Chapter 7 #2
I look into his back seat at the things we got today. I bought Felix clothes, pajamas, socks, and boxers. I’m not sure about shoes, but I’ll let him tell me if he needs a new pair. I also bought him a phone and a new blanket because who doesn’t love a soft new blanket?
“Thank you for today. For getting these things. I appreciate it.”
“If what you think happened to him happened, I’ll buy him whatever the fuck he needs,” Andre says softly.
I smile at that. “Thank you.”
Andre helps me inside, and we see Felix sitting on the couch. His fingers look like they ran a marathon through his damp hair. The worry on his face pulls at my chest. “There you are.”
“What?”
“I thought . . . I don’t know. It’s been a while.” Felix looks scared out of his mind. What’s going on with him?
“Please tell me you didn’t call my sister.”
“Almost. I was going to if I hadn’t seen you by one. I’m so sorry about last night. I shouldn’t have—” Gently I place my hands on his shoulders. His lips snap shut, and he takes a breath.
“Relax. Okay? Breathe.” Andre comes in behind me with some of the bags, and he eyes Felix then wiggles his eyebrows. I bite back the urge to flip him off. “I wanted you to sleep it off. You’re okay. Did you shower?” Felix’s brow furrows but he nods. “Good, showers make everything better.”
Andre comes back in with another bag.
“What’s this?”
“Well, Andre took me to the grocery store to pick up an order so we’ll have food in the house.” Seeing his ribs poke through his pale skin had hit me hard. This man is going to eat. “I also got you some clothes, and a couple of other things you might need.”
“Correction, I got you these things,” Andre says, bringing in more of the bags of clothes. “Don’t let him fool you. I’m spoiling you.”
“You took me and helped shop for them. You didn’t pay for them. And I tipped you and bought you a new coloring book!”
“That you did, but I’m just saying, without me this wouldn’t have been possible. I’m a hero.” Andre claps me on the back. “You two have fun today.” He grins wide. “Soon, Grey. Got it? I won’t keep your secret for long.” Shit.
“Understood.” I need to tell them, and asking Andre to keep my secret isn’t fair. “Thanks again for today.”
“Why? Why are you doing this?” Felix’s brown eyes flash toward the bags Andre brought in. I got him a new wardrobe and comfortable sweats for nighttime. The room has everything he should need in it, but I bought him an extra blanket just in case he wants his own.
“Don’t thank me yet; I’m going to cash in on one of those caregiver favors.
I need a bath, but I can barely move from the shit they just did to me at the doctor’s.
” I want to soak in my tub, but the problem is getting in and getting out.
I’ve hesitated to have one with the other caregivers after I caught one male nurse taking photos of me in it.
The thought makes me sick. I fired him on the spot, which unfortunately made it hard getting out of the tub alone. Do you know what a naked man sprawled out on the bathroom floor looks like after they slip and fall? It ain’t pretty.
“Sponge baths are your department.” Andre squeezes Felix’s shoulder. “There’s only one man I rub down nowadays.” I laugh. Felix blinks at Andre.
“Thanks, Andre.”
He stops in the doorway. “Soon, Grey.”
When he leaves, I lock the door. “I . . . I don’t know what to say.” Felix looks down at the floor. “Why are you doing this?”
I shrug. “You haven’t had a chance to go to the store. On my way to the doctor’s, Andre took me to get you some things. It’s no big deal.”
“This is a lot of clothing, and a blanket?” His brows pinch. “Why a blanket?”
“I figured you’d want your own. I have tons around here, but it’s nice to have one of your own.” I point at an end table against the wall with a stack of them on it. “Can never have too many blankets.”
The corner of his lip quirks. Why am I noticing now how red and full they are? “It has leopard spots on it.”
Stop gawking at his mouth! “It was the biggest and softest one there. Thought you could use it.”
Felix shakes his head. “Last night . . . I mean, I shouldn’t have—”
Last night was a gift he didn’t know he’d given me. Being outside, doing something normal . . . it was like a mood reboot. “Would you mind helping me in the tub? I’m so sore.”
“Uh, yeah.” I just want to soak and then sit on the couch and rest my knee. My doctor nearly kicked my ass when I admitted how much I’ve been on it.
“Hey, Grey?”
“Yeah?” I watch Felix, his nervous eyes going over all the things.
“I’m sorry about the way I acted last night. That was unprofessional.”
I walk up to him, gently squeezing his shoulder.
“I had a good time last night. It’s been a while since I’ve sat down and talked to someone.
I needed that.” Maybe it’s Andre’s words, but he wasn’t wrong.
Felix is kind of cute. I don’t know who the fuck Spencer Reid is, though.
I’ll have to look it up. He runs his fingers through his damp hair, wearing the clothes I washed for him.
“I’m sorry for the way I acted yesterday.
I took my anger out on you. I won’t let it happen again. ”
His shoulders relax. “Um, okay.”
“Come on. I need a bath. Then I have strict orders not to move for the rest of the day.” I smile. “My caregiver made me promise.”
That earns me a grin, and I try my best to ignore the flip in my belly when I see it.