Chapter Twelve
Don
“Talk to me, Hal,” I say as we begin our usual walkthrough of the job site. Every day, I insist we do this once in the morning and once after lunch.
I’m sure it drives my foreman crazy because he hates being micromanaged. But I don’t give a shit. I can’t have any more screw-ups that will push progress back even further.
“They are finishing the drywall on floor 11 today and should move onto 12 tomorrow.”
“Good,” I reply. “What else?”
He goes on to fill me in on more details. While I’m at work, I do my best to give all my focus to the job. But I find my thoughts still drifting toward Abby.
It’s been almost a week since we had dinner in my apartment. And we’ve spent every night together since. We’ve made it to season two of Gilmore Girls. I never pictured that’s how I’d be spending my nights in New York City, but I have to say I enjoy it more than I did when I was constantly going out.
I don’t consider myself an introvert by any means, but there’s something comforting about staying home and just hanging out.
Maybe it’s just the fact that I’m doing it with Abby that makes it so appealing.
Hell, I haven’t even missed getting laid. I haven’t so much as considered opening any of my dating apps or texting any other women.
Now, I’m not saying that I don’t jerk off in the shower once in a while. I still get horny. But I have no intention of finding some random chick to bring home and bang. The thought of it doesn’t even sound like fun.
Hanging out with Abby sounds like a much better time—even knowing I’m not going to get laid.
Has the thought of fucking Abby crossed my mind?
Definitely.
I hate the fact that she’s been with a slew of guys who didn’t give a shit about her pleasure or finding out exactly what it is that she likes. I’d love to go down that road with her.
My cock would really love it.
I wonder what noises she would make when she’s right on the edge of coming. Would she quietly moan? Or would she scream my name? What would she do if I called her a good girl?
That one, I already know the answer to. I saw the look on her face as I jokingly said it as she was leaving my apartment.
She liked it.
But I don’t want to ruin what the two of us have. It’s too special.
Speaking of Abby, my phone chimes with a text from her.
Abby: Hey, we may want to do a raincheck for tonight. I don’t feel well, and I don’t want you to get sick.
Me: What’s wrong? Do you know what you have?
Abby: I’m thinking it’s just a bad cold, but I feel like crap.
Me: Do you need anything?
Abby: I think I’ll be okay. I’ll dig through the cabinets and see what I can find.
I highly doubt that she will find much. I was there last night, and she was talking about how she needed to go shopping.
Me: You sure?
Abby: Yeah, I’ll be alright.
I have no doubt about that, but I know that maybe there’s something I can do to help.
After work, I make a run to the small grocery store by my apartment. Tiny little shops like this have been hard to get used to. Yes, we have one of these back in my hometown. But we also had things like Walmart and Costco, which I usually opted for. Fewer trips was always a win-win for me.
It’s a whole different routine to have to hit the smaller stores multiple times a week for just a few things here and there. Usually groceries for a single meal or other necessities like toilet paper.
Tonight, though, I stop merely to shop for Abby. I get a couple types of cold medicine, some vapor rub, soup, and Gatorade. Anything I see that I think could help Abby feel better, I toss into the basket. It doesn’t seem like she has a lot of people around to help her out, so I’ll step up to the plate.
Once I’ve got everything paid for, I head straight to Abby’s. I knock softly, hoping I’m not waking her up. It takes a moment, but I hear a bit of movement coming from inside.
When Abby opens the door, she looks completely confused by my presence. “Don?”
“Hey, Sunshine.” I hold up the bags. “I brought you a full get-better kit.”
She lets me in and heads back to the couch. “That’s so nice of you. Thank you.”
“Have you taken any medicine?”
“I took some Ibuprofen earlier. It was all I had.”
That’s what I was afraid of.
Quickly, I empty the bags and get things put away before pouring her some liquid cold medicine. When I walk over to hand her the tiny cup, she scrunches up her nose.
“It’s going to be gross.”
“Yes, it is,” I agree. “But it will make you feel better.”
She thinks for a moment as if weighing her options.
“Take it, Abby,” I say in a stern voice.
She gives me an eye roll but does it anyway. By the faces she makes, you’d think I’d just given her the most vile thing on Earth.
“Was that so bad?” I ask.
“Yes,” she replies in a stuffy voice.
“Abs, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but you don’t look great.”
“Mr. McDowell, are you trying to seduce me? If so, you suck at it.”
“Sorry. I just meant you look sicker than just having a cold.”
“Eh, I’m fine.”
As much as I want to believe that, Abby looks like death warmed over.
“Have you eaten?” I ask.
“Every time I try, it just comes right back up.”
“Have you been drinking fluids?”
She bundles herself up in the blankets. “Some. But it’s the same result.”
I hand her a bottle of Gatorade. “Drink.”
“You’re awfully bossy.”
“Well, that may be. But I want you to get feeling better.”
Reluctantly, she sits up and takes a few sips.
“You don’t have to stay,” she tells me. “I’ll be fine.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” I sit down in the armchair next to the couch. “You just relax. I’ll be right here.”
“What if you get sick?”
“Don’t worry about me.”
She leans forward and hands me the remote. “Here. Do you want to watch Gilmore Girls?”
“I don’t want to watch it without you.”
“Don, I’ve seen it all. Multiple times. Plus, I’m listening. Just resting my eyes.”
I’m barely five minutes into an episode before Abby is softly snoring. I know she’d probably be okay if I went home right now. But I just don’t feel right leaving her alone. Plus, I’ll take whatever time with her I can get even if it’s when she’s sick.
I watch the show but find myself watching over Abby more than the screen. Every once in a while, she wakes herself up with a coughing spell but then falls right back to sleep. I feel bad and wish I could make her feel better. Seeing her so weak breaks my heart.
Randomly, she sits up with wide eyes.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
But by the way she slaps her hand over her mouth, I already know the answer. She’s going to be sick.
I spot a small trash can she has in the corner of the room and sprint to grab it. I set it down in front of her as she leans over the couch to start heaving. The medicine she just took and the Gatorade she drank come right back up.
I hold her hair back to try to keep it clean.
Between heaves, she says, “Please don’t look at me. This is so gross.”
“Abby, it’s fine. I’ve seen worse. My niece pooped on me once.”
That actually manages to get a small laugh out of her.
When she finishes, I get up to toss the bag that lined the trash can and replace it with another. I’ve spent so much time here lately that I’m starting to learn where everything is.
When I return, Abby’s completely bundled under the blankets but is still shivering like crazy.
“Abs, when was the last time you checked your temperature?”
“I don’t know.” Her teeth chatter. “This morning sometime. It was 100.2.”
“I hate to break it to you, sweetheart, but I don’t think you just have a cold.”
“I’ll be alright.”
“Abby, you’re literally shaking. You can’t keep anything down, and you’re pale as a ghost. If you’re not better by morning, I’m taking you to the hospital.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she groans.
“I’m serious. I’m not having you get worse.”
When I look back at her, she’s already snoring. I tuck the blankets around her and get comfortable back in the chair. There’s no fucking way I’m leaving her alone.
I don’t consider myself to have any type of savior complex or any bullshit like that, but I know the second I leave, I will spend all night worrying about her.
Abby has told me about her friend Jenson that she hangs out with quite a bit, but besides that, I don’t think she has many people around. She still hasn’t told me what the deal is with her family.
I’ll be that person for her. I’ll be here when she needs me.
And tonight, she needs me.