13. Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Evan
“ O kay,” Calista says to Skye after dinner and dessert. “I think it's time we get Daddy upstairs to his bed so we can get you ready. What do you say? Do you think you can help me?”
“Yes!” Skye says, taking it very seriously.
“Okay, you take Daddy's phone and make sure there is nothing on the floor between here and his bedroom. Daddy will move slowly, and I will help him up the stairs,” Calista says.
“Will you turn on the heated blanket on my bed too, princess?” I ask Skye.
“You bet, Daddy!” Skye says, running off to do what she we asked.
“Alright, let's get you up, and once she is in bed, it will be time for another pain pill,” Calista says.
I nod and let her help me stand up. My ankle is sore, but nothing like my shoulder if I move it too much. Calista stands on my good side, helps me up off the couch, and waits for me to get my balance. She lets me lean on her the way to the stairs, where I pause. Maybe I was overestimating my abilities right now.
“If you want to stay down here, I can set up the couch,” Calista whispers.
“No, I can do this, but coming down to the couch might not be possible the next few days,” I admit defeat.
“I didn't think so,” she says softly.
Slowly, we work our way up the stairs. We get about four stairs up when Skye comes to the top of the stairs and I pause.
“Why don't you go pick out your PJs and clothes for school tomorrow and lay them on your bed?” Calista says.
“Okay!” Skye says, running off down the hall again.
“Thank you,” I say and continue my slow assent up the stairs.
Just as we reach the top of the stairs, Skye finishes picking out her clothes and runs over to show me the outfits. It’s the perfect moment for me to stop and catch my breath.
“Okay, now, why don't you go take a shower? I will be in to help wash your hair,” she says, making Skye's eyes light up.
“She just plays in the shower,” I say, while I slowly and laboriously make our way down the hall to my room.
“I know, but this gives her a sense of being a big girl. Then I’ll go in to help with her hair and make sure she is scrubbed up and clean. I know it's not your routine, but I'm not here to replace you, so we made our own routines,” she says.
I swear my heart is hammering like a train, and it has to be from the stress of climbing the stairs.
Right then, with her statement, the wall that has been firmly put in place crumbles. That she gets what it's like, just a little to be a parent, makes the task of ignoring her impossible. Suddenly, she is too close and is making me feel things I don't want to feel. Things that are dangerous to feel.
With that, I push myself to get to my room and into bed. I need some space. But before I know it, she is back to check on me.
“Alright, all settled in? Need anything?”
“Nope, I'm good,” I say, breathing a sigh of relief when she leaves to check on Skye in the shower.
Day one, and I already feel like I'm losing my mind around here. It has to be the pain pills that are messing with me. Besides, she is Cody's older sister. She has zero interest in his younger brother's friend. I just need to not act on this over the next week or two, and things can return to normal.
The shower down the hall shuts off, and there are giggles coming from the bathroom. It’s both Skye and Calista, and the sound goes straight into my heart. They are getting along so well, and Skye is happy. While I know she is happy with me, I’ve felt for some that she has been wanting another woman around. How will she feel when Calista has to leave and go home? I already know I'm going to hate it, and it's only been a few hours for me, but Skye has been around Calista for several days now.
“Daddy! Will you read to me?” Skye comes running out of the bathroom, but stops at my door.
“Of course. Did you brush your teeth?” I ask her.
“Yes, and my hair, and I even put some of Calista's lotion on!” she says with a happy smile.
“Okay, go pick out a book.”
When Calista comes out of the bathroom carrying Skye's dirty clothes and a wet towel, she looks at me with a question.
“Oh, the laundry room is by the back door behind the kitchen,” I tell her.
“Ok, I'm going to run these down there,” she says and leaves.
Skye is still picking out her book. Judging by how long it's taking her, I'm willing to bet she is pulling every book off her shelf to decide which one to have me read.
When she finally comes in with a book in her hand, Calista isn't far behind her
“Calista, will you read to me, too? Daddy can do the prince voice, and you can do the princess's voice,” Skye says.
Waiting for my reaction, Calista looks up at me, so I smile and give my head a slight nod. I'm not going to deny Skye this despite my feelings. That is my problem, not my daughters.
