Chapter Six
Even though they had met once, July was nothing like JJ pictured outside of The Playpen.
He didn’t know what he had expected exactly.
Outside the club, Leary looked like the doctor he was.
July wore a skater skirt, Converse, and a short-sleeve sweater.
He also had a face full of makeup and a purse that matched his skirt.
Obviously, JJ wasn’t bothered. He was still grateful as hell for the guy.
The look just didn’t seem like the pouty, hot mess JJ had met at the club, especially since he was a bit bubbly and never stopped talking.
Iced coffee in one and the other barely holding the steering wheel, July pulled into the Surgi-center parking lot with ten minutes to spare. He hit a curb so hard, JJ’s ass left the seat.
“Oopsie.”
JJ was too scared for his life to be nervous about his surgery. “It’s the curb’s fault really.” He kept a white-knuckled grip on the console between them, and his right foot pressed against the invisible brakes on his side of the car.
“Right?” He flashed JJ a bright smile and almost hit a pedestrian.
JJ screamed.
July slammed on his brakes and waved at the petrified-looking elderly woman. “Good thing you yelled.”
JJ had a bad feeling someone would die today, and it had nothing to do with his surgery. After parking at an angle with his back tire all the way in the space next to him, July finally pulled the keys from the ignition.
“It’s too bad you’re not allowed to eat or drink anything. You look pale.”
“Oh, you know, maybe I’m just nervous about the procedure.”
July nodded, looking totally serious. “That’s probably it. I’d be scared in your shoes.” He opened the car door and gathered his things. “Then again, it’s Leary. He’s the best.”
“That’s what I hear,” JJ mumbled as he stepped from the car onto shaky legs.
By the time they made it to the third floor, JJ had mostly recovered from the ordeal. He was relieved as hell he would be high when he had to take that trip in reverse. After checking in, they took a seat. Then the nervousness really set in. He wiped his sweaty palm on his thigh.
“When we leave today, I’ll hit the drive-thru and grab you something to eat and then the pharmacy for your scripts.”
JJ smiled. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” July’s hazel eyes looked bright with intelligence, and an odd thought hit JJ.
He wasn’t a Little. It was possible he was a middle like Rhodes’ husband, Cairo, but there was nothing childlike about July.
JJ’s name was called, and he forgot his wayward thoughts.
The nervousness flooded him again as he stood.
“Good luck.”
JJ nodded at July and headed toward the smiling nurse.
“Good morning. How are you?”
JJ tried for a smile. “I’m okay. How are you?”
“I’m good. We’re going to pause in this room right here. Angela will take some blood and then we’ll head to your room.”
“Okay.”
They stopped, and JJ sat and had his blood drawn.
It didn’t take much longer than the time it took to exchange pleasantries.
Then he was back on his way down the hall.
He was led into a room where he changed into a gown.
They took his blood pressure, covered his hair, and then draped a warm blanket over him.
He had expected to be stuck waiting, but things moved at a rapid pace.
He spoke with the anesthesiologist, answered questions, and took some pills the nurse handed him.
His anxiety hit a point that he might have started shaking if whatever she had given him didn’t hit him like a punch to the face.
His head spun. Leary came into the room.
JJ smiled so big, his cheeks hurt. “There he is.”
Leary chuckled. “Hey there. Can you tell me what you’re having done today?”
JJ might have been confused if Leary hadn’t broken down absolutely everything for him in advance. “I’m getting a titanium rod and nerve restructuring to prepare for my bionic hand.”
Leary’s smile never dimmed. “Great. Can you tell me which hand?”
“My right.”
Leary patted his shoulder.
JJ could see in Leary’s eyes that he wanted to do more.
“Do you have someone here with you?”
JJ nodded. “July. I thought I’d die before I made it here.”
Leary laughed. “Watch out for those meds they gave you. They’re basically truth serum.”
JJ snorted, realizing exactly how high he was.
“I’ll see you afterwards.”
JJ barely heard Leary’s last words before he was asleep. He came awake with a start. It felt like only seconds had passed. A curtain surrounded him, and there was no one around. The first thing that hit him was the pain. JJ breathed through his nose. His head was still too heavy to lift.
A nurse hovered over him, appearing like a wraith. “How’s your pain?”
“Bad.”
The guy nodded. “That’s to be expected. Dr. Justice left some fentanyl here for you.” He quickly shot the meds into JJ’s IV. “That should help. If it doesn’t, let me know. There’s a second one waiting.” The nurse looked over his paperwork in silence.
The pain lessened, but not enough. “How long is this supposed to take to work?”
The nurse immediately grabbed the second syringe and pushed it through. “That’ll definitely do it.”
His head spun. “Fuck. I really hope I don’t puke.”
The guy snatched up a third syringe. “I’ve got that covered too.” Another med pushed through his IV.
“Thanks.” He swallowed. His throat felt scratchy. “Can I have some water?”
Water and a straw appeared as if that, too, had been waiting for him. JJ risked a sip and then ended up drinking more. His throat felt a lot better. “Thank you.”
Leary popped in. “Hey, you’re awake.” The nurse slipped out, leaving them alone.
“Hey.” Even JJ heard the relief and happiness in his voice.
“Everything went great.”
JJ didn’t hesitate. “I knew it would. It’s you. Boy, did I severely underestimate the pain.”
A line appeared between Leary’s eyebrows. “I left instructions for some pain meds.”
JJ nodded. He felt like a bobblehead. “They gave them to me. It’s better now.”
Leary rubbed his chest. “I went out and talked to July. He’ll make sure you get your scripts before this round wears off. I won’t let you be in pain.”
“I know.”
They held each other’s stare.
JJ broke first. “Thank you for this.”
