited patiently until I heard the hall bathroom door close and I cleared my throat. “Ash”
He looked at me, raising his eyebrows. “Yeah?”
“I’m not going to say anything other than this; if you hurt her, I’ll geld you.” My attempt at intimidation was accented with the evilest eyes I could muster.
“Lizzy, I promise you. I’m not gonna do anything to hurt Anna.” He paused then sat down next to me on the bed. “I didn’t think I’d ever feel like this about anyone. I really like her. A lot.”
“I’m happy for you, but don’t forget that she lives in Charlotte for a least another year.” I heard the toilet flush. “Just don’t hurt her.”
He leaned forward and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. “I’m happy that you’re staying here. I’ll see you in the morning.”
When he pulled back, I saw Anna smiling from the doorway. “Ready?”
“Yup.” Ashton nodded, standing. “See you in the morning, Lizzy.”
“Night.”
I watched them leave, Ashton slipping his hand into Anna’s, pulling her along behind him. While I was overjoyed for them, it made my heart ache for my own happiness. I wanted to feel Cooper’s hand in mine. I wanted to be the person that made him smile silly for no reason.
God help me, I still wanted Cooper, no matter how many times he rejected me. I was a glutton for punishment.