Page 69 of Derek
“Are you feeling alright?” His question catches me off guard. Turning to him, I cock my head to one side.
“Why do you ask?”
“Your eye isn’t opening all the way, and you’re not wearing a bracelet.” I’m not wearing a bracelet because when I went to put that fucking red bracelet on this morning after being yellow for so long, it felt like a betrayal.
“I think something got in my eye when we walked out of the hospital.” I lie, making a show of rubbing it.
“And the bracelet?” He’s not buying my lie, and I shift uncomfortably.
“You hungry?” I ask, smiling.
“Indy…” He warns, and I groan.
“I didn’t want to wear it, alright?”
“Why not? I’ve never seen you without one.” I scratch my eyebrow while running my tongue over my teeth.
“Because,” I let out a sigh. “If I had put it on, I would have had to admit to myself that I’m not feeling the best.”
“And? If you aren’t feeling well, you should be home, resting.”
“Exactly!” I snap. “Ash starts mothering, Janie and Stevie make me stay home, Ren and Sunday start taking shifts bathing me, and meanwhile, you watch it all in fear. You treat me like I’m broken, and you feel obligated to care for me.”
“Caring for you is not an obligation.” His voice is so soft it unnerves me.
“Yeah, wait until I need you to wipe my ass.” He gives me an annoyed expression.
“If you need your ass wiped, do you really think I would have any issue doing it for you?” The seriousness in his tone is too much. I look away and cross my arms.
“I want to go home now,” I state, adding an air of finality to my voice.
* * *
Me: How’s the Ranch?
Ozzy: Dorothy prays for me each night. The brothers are afraid of me, except for Jackson, that fucker hates me. And Morris has decided our relationship will consist of snarky insults back and forth. There was a massive storm, and I saved a goat. Oh, and I think the town might be holding a meeting to band together and run me out with their pitchforks.
Ozzy: All in all, I think this is going to work out perfectly. Thanks, Cupcake. I owe you big time.
Me: No problem, Oz. This will be a great fresh start for you.
Ozzy: lol yeah, unless big boy over here kicks me out.
Me: You could stop giving him shit?
Ozzy: HA… Cupcake, this man has pissed me off. My entire life now revolves around inconveniencing him at every turn.
Me: I better get to be a bridesmaid.
Ozzy: I say this with all of the love I have in my massive chest… Fuck. You. Bitch.
* * *
“ARGH!”I scream in frustration as I sit on the bed. I have been trying to comb out my curls, and my arms are too tired, and I’m losing vision in my eye. I’m in so much pain and so damn tired. After our talk last night, or our not talk, I am in such a bad headspace. I took off work at Hel’s to try and regroup myself. I chatted with Ozzy, ordered pizza, and did my stretches. But I know what’s happening. It’s been going on for over twenty-four hours, meaning it’s going out of flare-up and into relapse territory.
“Hey baby girl,” I look over from my spot on the bed to see Derek leaning against the door frame, looking all big and sexy. It’s honestly annoying how he pulls it off so well.
“You’re shivering.” He whispers as he walks up to me. I am shivering. My hair holds water and is slowly leaking cold, wet streams all over my body as I sit here.