“Anything for you.”
They kept holding each other’s stare.
Leary bent and swiped a quick kiss across JJ’s lips. “I have more surgeries, but I’ll get home as quickly as I can. You’ll probably sleep through most of it.”
JJ nodded. He was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. Leary lifted JJ’s hand and kissed it. He was out again before he even saw Leary leave.
Leary had been scared as hell about doing JJ’s surgery.
Once he had stepped into that surgical room, he was in his element.
JJ’s surgery had gone exactly as expected.
Now he couldn’t get home quickly enough.
While he had texted July seemingly every five minutes throughout the day, his heart wasn’t appeased.
He stopped at the grocery store to pick up a few various over-the-counter meds, snacks, and flowers for JJ.
As soon as Leary walked through the door of his home, he spotted July passed out on the couch.
Leary didn’t even put down the bags he held.
He headed straight for the bedroom to ensure July hadn’t left JJ in pain, thirsty, or hungry.
Leary breathed a sigh of relief when he found JJ asleep.
A big water tumbler sat on the nightstand along with JJ’s meds.
Leary quietly added the over-the-counter medicines and the flowers to the bedside table.
The table wasn’t big enough for snacks too.
He opened the drawer. A box of condoms and lube stared up at him.
A smile tugged at his lips. He pushed the items aside and sat the bag of snacks inside the drawer and then didn’t shut it.
That way JJ could reach everything. Leary tiptoed out of the room with the rest of the bags.
After putting away the items for dinner, he woke up July, thanked him, and then sent him on his way.
He locked up and set the alarm before heading for the shower.
Once he got clean, he would make dinner and then wake JJ.
It shocked Leary that all the loud noises he accidentally made didn’t stir JJ at all.
Once that thought was in Leary’s head, he paused to make sure JJ was still breathing before going back to the kitchen.
He kept his mind blank as he ran through heating up the cooked rotisserie he had bought along with some sides. As he pulled the chicken from the oven and set it aside, JJ wandered into the kitchen. He looked rough and still beautiful.
“Hey there. I was just about to wake you so you could eat.”
JJ walked into Leary’s arms.
Leary melted as JJ buried his face against Leary’s neck. He felt warm and perfect in Leary’s hold.
“I feel awful.”
Leary rubbed his back. “Oh, baby. I’m so sorry. Maybe if you eat something, it’ll help.”
JJ kissed his neck. “Maybe when you hold me afterwards, I'll feel better.”
Leary couldn’t stop the love that poured through him. “I’ll make you better.” He didn’t know why he said the words so quietly, but he needed to comfort JJ.
JJ kissed his neck again and then stepped back. “Thank you for the flowers and snacks.”
Leary pulled out a chair at the kitchen table and motioned for JJ to sit. “Of course.” He kissed JJ. “You’re my baby. It’s killing me to see you like this. I need you better.”
JJ’s beautiful gaze followed him around the room as Leary made their plates and drinks. “It’s all for the greater good. I know when I look back on this in a year, it’ll all be worth it. It’s just kind of sucking right now.”
Leary flashed him a smile as he carried their plates to the table. “Yeah. Your life is going to improve.”
JJ nodded. His green gaze still followed Leary. “Even if it doesn’t, my life is already a hundred times better because I have you. I’m sorry for being a burden.”
“You absolutely are not. I want to be the one who takes care of you. It’s important to me to be the one at your side through this. It’s my job. No one else is allowed to take my place. Does that make any sense? I feel like you’re mine to care for. It’s an honor.”
A small smile played on JJ’s lips. “You make sense. If roles were reversed, I’d bite like a guard dog if anyone else turned up to take care of you.”
Leary laughed. God, he just never got enough. He would actually be hurt if JJ turned to anyone else for care. Being here with JJ was his job. No one else was allowed to have this.
He watched JJ try to eat. Every forkful brought to his mouth was painful to watch. The anesthesia wouldn’t be totally out of his system yet. JJ shook.
“I’m sorry. I’m freezing.”
Leary shot to his feet and grabbed a blanket from the linen closet.
He wrapped JJ in the material before pulling his chair closer.
“Stop apologizing.” He cut JJ’s food into bite-sized pieces and fed him.
The first forkful he brought to JJ’s mouth, JJ shot him an annoyed look.
After a moment, he got over himself and let Leary have his way.
Leary took turns taking a bite of his food and giving JJ a bite of his.
This went on until they had their fill. There was so much pride in Leary’s chest. He could play the daddy too.
Leary’s thoughts stumbled over themselves. Why had he thought that? That line of thinking seemed so random. Leary shook it off. He had to get JJ back into bed. Leary carried their plates to the sink.
He returned to JJ’s side. “Come on, baby. Let’s get you into bed before you pass out.”
JJ nodded, but it looked weak.
Leary was a little worried JJ might actually pass out. He didn’t think he could pick him up if he did.
JJ made it to bed and basically collapsed.
Leary turned on the TV and found his comfort show.
He kept the volume low. Leary stripped down to his underwear and climbed into bed.
It was way too early for him to sleep, but he wanted to be right there if JJ needed him.
Plus, he still needed to brush his teeth and all that.
He would give JJ a few hours to rest, and then he would wake him up to brush his teeth.
JJ scooted closer until his head was on Leary’s chest and his bandaged arm draped over Leary’s stomach. He mumbled something inaudible in his sleep and settled down.
Leary stared at him with love growing in his chest. It was obvious JJ had sought him for comfort in his sleep.
His life felt whole in a way it never had.
He could get used to this feeling. Leary was a little scared he was already past adjusted and had moved into he couldn’t live without this.
Maybe he was a bit more than scared. Leary was terrified.