“You still have your boots on.”
“Who cares?”
“I do. And you shouldn’t be slumped over like that. We should really get you in bed.”
A smile tugged at his tired face. “You just want to get me naked so you can have your way with me.”
“As amazing as that sounds, I think my limbs are too frozen for sex.”
Groaning, he let me tug him upright and pull him into the bedroom. After straightening the sheets and covers, I helped him lay down, then looked around at the mess everywhere. It was a disaster.
“Forget about it,” he murmured, his eyes slowly blinking. “Come lay down with me.”
I really needed to get this cleaned up, but I could stay with him until he fell asleep. Giving in, I climbed into bed with him and draped my arm across his chest, careful not to touch his bandage.
“It’s ridiculously cold out here,” he muttered.
“It is, but I’ve turned up the heat.”
“Good,” he shivered. “Fuck, I don’t think I’ve ever been this cold.”
I slid my hand under his shirt and rubbed his chest, hoping to work some warmth into him. “Did you really mean what you said? That you don’t think you could ever get used to living out here?”
“Did you feel the wind?” he grunted. “Are you telling me you like that?”
“No, but… you learn when to stay inside.”
“Ask me again when I can feel my toes.”
I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear what he would say then, so I pushed it from my mind and focused on things I could handle. Like cleaning the house and getting him better. I mentally listedall the things I needed to do, and by the time I was done, Rob was breathing softly, completely passed out beside me.
Slipping from the bed, I gathered my clothes in the hamper, then rolled it out of the room and closed the door behind me. After putting in the first load, I got to work cleaning up the living room. I was shocked by the amount of clothing laying around the house, even though I saw it as soon as I walked through the door.
How did I live like this? Seriously, I saw it all the time, but coming back from a trip to this was just…awful.
I spent a good hour in the kitchen, cleaning everything in sight, only to realize I had nothing in the house to give Rob when he woke up, and he would be starving.
Shooting off a quick text to my brothers, I begged and pleaded for one of them to pick up some groceries for me.
Liam: Why don’t you just ask Ma to do it?
Because then she’ll want to come over here.
Liam: And?
And then she’ll interfere in my life.
Liam: Gee, I wonder what that’s like.
Jeff: Like her showing up at your house when you’re doing it with Bailey, and then she forces you to get married naked so you don’t back out.
Liam: Thanks for the reminder.
Seriously, can one of you just do this for me? I don’t want to leave Rob all alone.
Michael: He’s a big man. He can take it.
You’re such an ass.