Page 80 of Once Bitten
“Hey,” she whispered as she hurried to his side. “How are you feeling?” Dora asked, leaning against his bed.
“Like I got run over by a truck...” Jamie paused and winked at her before he continued. “Oh, wait. I did.”
Jordyn let out a small laugh behind her hand, and Steve shook his head at his friend while Dora sank into the seat by his bed and shook a finger at him. “That isn’t funny, Jamie!”
“Aw, come on. It is and you know it,” Jamie protested. “I’m in a hospital bed, isn’t everyone supposed to give me what I want right now?”
“No, it certainly is not, and everyone will not bend to your tyrant will.” Mrs. Barstow’s voice sounded suddenly from the doorway. All four of the friends turned to see the older woman standing with her arms crossed, but just behind her Mr. Barstow was laughing.
“It’s funny, son,” his father told him with a wave of his hand.
“See.” Jamie gave his mom a smirk and settled back against the pillows before he winced at the movement.
“Ugh.” Dora made a face at Jamie as she reached out to adjust his pillows. “Better?” She asked, biting her lip.
“So much.” Jamie smiled at her. “Does this mean you’re going to nurse me back to health?”
Dora laughed shakily and gestured towards her arm that was in a sling. “Only if you’re okay with a one-armed nurse.”
“I hear those are the best kind.”
Steve pulled Jordyn against him and watched his friend smile at Dora. He enjoyed seeing the completely content look on Jamie's face, despite the monitors he was hooked up to, or the fact that his left leg and arm were in a cast. Dora made Jamie happy even when he was bed bound and drugged on painkillers. Stepping aside, Jordyn and Steve made room for the Barstows to enter the room. Jordyn sighed and leaned against Steve while Dora officially met Jamie’s parents. She could tell that her friend was nervous, but wanted to make a good impression, and she smiled, watching Dora assure the Barstows that Jamie would be in good hands when they had to return to New York.
It was then, in the too bright and sterile hospital, that it became apparent that Jamie and Dora were smitten. And everyone, especially them as they stared at one another, knew it.
“Together, we have a working pair of arms,” Jamie pointed out with a nod at Dora’s uninjured arm. She laughed and looked down at her arm before glancing up at him again, suddenly shy.
“Not a bad pair, either,” she mused and glanced away, her eyes following Mrs. Barstow, who was speaking to Steve and Jordyn now.
“Are we a pair, sweetheart?” he asked.
“I-what?” Dora blinked at Jamie who was looking at her like she was the only thing that mattered in the world.
“Are we a pair?” He repeated.
Dora licked her lips and nodded quickly. “I hope so.”
“Gimme your hand.” Jamie held his good hand out to her. Dora slipped her own in his and smiled when he interlaced their hands. “This hurts, but it’s worth it,” Jamie breathed.
“Jamie!” Dora gasped and tried to jerk her hand back, but he held fast.
“No denying the patient treatment,” he chided her and raised her hand to his mouth, his lips grazing her knuckles.
Dora laughed in spite of herself and leaned closer to him. “Fine. You know what I really think?”
“No. What?”
“I think...I think that we’ve got the cutest set of functional arms.”
Jamie laughed this time and kissed her hand again. “You really meant what you said, being my one-armed nurse?”
“Just try and get another nurse. I’ll run the bum off,” Dora replied, quickly.
“Ohhh, jealous, are we?” Jamie raised an eyebrow.
“Let’s just say that if anyone gets to sponge bathe you, it’s gonna be me,” Dora whispered to him and felt a smug smile tug her lips when Jamie’s eyes widened at her words.
“Here’s to sponge baths.”Jamie took a deep breath and looked over her shoulder to where his parents were speaking to him. “What was that?” he asked.
