gently on my leg.
“Carl, it’s Caleb.” I hear him inhale like he’s going to start yelling and push forward quickly with my words. “Listen, there was an incident while I was out with Daisy, she’s banged up but okay. That’s why neither one of us came into work today.” There’s a snort on the other line.
“Wow, you on pain pills kid? It’s Saturday. You don’t work today.” I blink a few times and frown at the blank television.
“Oh, why’d you call then?” I’m confused; maybe those pain killers they gave me at the hospital seriously screwed me up.
“I called because Daisy called last night to tell me what happened. I came by last night , but you were out. I just wanted to know if you were home yet, kid.” I smile at my stupidity and try to lift my left arm to run my hand through my hair, but a sharp pain has me hissing.
“You alright?” I hear from on the phone and the kitchen. I look up at Daisy and then tell Carl that I have to go. I hang up the phone and put it down on the table.
“No, I’m a fucking cripple, I’m not alright.” I tell her in a deadpan voice. Daisy just stares at me with the menu in her hand, her eyes beginning to narrow.
“Feeling bad for yourself is not attractive,” she tells me, crossing her arms over her chest. I lean back on the couch and motion for her to sit next to me. At first she hesitates, and then she shuffles over to sit down next to me.
“Then I guess I’m one ugly man right now because I feel doubly bad that I’m not up to making you pay for that comment.” I brush back the hair from her neck with my good hand and put the other one on her hip. I can’t pull her towards me, but I can move towards her. I put my lips to each one of her bruises, kissing them gently. When she shivers under me, I smile as I nuzzle her ear.
“You’re hurt,” she whispers, but she doesn’t move away from me.
“So are you,” I inform her, using my strong arm to pull her to my chest. We sit like that until the pizza delivery man rings my doorbell. Daisy pays for the pizza, one of her newfound freedoms. People take advantage of being able to pay for something on their own, when it’s really saying that they’re independent.
“We’ll eat, and then I’ll help you take a shower,” she sounds like a medical professional right now, but I can’t help grinning the entire time I eat my pizza. I’m looking forward to my shower.
Daisy swats my good hand away when I go to take off her shirt in the bathroom. I can tell by the stern look on her face she’s not going to relent. This is going to be the best and worst night of my life. She takes a step back from me and shimmies out of her jeans first, keeping her gaze on me. Check that, the best night of my life.
“That’s not fair, you got to take off my clothes, I should be able to take off yours,” I growl at her, my good hand in a fist.
“It would take you hours to get my clothes off with one hand. Now get in the shower,” I take a step back and step into the shower without taking my eyes off her. All the times that I’ve taken her clothes off, it’s been in bed. Now I get to stand her and appreciate her in the bright light of the bathroom, and I have to admit she looks even better.
It’s not until she starts tugging at my boxers that I realize I’m still wearing them. I put my good hand on her shoulder and push her back against the shower wall, breathing rough. “If you do that, I can’t promise that I’ll behave myself.” I snarl at her, trailing kisses down her neck and back up again.
“ But it’s not a shower if you’re wearing clothes,” Daisy chuckles at me and tries to take off my boxers again. I move away from her and turn my back to her, trying to breathe normally.
“I’ll do that myself. You can help me with my hair and my upper back. That’s all I need help with.” She looks disappointed when I turn around, and my heart bangs against my ribcage. It’s not until she turns her face
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