Page 12 of Where the River Meets the Skye

River sighed. He hated the idea of Skye picking up anything for him. He hated feeling this helpless and needy. But what choice did he have? Gritting through the pain of using the crutches to get around was one thing, but he literally couldn't drive, so he had to depend on Skye, and he’d have to depend on him for a while.

Damn it.

“Where do you want to be? Couch? Bed?” Skye asked.

“Couch, I guess.” River made his way over, very slowly, on his crutches. His ribs were throbbing with every movement but he tried not to show it. He didn’t want Skye babying him any more than he already was.

He realized once he got to the couch that he wasn’t sure where to put the crutches while he sat down, but Skye was right there and River reluctantly handed the crutches to him, then slowly settled onto the sofa. He sat on the left side and propped up his ankle using the recliner.

“If I put these on the coffee table does that work?” Skye asked, lowering the crutches as he did, and River nodded. “You need anything else before I go?”

River patted his pockets to make sure he had his phone and looked around to make sure the remote was within reaching distance. “I think I’m good.”

“K. Text me if you think of anything else you need while I’m out. If you want to, you can invite Anna over for dinner. She’d probably like to see you, know you’re okay.”

“Yeah,” River said. “I’ll call her.” Honestly he wasn’t up for a bunch of company. He felt like he’d been run over by a bulldozer, and he just wanted to eat something and then rest, but he knew Anna would want to see him after what happened, and it was really sweet of Skye to think of her.

“See you in a bit.”

Skye was out of the room in a few strides. River heard the door closing behind him as he put the phone to his ear.

The phone rang twice before River heard the soft feminine voice of his girlfriend on the other end. “River? Are you home?”

“Hey. Yeah, just got settled on the sofa while Skye plays errand boy.”

“Are you okay?” she asked. “You sound exhausted.”

“I’m fine. Just tired, in pain, and hungry.”

Anna lets out a soft chuckle. “Just that, huh?” He heard the genuine concern in her voice when she spoke again. “Gosh, River, getting that text from you really scared me. I’m glad Skye was there with you. And I’m glad you’re okay.”

He gave a soft smile, though she couldn't see it. “Skye wanted to see if you wanted to come for dinner tonight.”

“Oh, that’s really nice of him. I’d love to come if you’re sure you are up for it.”

“I think so, just a quick visit should be okay. I’d like to see you.”

“Okay. I’ll stop and get Chinese on the way so Skye doesn’t have to cook. I’m sure he’s tired, too.”

“Yeah, sure.” River rubbed a hand across his forehead. The headache he’d had in the hospital was starting to get worse and he needed his pain meds. “Thanks, Anna. See you in a bit, okay?”

“Okay, bye.”

He hung up and set his phone down, resting his head against the back of the couch, and then groaned when it started to ring. Seriously? But he smiled when he picked it up and saw that it was his aunt.

“Hi, Aunt Jodi,” he answered.

“River,” she said, sounding relieved. “It’s so good to hear your voice, sweetheart. You about gave me a heart attack today.” Then he was bombarded with all the questions. How are you? Is Skye taking good care of you? How long until you can get back to work? Can I do anything?

“I haven’t really talked to Skye about anything yet,” he admitted once he’d fielded all of the other questions. “We haven’t really had the time. I know he can’t take off weeks to take care of me, though, and I wouldn’t want him to. I’ll manage on my own.”

“Uh, yeah, no,” Aunt Jodi said on the other line. “Talk with Skye and see what he can swing and then call me and I’ll see what I can do on my end. I’m two hours away, River. I can afford to take some time off. Not a lot, but some. I’m not leaving you there to fend for yourself with a broken ankle and three cracked ribs. You are like a son to me.”

“I know,” he said, smiling slightly.

“Then you also know that if I don’t hear from you in the next couple of days about what the plan is, I’ll be calling Skye or just showing up on your doorstep. So call me, okay?”

River smiled again. He hated inconveniencing anyone, but Aunt Jodi was not someone to be trifled with and if he was going to be cared for by anyone other than Skye, he would want it to be her.

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