Chapter Sixteen
Jordon checked the map on the screen, checking to be sure she was on the right street and how much farther until she reached the house.
They’d released Spider from rehab yesterday.
She’d visited before he’d gotten out and gone back to the ranch to do evening chores.
She felt guilty for all the time she’d spent away from the ranch.
Seeing that she was only a couple of houses away, she pushed thoughts of her family away and paid more attention to where she was going.
When she spotted the house, she pulled to the curb in front, not wanting to block anyone who might be in the garage or take someone’s space in the driveway.
After parking, she grabbed the shoulder bag she’d stuffed a few things into and headed for the door where she knocked and waited.
She didn’t have to wait long before a voice inside called out that the door was open.
She only hesitated for a moment wondering what she was getting ready to walk into then pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Spider sat on the sofa, his cast resting on a pillow on the table in front of him, but she didn’t see anyone else around.
“Where is everyone?”
“Out.” He shifted as she stepped in. “Dax wanted to go to the grocery store and Fletch said something about meeting with a client as he headed out.”
“Client?” Jordon frowned.
“Yeah, he’s an attorney.”
She stood next to the sofa, wondering if she should sit next to him or in one of the other chairs.
“Here,” he moved a pillow from beside him and patted the cushion.
“Have a seat. I was flipping through the channels trying to find something that caught my interest. Did you know they have an entire channel that’s nothing but game shows?
And I’ve lost count of the number of cooking or home improvement channels there are. ”
“I did know there’s a game show channel.
It’s one of my Nana’s favorites. She almost always has it on when we get there.
What have you been up to? Other than discovering the variety of channels?
” She took a seat on the sofa but left some space between them.
She wanted to sit closer but wasn’t sure how he would take it.
“Mostly settling in. I had PT this morning, came back and was able to shower afterwards without too much help.” He shook his head as if his needing help in the shower embarrassed him.
That wasn’t surprising. He’d been bathing himself for probably twenty years or more.
It had to be a blow to his ego to need help for even the most basic things.
“How’d you sleep last night?” she asked. He’d been complaining about how little rest he got in the rehab hospital.
“Better. It was hard getting comfortable but once I did, I slept like the dead. And there was no beeping. No one coming in to check my blood pressure or just to check on me every couple of hours.” He shook his head.
“I don’t know if it will last but I’ll take all the decent sleep I can get while it lasts.
Hopefully in another couple weeks they’ll change this out for one that stops below the knee, then things will be easier.
It’s a pain in the ass to not be able to bend it.
” He tapped on the solid part of his cast.
She tilted her head as she looked at his cast. “I bet it is. I hadn’t thought about that. I’ve never had my movement restricted, at least not physically.”
Spider scowled. “What do you mean?”
“I was grounded a few times growing up,” she said with a wave of her hand. “One time I got bucked off, and had to walk home, but I’m not sure I’d call just being on foot having my movement restricted.”
He bobbed his head from side to side as if considering it. “You’re right. Being on foot isn’t the same. At least then you can get there, eventually.”
“How long have they been gone?” she asked, looking around the house, wondering how they’d found it on such short notice.
“Not long. I hadn’t even found anything to watch yet.” He motioned to the TV.
“I have something that might help.” Jordon pulled her shoulder bag off and set it in her lap before digging around. She pulled out her Switch and handed it to him. “Here. This will keep you entertained for a while.”
“What is it?” he said. “I mean, I know it’s a game, but how do I play? Can I play with the guys?”
“It’s a Switch, and, yes, you can play with others or even on your own. There are a ton of games online. I think there’s even a motorcycle riding game.”
“What other kinds of things are on here?” he asked.
“All kinds. Touch something and try it. You use the controllers on the sides to play the games.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Did you ever play any kind of game, anything, even as a kid?” She twisted around to look at him.
“Once or twice, not often. We didn’t have the money for a game, and Dad wouldn’t have spent the money on something he considered a waste of time anyway,” Spider said without looking up from the screen. “What’s a good one to start off with?”
“How do you feel about puzzles?”
“I’m decent at them, as long as they’re not too complicated.”
“All right. I have an idea.” She pulled up one of her favorite games. She didn’t care that it was older than she was.
“What do I do?”
Jordon explained how to play Dr. Mario. She kept things slow and easy, not wanting him to get discouraged. That wasn’t the point of this. If she used all her skill, he might get disgusted with how bad he was and never pick it up again. That wouldn’t help anything.
It took him a few minutes but before long he’d picked up the basics.
“You play for a while. I’m thirsty. Where’s the kitchen and can I get you anything?”
“It’s through there.” He pointed behind him. “And I wouldn’t turn down a soda or some water.”
She’d let him play on his own for a bit. She didn’t have to be competing with him to enjoy her time with him. They didn’t even have to talk. She liked just being in the room with him, even if they were silent and doing their own thing.