Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
People don’t realize how debilitating arthritis can be, but it turned my family upside down. It made my parents argue and cry and get second jobs. It made me feel like I was dying some days, and though I’ve been in remission for almost nine years, I live in fear of it returning.
And I can’t help but go to worst-case scenario with those I love, and Eric is being super strange about this accident. Any other time, he would have told me last night. He wouldn’t have been unsure about going to the doctor, and I can’t figure out why he is now.
We don’t talk much on the drive over. I pull up out front and tell him, “Stay here. I’ll get a wheelchair.”
He blanches, his eyes wide. “Hell no. I don’t need a wheelchair.”
“Macho man is too macho?” I cock a brow at him.
“No.” He crosses his arms.
“Be good and listen to Daddy,” I tease, which just makes his pout grow, but I can also tell he’s trying to bite back a smile. “You’re the one who told me to come over and take care of you. So basically, all this is your fault.” I give him a smile, though it’s not totally real because I’m worried there’s more going on with Eric than he’s telling me…which makes no sense at all. We tell each other everything. That’s who we are, who we’ve always been.
But then, I also didn’t explain to him that the reason I’m extra cautious about seeing him naked is that I never want to do anything to make him uncomfortable or make him think I have anything other than platonic feelings for him because I’m always scared to death of losing him. It’s a tale as old as time, right? Gay guy falls in love with straight best friend and ruins everything. I’ll never let that happen with us.
“You’re not going to let this go, are you?” he says, interrupting my thoughts.
“Absolutely not.”
“Fine. Let’s get this over with.”
“Fractures make you cranky.”
He snaps his head in my direction. “You really think it’s broken?”
“Who knows, babe. Hopefully not.” But I do think it is.
I get out of the car and head into urgent care. Luckily, they have a wheelchair available, but one of the nurses has to accompany me because they’re clearly afraid I’ll steal it.
I roll my eyes when I see Eric leaning against the car with his arms crossed, the sun glinting off his blond hair. Because of course he couldn’t just chill out and wait for me to help him.
“You’re not being a very good patient.” Which, again, isn’t like him. Eric likes to be spoiled. Hell, I do too, and we have a habit of doing that for each other.
I take his arm and help him into the chair.
“Sorry, D,” he grumbles.
“You’re fine. You have an excuse. I’ll go park the car and be right back.”
I find a spot, then make my way inside. It’s packed, of course. It’s LA, and everything is busy here all the time. Eric’s in the wheelchair, in a corner, filling out paperwork on a tablet, so I head over and take a seat beside him.
“This will take hours. You can head out and come back to pick me up,” he says, and I frown.
“Why would I do that? How many times were you stuck with me when I was at doctors’ appointments or PT? Now it’s my turn.” I nudge his arm gently. “What’s wrong? Other than the obvious.”
“Nothing. I’m just stressed.” Eric rubs a hand over his face.
“I’m sorry.” I wrap an arm around him and play with his hair the way he loves. I immediately feel him relax, letting me pet him while he does his paperwork. When he finishes, I offer, “Want me to take that up for you?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t want you to lose your seat.”
Well, that makes sense, I guess. I did get the last one, and it’s right on the end, so he can be beside me.
Eric puts the tablet on his lap, then wheels over to the front desk. I pull out my cell to message Anthony and Hayes that I can’t make it to our Jilted Exes lunch today since I’ll be with Eric.
Even though I hate everything that went down with Malcolm, and honestly feel it changed me, I’m grateful to have met Anthony and Hayes.
We message back and forth, me telling them about his ankle, while they keep Eric at the front desk so long, I’m beginning to fear there’s a possibility of kidnapping.
I glance up just as he’s making his way back over, looking pale. “What happened?”
“Nothing. I just think I need to eat something. I didn’t have dinner last night or breakfast this morning.”
“Jesus. Why didn’t you say anything? I’ll go get you some—”