Page 90 of Revive
“As long as they go over my arse, I don’t bloody care if you’ve pegged me as six sizes bigger than I am.” Alle crushed Ginny in her best one-armed hug, before raking through the bag of new clothing. “Oh, you absolute star, Ginny. Shoes too.”
“Another guess, I’m afraid. I know flip-flops in February aren’t exactly ideal, but Spook was no help with sizes. Could’ve done with Mr Geist being on hand, he’d have known. Anyway, it’s just until we get home. Ash is here to drive us. Blame Spook for the underwear. Again, I asked what to get, and he looked at me like I was speaking Klingon. Then he said you sometimes borrowed his, so,” she gave another shrug.
“Boy shorts is good.” Dammit, she was so overwhelmed her eyes were leaking. “Would you mind giving me a hand? I’m not sure I’ll get the ties undone on this dumb handkerchief.”
“Course.” They nipped into the access toilet for some privacy while she changed. By the time she was dressed, her prescription had arrived from the pharmacy, then she was leaving with a pink discharge slip tucked into her pocket, and a letter for her GP.
***
Ash stood across the car park from them, waving.Then, there was Spook beside him, sunlight shining through his golden hair.
Never in her life had Alle been so pleased to see someone. He shone with the radiance of the sun, like the rockstar he was. The moment their eyes met he came running towards her, weaving between cars and the flow of people around the hospital entrance. What a contrast to have him running toward her for a change, rather than fleeing in the other direction. She’d worried, worried herself silly if she was being honest, that he wouldn’t be here. That the accusations and the judgement would have fed into his fears and sent him off to build a blanket fort in which he could blot out his sorrows with whisky or try to oust his demons with one of the many other self-destructive tendencies he’d demonstrated.
He stopped shy of sweeping her into an embrace, pausing a pace away, while his gaze drifted over her uncertainly. Alle, meanwhile, drank down his tired and dishevelled form like he was a perfect glass of spring water on a hot sunny day. He was the light of her life. Perfect in his own idiosyncratic, messed up, utterly human way.
“It’s so I remember not to use it,” she said of the support holding her arm across her chest. “The physio said to make sure I rest it for a couple of weeks, and it could take a few months to heal properly.”
“You’re okay, though?”
“I’m more than okay, Spook. Leastways, I will be as soon as the man I love gives me a kiss. Why are you still over there?”
A smile broke across his face. “You want me to? But… I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Pfft. You’ll hurt me more if you stay over there.” She reached out and grabbed the front of his shirt with her left hand, then reeled him in so that they stood toe to toe. His head bowed towards hers. His coffee-scented breath warming her cheek. “I was sad when you weren’t there when I woke.”
“Oh, Alle. I wanted to be, believe me. I was there with you for a while, then…”
“It’s okay, Spook. Just kiss me now.”
He bowed closer so their noses were almost brushing. “Are you sure you haven’t been drinking?” he muttered.
“Spook,” she chastised, and fisted his shirt tighter. His smile pulled wider as his eyes shone with a crystalline blue glint. “That rule has to go. It’s dire.” She pulled him down so that she could smack her lips against his and claim him. “And for the record, they don’t let you drink in hospital. Although they do give out good drugs. Now, take me home, please, good sir.”
“Yeah, okay,” he agreed. “If you’re sure we’re done with the kissing.”
She snuck in another one. “Temporary hiatus to get out of here.”
“Deal.”
Spook wrapped his arm around her waist, and she let him guide her. Ginny had hurried ahead to Ash, giving them a little privacy. Now she was upright and safe in his arms, the niggles and pains from her fall down the cliffside were making themselves known. Her body ached. She was stiff, and bits she hadn’t realised she’d injured were protesting her motion.
“Are you okay?” he asked in response to her repetitive hisses.
“Stiff and grumpy. How about you? Rough night? You look tired.”
“I’ve had better.” It certainly seemed there were tales to tell on both sides.
“I want the most enormous cup of tea,” she confessed, already imagining the first soothing taste of it on her lips.
Spook crooned into her ear. “I thought you might. It’s sitting in a cup holder in the car waiting for you. It should be at just the right temperature to drink.”
Alle tilted her head up and kissed him on the chin, where blond fuzz peppered the skin. “I knew there was a reason I loved you.”
“Is that it? Tea?” he said insincerely. “Good to know, I was damned if I could figure it out.”
She wriggled against him. “It’s one of many reasons and you know it.”
They were almost to the car. Almost home free, and definitely too tied up in each other to notice what was heading right towards them.
