Page 176 of Sticks and Stones
Sam knew that this was going to be fun—as in absolute, complete trouble.
From what Sam knew about Charlie, it was that he didn’t do well with anesthesia. That altered state of awareness made him go crazy.
And no one wanted the big man losing his mind.
When he came out of anesthesia, he tended to get combative, and they knew that from when he had his one and only colonoscopy.
That hadn’t been fun.
He came out swinging, and you didn’t want a big guy like him leveling you while dazed and confused.
The love of his life didn’t pull punches.
“Charles, it’s okay,” Sam whispered, trying to soothe the man the best he could. “Don’t fight. You’re okay and I’m here.”
At his voice, Charlie tried to focus. He blinked, trying to clear his vision, but it was a struggle.
What the hell was going on?
Why couldn’t he remember where he was?
“Where am I?” he asked again.
Sam touched his cheek with his warm palm, and stared into his dazed eyes.
“You had your gallbladder out. We came to the hospital because you thought you were having, and I quote,‘Sammy, you were right, the bacon got me. I’m having the big one’,” he said, trying not to laugh.
It took him a second as he tried to remember, but when he finally did, it seemed to calm the man down.
“I can’t wait for my sorry-ass health insurance to get this bill,” he muttered.
Sam reassured him.
“You have health insurance through one of Chris’ companies,” he reminded him. “We all do. You’re not paying for this, I’m sure.”
He didn’t even register that, and that told Sam how far out of the loop he really was.
The last thing he liked was someone helping him when it came to money. It pissed him off, and made him prickly like a porcupine.
Worse, if that was possible.
Someone was not good with these meds at all.
Brushing his hair off of his forehead with love and tenderness, finally, Sam wasn’t worried.
The whole time that Charlie had been in surgery, he’d been scared something would happen to him.
While he knew he was strong, and it was just surgery, there was always that haunting fear that he’d die.
And that would be devastating.
It was the last thing he ever wanted to experience. In fact, Sam hoped and prayed he went first. Living without Charlie would be incredibly difficult.
“Your surgery went well, and they said you’ll be here for a couple of days. They had to crack you open.”
He sighed.
“Goddamn it. There go my swimsuit magazine cover jobs,” he muttered.