“Sounds good. Let's do it,” Calista says, helping Skye onto the bed. Skye sits in the center near me, and I wrap an arm around her to hold her close. I missed her like crazy when I was stuck in the hospital.
Calista settled in on the other side of her, and my hand brushed against her hip, as she was leaning against the headboard. Neither of us moves. I don't know if she doesn't feel it or if she doesn't want to draw attention to it, but something about holding my daughter and having this small connection to Calista has me calm. I don't feel the pain in my shoulder, and there is this rightness that clouds everything.
Skye opens the book, and I start reading. Calista jumps right in at the princess’s parts, and she gets really into the book with overexaggerated emotions. She even forces me to up my game while I'm reading. The whole time, Skye is giggling up a storm, and there is a huge smile on Calista's face, too.
“That was the bestest way I've heard the book read,” Skye says when we are done.
“Okay, girlie, it's time for bed. Gently give your dad a hug and I will be in to tuck you in,” Calista says.
Skye gives me a gentle hug and whispers in my ear, “I love you, Daddy. I'm so glad you are home.”
I fight tearing up because she has no idea how close I came to not coming home again. That thought is what has been swirling around in my head for days.
“I love you too, princess,” I tell her, trying to keep the emotion out of my voice.
Skye runs off to her room, and Calista turns to me.
“I'm going to get her settled, but then we need to change your bandage and get you settled for bed. Then I’ll get you your meds because it's time and we need to stay ahead of the pain.”
“Okay,” is all I say. I have no intention of fighting her and making all this harder than it needs to be.
I listen as best I can as Calista gets Skye into bed for the night. She tucks her in and answers all Skye's questions, and as Calista steps into the hall, Skye calls after her.
“I really like having you here,” Skye says, and her words squeeze my heart.
“Well, I really like being here. Now get to sleep,” Calista says before turning off Skye's light and coming back to my room.
“Let's get you to the bathroom and brush your teeth, too.”
Calista says this in a teasing voice that makes me smile and breaks the tensions that are all piling up in my head.
She helps me out of bed and to the bathroom and, thankfully, leaves me to pee on my own. I’m able without too much difficulty to wash my hands and brush my teeth before she helps me back to bed. I'm grateful she isn't hovering over my every move, like I know her parents would be doing if they were taking care of me, which would be the case if she wasn't here.
“Okay, let’s change this bandage and get it cleaned up. Then I'll get your medicine, and you can properly pass out for the night,” she says with a smile.
Then she grabs a basket of supplies from my dresser that I hadn't noticed were there until now and helps me remove my shirt. There is a sharp take of breath from her, and her eyes roam over my body like they did when she helped me get dressed earlier today. Taking a deep breath, she gently peels off the tape, holding my bandage in place. She doesn't take her eyes off the wound on my shoulder she is working on, but I can't take my eyes off of her. As she cleans the area around my stitches, she is gentle and careful. Finally, she pats it dry, rewraps the wound, and takes more care than my nurse at the hospital did.
Once she’s done, she puts everything away.
“Alright, it looks like you are all set. What else do you need?” she asks.
“Well, that's a loaded question,” I say before I get a chance to think about it and stop myself. “Sorry, I shouldn't have said that,” I cringe.
“It's okay. I've heard worse from some of my other patients,” she says with a small smile and seems to shrug it off.
“I'm not just another patient. I shouldn't have said it, and I'm sorry this whole situation is making me uncomfortable,” I say honestly.
“I get it. But we are friends, I hope, and that's a good place to start. I can handle the jokes, and they make things more interesting, don't you think?”
Finally, I can relax. I didn't offend her, and I don't think I showed my hand in regards to what I’m feelings either.
“I think so. We will get into a good routine, and I promise not to make your job too hard either,” I say.
“Then I can promise not to cause you too much pain.” She winks before turning and heading out of my room, closing the door behind her.
My dick is hard, and I haven't been this turned on in a long time.
I'm in so much trouble. And what's worse? I can't tell anyone about it, especially my best friend, her brother.