Page 41 of All Her Broken Pieces

Ethan removes our dishes from the table, loading up the dishwasher and letting the pots and pans he used to prepare our meal soak in the sink. “I can help with that,” I offer.

“Nope. No lifting things, remember?”

“It’s kind of ridiculous to expect me not to carry anything at all for six weeks. When the nurse called earlier, she scolded me not to lift any laundry or groceries. She also said something about not lifting kids or pets. I told her I didn’t have either and that she could fuck off.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“Ok, maybe I didn’t actually tell her to fuck off, but it was implied.”

“After I finish cleaning these dishes, I’ll clean you,” he says over his shoulder, winking at me before turning back to the sink.

“You’re ridiculous.”

With his back still to me, he says, “Why is it that I can feel that eye roll without even seeing your face?”

“I’m going to head to the bathroom and wash my face,” I say, slowly rising from my chair.

He drops a dish into the sink, fumbling with his soapy hands before he grabs a towel and starts drying them. “Don’t,” he starts, a look of sincerity crossing his handsome features. “I’d like to help you with that again. I got you something earlier.”

“You did? When? I was with you the whole time.”

Crossing to his overnight bag near the couch, he pulls out a small brown paper bag and hands it to me. “I asked Dre to grab it for me. She handed it to me before we left the restaurant.”

Reaching into the bag, I pull out a vial of vitamin C serum and two collagen face masks.

“I told her about all the videos I was watching and about your routine. She said these were the secret to her youthful look.”

“Thank you, this is so thoughtful of her. I’ll have to thank her the next time I see her.”

“You ready for that sponge bath now?” He waggles his eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

“Not if you’re going to act like a teenager who’s just seen his first set of boobs.”

“I was sixteen. A late bloomer.”

“Don’t you have dishes to finish?”

“I’m not letting you push me away again, remember?”

I turn and head toward the bathroom, new skincare products in hand. Ethan helps me with my skincare routine and repeats every step on himself like he did the night before. Standing next to him in my bathroom feels natural, like he’s meant to be here and not an unwelcome visitor.

A pang of nerves hits me at the thought of him bathing me, but I swallow it and slowly start removing my clothes, giving him an awkward silent striptease free of eye contact. I’ve removed my shirt and bra when I notice him staring at me.

“Uh… w-what’re you d-doing?” He stutters out as I watch his reflection in the mirror. His eyes rake over me as he reaches down and adjusts himself in his pants.

“I assume I’m going to need to be naked for this sponge bath?”

“Right, uh, I didn’t think about that part when I offered,” he says as his breathing picks up and a light sheen of sweat breaks out along his hairline.

“Don’t get shy on me now, pup.”

“It’s not that. I just didn’t expect you to actually let me, let alone try to strip all the way down. I’m not sure my dick can take it.”

“If you need to go rub one out, you can use the other bathroom. I’ll wait,” I challenge him with a fire in my eyes.

“Jesus,” he mutters, running a hand down his face. “It’s fine. You’re just really fucking gorgeous. This body. These tits.”

“I can see this is going to be”—my eyes move down to his crotch—“hard for you. I can do it if you’re not up for the job,friend.”

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