Page 57 of If All Else Sails
“Nothing.”
“You winced.”
I drop her hand. I didn’t realize I was still holding it. The movement jostles however many little pieces of wood are jammed into my palm and a hiss escapes me.
“There!” Josie points at my face. “Is it your foot? Do you need more ibuprofen? Did you hurt your knees falling out of bed?”
“I didn’t fall out of bed. That’s not what happened.”
“Then whatdidhappen? Wyatt, you have to talk to me or this isn’t going to work,” Josie says. “I’m supposed to be helping you.”
Sheishelping. She may not know it, and it may not be the kind of help she wants to provide, but Josie is helping.
For the first time since I got to my uncle’s empty cottage a month ago, seeing it filled with memories and emptied of most of his things, I’m not waking up with dread cloaking me like a thick fog. I still haven’t said yes to the doctor, but today I did do the exercises and stretches he recommended. Just not where Josie could see.
And Ithoughtabout saying yes. I even pulled out the blueprints while Josie was walking this morning and thought about house plans and what I’ll do with this place.
Having Josie here has given me purpose, though I’m still unsure what my purposeisor what I want my next steps to be. It’s something to be thinking of next steps atall.
It’s a testament to who Josie is that she’s had such an impact on me just from existing in my space. Talking to me. Heckling and arguing with me.
Jacob was a genius for sending her.
An evil genius, but still.
I sigh, putting a slight amount of weight on my other heel so I can sit down on the edge of my bed. The pain shooting through the arch of my foot hurts, and I wonder if I’ll ever be able to walk without crutches. Without pain.
I wonder if I’ll ever get back on the ice.
“Tell me what hurts,” Josie demands, crossing her arms.
For the first time, I take in what she’s wearing—a matching T-shirt and sleep shorts in some kind of soft fabric. Blue with fluffy clouds and sunshine. A few dark storm clouds are mixed in, lightning bolts shooting out of them and crisscrossing the backdrop of blue.
So very Josie. Sweetness and light but with a fighting edge.
I jerk my eyes back up to hers, which are narrowed in on me. Like she’s trying to figure me out.
Can’t have that.
“My foot is fine. I actually fell tryingnotto put weight on it, so it’s okay,” I say finally. Then I clear my throat and hold out my hands. “But how much experience do you have with splinters?”
Josie grins, and I feel that smile reach all the way through me. “Splinters just so happen to be one of my strengths.”
Chapter14
Good Patients Get Lollipops
Josie
“May I ask why you travel with a headlamp?” Wyatt says.
“You may.”
I don’t look up at him, keeping my focus on the tiny sliver of wood I’m trying to grip with my eyebrow tweezers. I might need to invest in a new pair after this. I’m sitting on the edge of the coffee table and he’s on the couch, his forearms braced on his thighs. When he’s not jerking his hands away from me, that is.
After a moment, he sighs. “Why do you travel with a headlamp, Josie?”
Almost on instinct, I adjust the headlamp in question, which I happened to throw into my bag at the last minute. When Jacob is planning a trip, you just never know. I didn’t expect itwould help me extract splinters from a hockey player’s hand, but here we are.
