18. Chapter 18
Chapter eighteen
Two Days Later
I woke up and stretched, cringing over the crick in my neck.
Sleeping on Jackie’s couch wasn’t the best experience in the world, but if he needed something in the night, I wanted to be there.
Not that I didn’t have to fight him for it.
Dumbass thought I would take the bed when he had a broken arm and a concussion.
Ow . I showed him. Painfully so.
Making coffee was step two. Once the brew was percolating or whatever it did in the machine, I went to the bathroom, washed my face and hands, and by the time I returned to the kitchen, Jackie was there getting cups out. “Morning.”
“Hey. Stop. I’ve got the coffee this morning.” I shooed him out of the way. “How’d you sleep?”
“Eh…” At least he moved and let me take over.
“Sit.” I pointed to our little café spot. He scooted in between the table and the wall while I poured his coffee and added entirely too much sugar—exactly how he took it. “So what do you want for breakfast?”
“Uh…nothing. I’ll get a bun at the store.”
“What? You’re injured.” I had no clue what he was thinking, but everything inside me screamed that he needed to be nursed.
After breakfast, I was putting his ass back in the bed.
“Doctor’s orders were rest.” I opened his fridge, surely, he had eggs.
No. Lunchmeat and a half a gallon of milk, which was probably sketchy, and condiments. “Guess I need to go to the store.”
“Uh, no. Al, you don’t need to do any of that.”
“I think I do. I’ll run out and get some groceries and breakfast. You, mister, can go back to bed.” I didn’t know how to take care of someone since I never had before, but this was basic.
“I’m up already.” He glared at me over his mug.
“That doesn’t mean you can’t go back.” I nodded my head toward his room.
“You joining me?” He wiggled his eyebrows. Deviant.
“I think I just said I’m going to the store.”
He made a dismissive noise. “I’m not a baby, Al. Come on. I’m getting dressed and going to the bookstore.”
“No. You’re not.”
“Watch me.” He headed back into his room. I had to admit, he was pretty sexy wearing sleep pants and with his hair all tousled, curls going every which way, including straight up. But if he thought I was helping him dress, he was crazy.
I watched from the door as he struggled. “Go back to bed.”
“No. If you want to be helpful, get this shirt on me…”
“No. Go back. To. Bed.”
“Stop telling me what to do. Damn, you’re not my mother.”
That infuriated me. He’d been stupid enough to not only dig a damn hole, but to fall in it, and when I tried to help, he pushed me away.
“Fuck you, Jackie. I wouldn’t ever be your mother.
She obviously wasn’t great for you.” I stormed into the main house to find my keys and maybe his.
If I took his keys, he couldn’t go into town.
He followed me out. “Son of a bitch, Al. I trusted you. When I talked to you about my mom. How dare you throw that in my face? Unbelievable.”
“I trusted that you wouldn't do stupid shit. Like falling in a pool.” I picked his keys up and turned around to see him glaring at me.
“Al. This is crazy. Give me my keys.” He held his hand out.
“No.”
“Bullshit. I am not staying cooped up in the house all day.”
He had me so riled up. “Then you can sit on the porch.”
“I can sit at the bookstore.”
“No—”
“You realize I’m a grown ass man, right?” He huffed. “Fine, then you can drive me to the bookstore. How’s that for compromise? I mean, seriously, all I do is sit.”
Even though he was right, I didn’t let it go.
First, some weird instinct was hammering at me that he needed to be in bed resting, and I had to take care of him.
But second, I wasn’t giving in from a fight.
If I gave in now…I didn’t know what, but it wouldn’t be good.
Plus, I was stubborn like that, and I was getting hot.
Literally. “No. You shouldn’t have been out there fucking around and getting hurt.
You haven’t been acting like a grown ass man , as you said.
You’ve been stupid. So, no. I’m not driving you, and you’re not going anywhere but back to bed. ”
“Alfred.” His face turned red. I still wasn’t giving in. “Leave me alone. I’m a god damned adult and I can take care of myself, I’ve been doing it since I was ten.”
“Not very well. You don’t even have fucking food in this house. Stop arguing with me. I’m going to the store. Be back in about an hour. Can you wait that long for breakfast?”
“No. Give me my fucking keys.” He stepped closer to me, which was a mistake.
I yelled, and very loudly, too, “Stop.”
He did but then scowled. “Do not yell at me. Especially, in my own fucking house.” He wasn’t yelling, but his voice was raised. I had not heard him or seen him like this before, and to be honest, it pissed me off. Probably irrationally so, but all it did was make me angrier.
“What are you going to do about it?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “You’re in no position—” Oomph .
Fucker shoved me.
“Now give. Me. My. Keys. Then get the fuck out.”
“Fuck you.” I stormed out of the house, taking his fucking keys with me.
“I knew you were only going to hurt me. You’re reckless and wild and all you can see is what you want like a spoiled baby.
I shouldn’t have ever given in to you.” I wanted to slam the door, but he was standing in it, but that would have been more satisfying.
Instead, I slammed my car door and missed the first time I tried to stick the key in the ignition.
Then realized it wasn’t even my key. I tossed his in the seat next to me and pushed mine in.
Looking up, I saw Jackie stalking onto the front porch.
Maybe he didn’t think I’d go, but I did.
Stuck the bitch in reverse and backed all the way down his drive and onto the main road.
Fuck him. Fuck his pool. I didn’t need this shit when I was only trying to help.
I did not go to the grocery store.
I went home. I needed a shower and to cool off.
Let’s see how well he did taking care of himself.
Arguably, he probably had a spare set of keys anyway.
But at the moment, I did not give one flying fuck.
I hadn’t ever been this angry. But the anger was dousing the hurt.
I probably said things I shouldn’t, but it was bound to come to this sooner or later.
So fuck Jackie Corbin and all his bullshit.