Page 24 of Daddy Vibes (The Anti-Bachelorette 2)

Chapter 10

Angela

I woke up in the hospital the next day, and it was just Emory left in the room. My cousin and some of my friends came to see me last night. I told them all I was fine, but they didn’t leave until eventually the nurses came in and told them visiting hours were over. Emory was able to stay with me for the night though.

The doctors cleared me this morning that there wasn’t any internal swelling or anything like that, so I can go home today. Well home to Eric’s house I mean. Emory stayed with me the whole night, but Eric didn’t come back after he came to see me the first time. I don’t want to say I was disappointed, but you know.

I was kind of surprised to see him Sunday afternoon to bring me home. Emory left to go home and get some sleep in the morning. I was ready to check out by the afternoon. I thought for sure he’d send Alaric to come pick me up after it seemed like he was avoiding me, but sure enough he’s right here.

He smiles at me. “You ready to go?”

I arch an eyebrow at him. “I’m surprised you’re here. I thought you forgot about me.”

He just laughs and then leans down to help me up out of my wheelchair. “I never stop thinking about you.”

Then he helps me stand to get into his truck. I don’t know what to say to him. The man is so confusing to me. He almost kisses me. Then he leaves and doesn’t come back until now. Then he says things like this just making me want him more.

I just wish I could turn off my feelings for him. It would make it much easier. I know I sometimes encourage his advances, but that’s because I still want him. What am I supposed to do? I guess I should stop responding to his flirting. He obviously doesn’t mean to do it.

The nurse hands him some papers with instructions and my prescription refill. He listens intently like he is really trying to remember everything she tells him. After she’s done with all the instructions she says goodbye, but then she turns back and grins at both of us. “Oh and no sex with your girlfriend until her rib is more healed.” She gives him a wink.

I open my mouth in shock, and he fumbles over his words. “Oh...no... she’s not.”

The nurse just opens her mouth and puts her hand over her chest. “Oh sorry. My mistake. The EMT that brought her in thought you were together.”

He just smiles at her awkwardly, and then quickly comes over to help me into his truck.

We drive in silence to his house, and when we pull up, he quickly hops out and comes around to help me out. He basically has to lift me down because it’s hard for me to move with my rib. He lifts me effortlessly, and when he sets me down his hand lingers on my lower back.

I look up and give him a half smile. He looks toward the front door. “Are you okay to walk?” I nod my head yes, but he leans down so I can use his body as support.

He opens the front door, and I see he has the couch all set up for me. He added extra pillows and blankets and set up a table with books and my laptop and a stack of my DVDs. Emory must’ve gone to my place to grab them.

He brings me over and helps me lay down on the couch. “Do you need anything? We’ll move you to the bed tonight, but I figured you’d want to be out by the TV and the slider during the day.”

I smile at him. “I could use food. I didn’t really eat lunch.”

He nods. “Sure. Do you want me to make you something? I wrote down my delivery account username and password too so you can order delivery whenever you want.”

I raise my eyebrows at him. “You didn’t have to do that. I can pay for my own food Eric.”

He just narrows his eyes at me. “You’re not working for the next 5 weeks. Just let me take care of you.”

My heart stutters a little at that. I want you to take care of me dammit. I just sigh. “Okay.”

He gives me a quick smile, and I love the way he looks when his face crinkles around the eyes. God this man is sexy. Doesn’t he understand when he acts all sweet and protective and caring that it just makes me want him more?

He is about to leave when I stop him. “What were you doing at my work?”

He turns back and looks at me. “Hm?”

I try to sit up a little and wince at the pain. He quickly comes down and helps me adjust my pillow. “You found me at my work. Why were you there?”

He clears his throat. “I just wanted to talk. I didn’t like the way we left things.”

I look up and our faces get closer. “And what were you going to say?” I whisper since he is so close to me.

He looks down into my eyes, and I can feel his breath on my face. My heart rate speeds up at the closeness. He opens his mouth to say something. “I…”

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