Page 27 of Ash
I go to speak, but Indy comes in and smiles. “I’m going to have Ash help get you in there, but after that, we will kick him out.”
* * *
“You don’t haveto do this.” I repeat for the millionth time this evening as Ash sits on the bed next to me while holding an ice pack.
“Shut up. I left earlier to get you a cold rag for your head before your seizure. Now eat your dinner and turn on the iPad.” I smile softly as I hit the Netflix button and skim through until I smile when I find a docuseries. I turn the iPad to face Ash, who is setting up the tray with our food on it.
“Another alien documentary?” he questions, raising a brow.
“What?” I ask, starting it up. “The truth is out there, Ash. There are interviews with ex-military people talking about the unmarked, unmanned aircrafts that they were ordered not to talk about, and then there are the hieroglyphics in ancient Egyptians pyramids that show men in rocket ships.”
He stares at me in stunned silence for a long moment before shaking his head and grabbing the ice pack and placing it on my head before sitting down. “I am equal parts terrified and turned on by your nerdiness.” He chuckles as he grabs my bare legs and places them on his lap. His hand is massive, and I study the orange chrysanthemum on the top. I watch as his fingers move over my legs, causing goosebumps to erupt following his path. I’m about to ask him what he’s doing when I see he’s looking at my bruises and realize I must’ve hit my knees when I fell.
“You ready?” he asks, and I let out a small squeak.
“W-what?” He motions to the iPad.
“Dinner and the aliens.” He moves his hand up slightly, completely casual and seemingly oblivious to how I am reacting, but I feel a current run so fast to my center I nearly moan out loud. It’s been too long. I’ve been deprived of physical touch for too long and the fact thatthis manis caressing my legs. Okay, maybe he’s not actually caressing, but he’s being far more gentlemanly than I would expect. Or at least how I want him to be right now.
I watch as he continues to hold my legs on his lap while he watches the show on his iPad and eats his potato soup from the bread bowl. I look at my bowl and cringe inwardly.
“Nauseous?” he asks, causing me to jump.
“Y-yeah– No! Sorry, no I’ll eat.” I go to grab the spoon, but he stops me and moves the tray away.
“Indy and Ren have both had seizures before, they were always queasy after.” He gives my thigh a squeeze before moving my legs from his lap and getting up to move the tray off the bed.
“So, I have a question,” he asks, turning back around. “Why go back to Alabama when you have a great group of friends here?”
“Originally.” I rest my back against the headboard as I let out a breath. It’s at this moment I get a whiff of pine. I look around in confusion and Ash chuckles.
“She has a motion sensor air freshener at the head of the bed, it must’ve sensed your ass move.”
“Well, look at you,” I say dryly and roll my eyes. “Out here, dampening panties with your sensual words. Are you trying to seduce me, Ash Johnson?” He cocks a brow and I watch as he suggestively crawls back onto the bed.
“Sunshine, do you want me to dampen your panties?” he asks, his voice is so thick and husky, it’s doing unfair things to me. “Because, Sweetheart, I aim to please.”
I feel my cheeks heating up, I need to change the direction we are heading. “Fuck you, Charming,” I mutter, and he laughs and waggles his brows.
“I mean, I’ve been waiting for my comeback shot for years.” He laughs and I go completely red. Picking up the candy cane striped pillow, I smack him with it.
“I like this more whenyouare the fumbling, nervous one.” I grumble as his laughter dies down.
“Funny, I was thinking the same about you. Now, why are you moving back to Alabama?” I am thankful for the change in subject, and I shift slightly so I can reach out and pause the show.
“Honestly, I don’t know.” And that is the truth, I don’t know why Alabama. Sure, my parents are still there in their trailer, likely still overflowing with yard sale finds. But we don’t speak, in fact, I might as well not have parents. “It’s just… familiar, I guess.”
“Familiar? You’ve spent more than a decade away from it, haven’t you?”
“Yeah, well, at least there I’m not known as the dumb redneck trailer trash, and they all call it coke.” I snap out, causing him to flinch.
“Coke?” he asks cautiously, and I let out an exasperated sigh.
“Yeah! Y’all call it soda. It’s coke. And it pisses me off every goddamn time.”
“So, you’re moving back to Alabama because you don’t like that we call it soda?” I think over his question for a minute before nodding.
“Yes.” Ash laughs and shakes his head.
