Page 69 of Unbossly Manners

He rested his hand on my wrist, his fingers pressing every so often, and I realized he was checking my pulse.

“The room is whirling,” I said. The heaviness suddenly vanished and I felt light, like floating in space. “But I feel kinda good.”

I rolled to my side and stared up at him. Oh, those beautiful blue eyes. They were etched with concern and I chuffed thinking that worry was for me.

“Hiya.” I smiled. At least I think I smiled. It was hard to do anything. My muscles ached with even the slightest movement.

“Hi.” He was not smiling.

“How am I here?” I asked.

“We just came from the hospital. Luckily, Derrick has connections so we got right in, and they did some tests. They said you’ll be okay.”

My fingers squeezed his lips together making him look like a duck. I needed him to stop talking. It hurt my pounding head.

“Can’t think.” I snuggled into his warm chest, my nose squishing into his ribs. He smelled of detergent, sweat, and mint.

“You smell nice.”

“Thank you.”

He pushed my hair from my face. There was such sadness there. A sadness he often had when I pressed him about Kat.

“I’m sorry about your ex. Is she back with…” I struggled to recall the boyfriend’s name but words were hard. “The guy?”

“Yes.”

“Are you upset?”

He didn’t say anything. His head rested against the headboard, his eyes shut.

“It’s not easy,” he said.

I rocked back into his body. “You’re so comfy. Can I live here?”

“In my apartment?”

“In your chest.”

He laughed, and it vibrated against my ear.

“But you love her.” It wasn’t a question.

“I think you were right. I’m her security blanket.”

His shirt was cotton, with a flag design on it for the holiday. The lines of the print stuck to my face. I shifted, the design peeling from my cheek, then I fell back into him.

“Did you miss me in… that faraway place?” I asked, unable to remember where he’d gone after our fight.

“Yes.”

My throat felt like sandpaper and it hurt to swallow. “Water. More water.”

The mattress shifted and I faceplanted into his pillow. He helped me sit up and I gulped the elixir.

“It’s minty,” I said.

“For inflammation and stomach nausea.” The mattress sank and I rolled back into him. Being with him was like—not home exactly—but a nice vacation.

---