Page 8 of Sinners Keepers
The door to my room opened and Nelia entered, pushing her computer cart. She quietly rolled it over to my bedside, a small cup of pills balanced on the corner. I knew what this meant: it was physical therapy day. I refused most pain meds, but she and Alec had both convinced me it would be best to pretreat on days my body would be more taxed than others.
My stomach dipped—not in the fun way—when I thought about doing this today without Alec.
I’d grown to depend on him, probably a little too much, but physical therapy was fuckinghard.
Reading the look on my face, Nelia asked, “Would you like some company?”
I gave her a tight smile. “I’m sure you’re busy enough with your other patients.”
She handed me the pills and a small cup of water. “Never too busy for myfavoritepatient.”
I downed them, wishing they could dull mental and emotional pain as well as physical.
* * *
I satdown in the rehab room and watched as the therapist demonstrated exercises with her own arms before guiding me through them. I knew them by heart at this point, but I humored her nonetheless. My shoulder muscles burned as I moved, but gradually the tightness lessened and I could see slight progress as my movements became more fluid. Still, it wasn't easy, and I was thankful for Nelia's presence throughout the process. Just knowing that she was nearby watching helped me push through.
Going through the motions was tedious and exhausting, but I kept at it as best I could and I was super relieved when the session came to an end.
Nelia walked slowly beside me as we made our way back to the room. “I’m proud of you,” she said, causing me to snort incredulously.
“For what?” I asked.
“For showing up every day and doing hard things,” she smiled.
“As if I have a choice.”
She wrapped her arm around my shoulder and pulled me in close. I fought the urge to bear hug her and cry it out. Physical contact always made all the emotions I held at bay bubble up and spill over almost instantaneously.
“I’ve seen plenty of patients simply refuse to participate in their own care,” she replied. “Patients who have been through a lot less than you have, who just let all the hard things in their life win.”
“Sometimes I feel like doing that,” I admitted. It was really,reallytempting some days.
“But you don’t,” she said. “So I’m proud.”
I wasn’t sure what else to say, and she was more than happy to let her words sink in, so we walked the rest of the way back to the room in silence.
I hadn’t expected to find Alec waiting there. He was usually gone for much longer when he left.
A wide grin split his face when I entered the room, and he stood immediately, walking to meet me halfway as I walked toward my bed.
“How was therapy?” he asked.
“It was okay. I’m pretty done for the day now, though.”
He hummed, looping my arm through his and covering my hand with his own. “I guess you’re too tired for this then,” he said, picking up a styrofoam container from my bedside table.
He untwined our arms and lifted the white lid, releasing a waft of sweet and savory-scented steam. The pieces of chicken drenched in orange sauce sat next to a mound of steaming noodles and two egg rolls. I couldn't fight my smile when I saw that it was my favorite thing to eat lately.
“Fuck, I love y—”yikes. I caught myself.You cannot fall in love with everyone who gives you an average amount of their time and attention, Hunt.It would be so easy to do, though. Especially Alec. Andwasthis average? I doubted it. “—your taste in Chinese dishes.”Smooth.
He smirked.Bastard. “I grabbed sushi, too,” he said, pointing to the other container still resting on the tabletop.
I settled myself back into bed and Nelia covered my legs with the white sheet and blanket. “You rest, sweet girl. And enjoy your meal.” She squeezed Alec’s forearm as she passed him on the way out the door. The gesture made them seem so familiar with each other, but then again, hehadbeen spending a lot of time here.
Alec handed me a set of chopsticks and I took them excitedly, giving him a big smile.
He plopped down on the end of the bed and uncovered my feet, pulling them into his lap and taking my socks off. I jerked away from his touch, self conscious because those were myfeet, but he just grabbed my ankle and shoved it back down onto his lap. He stifled a small hiss at the contact, and I eyed him suspiciously.Not asking. Who knew what he’d been up to today?
