Page 94 of Love Collided

“You know what I meant.”

He laid back, struggling as he took a deep breath.

“Does it hurt?” I asked, running a hand up his good arm.

“I’ll survive.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

He smiled, reaching over to me.“I don’t know that I've ever had anyone who cares about me this much…not like you do.”

“Of course you have people that care about you. Who brought you the clothes?”

“My sister, but she had classes today and couldn’t stay. Besides that, no one.”

“No one else came or cared?”

“They are the same thing. I’m not really sure what to say or do about someone caring about me.”

“You’re also on some drugs for the pain, so I think you can just enjoy it for now. Are you sure you’re okay enough to leave?”

“I’m fine. It’s just stitches and a few weeks without a hand. I’ll manage.”

“I know, but I hate this.”

“While I am flattered that you are so worried about me, I’ll be completely back to normal soon. They’ve been working on discharging me since nothing else came back permanently ruined besides my wrist breaking a little.”

“Can you break a wrist just a little?” I said with a tight smile. “You’re coming to my apartment and staying there for the week, at least. I won’t be able to get through my week if you’re struggling around your place.”

He smiled, but groaned as he shifted. “I will not fight you on that for a second.”

“Good, because we are also having a movie night tonight with the crew, so you have to come to that, too. If you think you can handle it.”

“Not going home alone to my quiet, boring apartment is manageable. I think I will be able to handle it. What is the crew going to think of that, though?”

“I will tell them that I’m responsible and helping until you are a little more healed. They know my guilt eats me alive on the smallest of things. They will believe how guilty I feel for this.”

“So we aren’t telling them about the messing around?”

“You’re already a quarter of the way to your deathbed. Why would I push you the rest of the way now?”

“You really think they are going to kick my ass if they find out?”

I sighed, the nurse coming in and interrupting us. “I’m honestly not sure what they will do.” I didn’t add that this fight with Jesse only made it worse. I barely knew if I trusted myself to find the right guy, and if they found out Chase and I were just messing around, they wouldn’t suddenly think he was the right guy.

The nurse moved around the room in a flurry, doing a few last checks, and telling us the doctor would be just a few minutes so we could go.

Chase laid back again, closing his eyes. I could only keep looking at him, though, surprised at how hot he looked. His eyes opened, the heavy look to them only making me hotter.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked.

“I don’t know. It’s just…”

“Just?”

“You look kind of hot.”

“The first time you want to tell me I’m hot is when I’m beat up in a hospital bed?”

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