Chapter 27
Death re-warmed
Sophia
I think my body wanted to make sure Misty was healthy first.
Because now?
I feel like shit.
RacingQueen: Ugh. This is the worst. If I was there right now, feeling this crappy, would you take care of me?
TheBigO: What’s your favorite flavor of tea? I’d make you a fresh, hot cup every hour.
RacingQueen: You know you’re kinda perfect?
TheBigO: And here I am, waiting on you to figure that out.
His smiley face makes me grin.
The sudden urge to sneeze has me dropping my phone. It tumbles off the bed and bounces onto the hard floor.
Damn it.
Working into week two of this crud. I should have listened to Oliver and just went back to the truck.
I still have his coat. I’ve felt too lousy to even walk over to the main house when I’ve seen him working.
Leaning over the edge of the mattress, vertigo hits me as a wave of mucus feels like it’s crawling up my throat making me gag.
Oh fuck.
Coughing up whatever was tickling my throat buys me a moment of reprieve.
“Sophia?” Lori’s soft knock echoes on the door. “Feeling any better today?”
“Stay out, I’m probably still contagious,” I groan, covering my eyes with my elbow.
She pushes my room open and peers at me through the gap. “I don’t plan on playing in sleet any time soon. Your dad wanted me to ask if I should call Sawyer to help the vet?”
“Oh, shit. I forgot.” My arm falls off my face to hang limply over the area where my cell still rests. “What time is she coming to take out Misty’s stitches?”
Lori adjusts little Jack on her hip. “In an hour.”
My whiny groan makes Jack giggle and bounce.
“I know, baby boy. I sound funny to me too.” Rolling to my side, I push myself up and let my feet dangle.
Sinus pressure ramps up to ten thousand.
“I’m sorry you aren’t feeling well.” Lori’s green eyes pinch in a frown.
Then she glances to the chair where Oliver’s coat is still draped.
“I saw him out there working today. He’s marking off where Sawyer’s new house is going to go.” She shifts Jack to her other hip and starts to move to it. “I can run it out there if you want?”
I should let her, but I shake my head. “Nah, I still have to thank him for helping me that night.”
How often have I replayed the steam rippling off his back?
What is wrong with me?
He isn’t the man I’m falling in love with.
Eye candy, nothing else.
My nose tickles with the threat of another sneeze.
I’ve blown it so many times it’s sore and my box of Kleenex is almost gone.
“You’re lucky he was right behind you. Can you imagine having to do all of that in that weather by yourself?” She bounces Jack, then turns when Ben fusses from the other room.
“Yea. Dad made him though.” I finally stand and wobble to my Muck boots.
“Mason didn’t make him change your tire, Soph.” Lori tips her chin down to look hard at me.
It takes me a solid moment to realize what she’s implying. “Ew, no. I have a boyfriend, Lori.”
“Do you? Some vague invisible guy that you don’t even know his name?” She ducks to glance out the window. “Oliver’s hot.”
I follow her gaze to see him outside in the warm sun wearing a tight t-shirt and a low slung tool belt, pacing between two rows of wooden panels where concrete is supposed to go for the extension.
His bicep bulges with every swing of his hammer.
“I’m not arguing that fact,” I sigh. “But I really do already have a man.”
She blinks at me, furrowing her forehead. “The book club guy? When do you actually meet him?”
My lip curls between my teeth.
“I, um, I did.” I haven’t told her.
Because of that face she’s making right now.
“You did?” Her voice climbs. “Tell me everything! What’s his name? Do you have a picture?”
Wiggling my heel to sink into my boot, I try to avoid meeting her eyes. “It’s complicated.”
Damn it. I didn’t want to hurt her.
But the flash of pain she shows breaks my heart.
“I swear, I’m not keeping it from you.” I cup her elbow earnestly. “It’s this thing we’re doing. He wore a mask.” I swallow hard, waiting for some sort of judgement.
Her grin surprises me.
“Oh. Like one of your books. Girl,” she laughs, pivoting towards the kitchen. “You had me scared for you there.”
Then she abruptly stops in front of me. “Wait, you really don’t know though?”
I just shake my head and reach for my coat.
“Soph,” she groans, setting Jack down in the playpen with Ben. “Were you at least careful? What if he ends up being someone crazy?”
“Also, no.” I give her a half-assed smile, then head outside.
That’s the question that is driving me nuts. “What if?”
I feel as if I know everything inside of Biggie.
And I’m ready to learn the rest.
Hugging Oliver’s big coat to my chest, I trudge my way across the muddy parking lot to where he’s working with his guys.
“Hey, Sophia. Feeling any better?” He steps over a stack of rebar and slides his hammer into the loop on his side with a practiced movement.
Like a gunslinger from the Old West.
