Page 61 of Landon (In Safe Hands)
Hisshoulders relax a bit and he wraps his arms around me. “I’m not goinganywhere.”
“Isit hot in that suit?”
“Stifling,”he laughs.
Ethanwalks in accompanied by a nurse carrying yet more paperwork. “I’m so sorryabout the car, Zo. I swear I didn’t see him.”
“Itwasn’t your fault. The asshole was drunk and crossed into our lane. I didn’tsee him either. There’s nothing you could’ve done. And the car is insured.We’ll get another one.”
Thenurse hands me a pain prescription for Ethan, and has me sign a few papers.Finally, we can leave.
It’smid-afternoon and the sun beats down, reflecting off the cars in the parkinglot. Why couldn’t it at least be cloudy today? “Does that suit fully protectyou?” Ethan asks, climbing stiffly into the backseat of Landon’s car.
“Nota hundred percent, but it helps,” Landon replies, crossing the road to a drivethrough pharmacy.
Myhead whips around. “You’re still going to have skin damage?” I demand.
“Maybea little. Nothing noticeable. Don’t worry.”
Ishe fucking kidding me? “Landon! We’re fine. You need to go home. I can get theprescription. We could get a cab.”
“Nothappening, Zoe. You were in an accident. I’m filling his script and taking youboth home.”
Histone brokers no argument. “If you get burnt because of this, I’m kicking yourass.”
“You’rewelcome, baby.”
Ethanlaughs and hands his prescription to the pharmacist at the window.
Fifteenminutes later, we pull into my driveway. I’m glad we got most of the movecompleted, even if we aren’t unpacked. At least the UV proof windows mean thatLandon can ditch the suit once we get inside. He orders delivery from ourfavorite Italian restaurant, and brings Ethan a glass of water and a pain pill.“I’ve cracked a rib before. They take a while to heal, but this will help. Justdon’t take these less than six hours apart.”
“Thanks.”Ethan grins at him and tosses back the pill. “I think I’ll go watch T.V. in myroom and take a nap.”
“Goodidea, kid.” Landon turns to me and abruptly pulls me into his arms. His body iswarm and comforting. “You scared the shit out of me, woman. Next time somethinghappens, you call me, understand?”
“MmmHmm.”
“Comeon. The food won’t be here for nearly an hour. You need a hot bath so you don’tget all stiff.” He accompanies me to my bathroom and runs a bath, pouring in mylavender bath beads while I lay out a pair of panties, leggings and a T-shirton my bed. All I want to be tonight is comfortable.
Landoncomes up behind me as I’m trying to remove my shirt. Bumps and bruises, my ass.My whole body feels like it’s been squashed under a boulder. His hands gentlypull the shirt over my head and soft lips trail down my shoulder. When I turnto face him, his eyes darken at the strip of bruising the belt left across mytorso. “I’m going to kill that drunk asshole.”
“No,he’s going to go to jail. That’s enough.”
Heunfastens my pants and holds me steady while I step out of them and my panties.“Go soak for a while. I’ll let you know when the food is here.”
It’sso sweet, how he’s taking care of me and Ethan. I sink back into the hot wateruntil my ears are covered, blocking out the distant sound of the T.V. andplunging myself into a world where all that exists is silence and the smell oflavender. The reality of the day hits me and I realize what could havehappened.
Icould’ve lost Ethan, or I could’ve died and he’d have been left in foster care.One or both of us could’ve been seriously injured. Sore muscles or not, we wereboth incredibly lucky.
Ifeel like my luck has changed. In the last two months, I went from strugglingto keep food in the fridge to owning a nice home, from trying to keep my pieceof shit car from dying to driving a brand new one. There’s no more strugglingto keep my tuition paid or worrying about how to pay Ethan’s next year. And nowI’m going to marry the most perfect man in the world. Well, perfect for me,anyway. For the first time since I can remember, I’m truly happy.
Imust doze off for a bit because the next thing I know, I’m surrounded in chillywater, and a hand is sliding under my head. My eyes pop open to see Landon’samused face above me. “Are you trying to drown yourself, you crazy woman?”
“GuessI was too comfortable.”
“Thefood’s here. Do you need help getting out?”
“Nah,I’m a little sore, that’s all. I’ll be out in a minute.”