“I feel worse than I look.” I gesture to my uneven sweats stuffed in my boot, and the wild locks of hair that I know are flying around my head.
His smile flashes the whites of his teeth. “So, pretty good then?”
Wait, was that a compliment?
“You’re joking,” I deadpan. “I’m like death re-warmed. But I wanted to give this back and thank you again for helping me that night. I’m sorry it took so long.”
When I hold out his coat, he tosses it over his broad shoulder with a grin. “Does this mean we’re sharing cooties now?”
That makes me snort. “You wish.”
His thumb snares the buckle of his belt as he cocks his hips. “Well, you did crawl out of your deathbed to see me.”
“The vet is on her way out to get Misty’s stitches out, otherwise I’d still be there.” I gesture to the SUV pulling down the lane. “In fact, there she is.”
Oliver tosses his Carhartt onto a pile of lumber and tugs off his toolbelt. “I’ll help.”
I hold up my palm to stop him. “No, I got it.”
“Don’t argue,” he grumbles. “You just got done telling me you’re still sick. The last thing you need to do is be in a dusty barn.”
“I didn’t come out here for a pity-party.” My lower lip juts. “I need to get up and be a human again.”
His dark eyes drift to my mouth, then his jaw clenches. “Just let me, okay? I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t want to.” Then his cheek raises. “You can supervise, how’s that?”
I’m exhausted just walking across the parking lot.
“Fine. I don’t have the energy.” I hate feeling like he won, but a tiny part of me is grateful that he’ll be there.
“You know you don’t have to do it all?” he asks quietly as we head towards the horse pens.
He matches my pace, not trying to hurry me.
I’ve been limping for years now. I’m used to people out walking me.
It’s kind of nice that he’s doing it without having to say anything.
“You ever feel like you have something to prove, but you don’t know what it is, so you keep on pushing?” I’m not sure why I’m opening up?
Too tired to keep up a wall, I guess.
“Yea. Except I know what I want. The hardest part for me is being patient about it.” His voice sounds pained.
I wonder what it is?
“Well, don’t give up, I’m sure it’s worth it.” I wave to the vet as she climbs out of her car.
“It is,” he mutters softly.
Now I’m really curious.
Dr. Ray smiles at us. “I’m so glad you brought someone big and strong to help.” She squints up at Oliver. “Sometimes they don’t like having the stitches pulled.”
For some reason, my stomach sours seeing her eyes look him up and down.
Why would I care?
What is that about? I’m taken.
But when I glance at him, he’s watching me.
“I’m at her disposal.” He nods in my direction.
Noelle grins at me. “Lucky girl.”
“I’m sick.” I shrug. As if that’s any excuse. “He’s here out of pity.”
She slings her bag over her shoulder and turns towards the barn. “Whatever works. Let’s go get Misty taken care of.”
When I step inside, the lingering dust in the air sends me into a coughing fit.
Damn it, he was right.
“Why don’t you wait out here? We can take care of her.” Oliver moves closer, his hands twitching at his sides. He sounds genuinely concerned.
“I’ll be fine,” I sputter, choking out another volley until I nearly gag. “Fucking mucus.”
“Soph, please?” The way he says it makes me pause.
Almost like he really cares.
I wish Biggie was here, looking at me like that.
Except I don’t even know what Biggie looks like.
Not even what color his eyes are.
This has to change. I need to give in and tell him. I don’t want to keep hiding.
“Okay. I’ll go back in. Thank you,” I say weakly.
Man, this cold has really kicked my ass.
“Good girl,” Oliver exhales. “Go get better.”
“You’re hysterical.” I’m pissed I can’t be there with my horse, and now he’s dropping praise bombs making me feel…weird.
Another spasm in my lungs knocks the wind out of me.
My knees give as I cough so hard I almost dry heave.
Before I can protest, Oliver scoops me up, his arm under my legs, the other around my shoulders and cradles me against his broad chest.
“And…that’s enough of that shit. You’re going back to bed.” His words vibrate against me in a deep rumble.
“Put me down.” But I don’t struggle.
“In a second.” He cuts across the muddy ground and stops in front of Uncle Dixon’s house.
Lori swings the door open with her fingers over her mouth, fighting a smile.
“Go get better, you can yell at me later.” Without fanfare, he sets me down and stomps away.
“Are you okay?” Her voice is laced with thinly veiled humor.
“Yea, just my pride got hurt. This damn cough.” I toe off my boots and collapse onto the couch.
Lori shakes her head. “Did you see how he looked at you?”
I lean back, melting into the cushions and wishing I could magically transport myself into my bed. “Like he was mad?”
“Oh no. I think he likes you.”
“Seriously?” I let out a long sigh. “I’m taken.”
“Mmhmm.” She sounds sarcastic. “Does he know that?”
“He will.”