Chapter 27 Soup
SOUP
Spending an hour being attended to by an EMT for my rapidly swelling ankle and the growing bump on my head was not what I’d had in mind. But then, neither was having Randy as my home nurse.
After the game, I’d been strictly told not to be left alone, in case of a concussion. I’d tried to wave it off, but Randy had insisted. So, for two days now, I’d been holed up inside his apartment with my new carer.
“I bought you soup.” He said cheerfully.
Ugh, he was enjoying this.
I grimaced as a sharp shot of pain shot through my swollen ankle. Meanwhile, he sat down next to me and lifted a spoon to my mouth.
“I’m not dying, Randy. I can feed myself.”
The smell in that bowl sure was intoxicating, though. He caught my expression and grinned.
“Turmeric, cardamon, a hint of paprika. A little fenugreek in there too. That’ll heal you up in no time.”
I glared at him, wondering if he was making fun of me or not. Meanwhile, Jefferson stared at me from the floor and humphed. Clearly not a soup fan.
“You know, I’m not sure Jefferson actually likes me.”
“Are you kidding?” Randy said in surprise, “He loves you!”
I looked back doubtfully at Jefferson while he made a squelching sound with his mouth and then went back to dozing.
“How do you figure that?”
“Oh, you’d know if he didn’t like you.” Randy glanced out of the window. “Here, you see that guy across the street taking his trash out?”
I leaned over and looked at a man trying ungracefully to open the trash can while holding two full bags in his hands, and then nodded.
“Here’s what Jefferson is like when he doesn’t like you.”
Randy walked to the door and held it open. Jefferson cocked his head at Randy to make sure it wasn’t a trick, then sprinted outside with more speed than I’d have credited him with.
From the window, I watched the man scream in surprise, throw his trash bags in the air, then hurtle for his front door as a wild bundle of fur came flying toward him.
Randy chuckled, then called out sternly from the doorway like a dad whose kid was in trouble, “Jefferson Franklin Wayne Gretsky DeNiro! You get back in here!”
Jefferson might as well have rolled his eyes as he stopped in his tracks, disappointed. Then he turned reluctantly and sauntered back to the waiting Randy.
“Sorry, Mr Peters!” Randy called across the street, “You have a good day now!”
“That was kind of mean, Randy,” I told him.
“Nah. He’s a Vipers fan, and he’s always yelling at his kids. We don’t get on. Especially Jefferson.”
Then an odd, giddy expression came across his face.
One I’d seen many times since we’d gotten back here.
Since he’d said all those words in front of thousands of people.
And since my humiliating fall was shown over and over on television.
“I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” had become the track of choice for TikTok overnight.
“God, you look amazing. Why can’t I stop it?”
I blushed under his gaze.
“Whenever I see you, I can’t help it. Those gorgeous dimples when you smile, the cracks around your eyes, the nape of your neck, these cute wrists, those fucking eyes.
“Randy, stop.”
“I’m obsessed with looking at you. When I leave the room, I miss you, and I’m just waiting to get back.”
“I really think you should get your eyesight checked.”
“Hmm, maybe you’re right, let me come a little closer and check.”
I chuckled as he leaned over me with that shadow that made my heart beat harder. The touches he left on me that I never wanted to leave.
“I just like this, is all,” He sighed.
Randy Jackson, lovesick. Who would’ve thought it?
“I do too.”
And I did. I really did.
“I want to take you out. For real this time, Lucy.”
“I want you to as well.” I smiled back.
“Well…” He started.
I looked at him suspiciously, his face giving away that he had something in mind. His sentence stayed stuck in the air as he went out of the room before returning.
“Oh no!”
“Oh yes!” He countered.
“Can we not just wait until I can at least walk?”
“This can’t wait, I’m afraid,” he said, grinning from behind the wheelchair he’d brought into the room.
Looking at him, I couldn’t help but feel a strange swirl of devotion.
For the first time in years, I actually believed in someone to give a damn about me.
While I was sitting there in one of Randy’s hockey shirts, being attended to and doted on, secretly, I was feeling special as heck.
Sure, our attraction was undeniable, but it was the emotions underneath that now bubbled up and seemed as comforting as the softest of songs.
I enjoyed seeing the ripple of muscle in his arms and the feeling of weightlessness as he scooped me up with ease and carefully placed me in the chair.
“You know, you might need to help me get changed again. I’m not sure I can do it all by myself,” I teased.
His eyes sparkled at the memory of the last time I’d asked him to do that.
“Oh, and Hannah should be here with some more clothes in a minute.”
Bang on cue, Hannah pulled up outside and we watched her come up to the door with a hold-all.
“How’s the patient today? He looking after you?” She said, nodding her head toward Randy.
“He’s very attentive.”
“Oh, look! You got wheels! Where you going?”
Randy interrupted, “The more the merrier, if you got a free hour?”
“Sure do!” Hannah told him.
Randy rolled me outside, and we all got into his car, cruising down the freeway toward the edge of town, until we pulled up into a busy parking lot.
“Hmm,” Randy frowned. “Guess I’ll just wait for that guy to get out, then I’ll stick it in there. It might be a tight fit, though. Hannah, you want to watch me getting it in?”
Hannah looked at me and we burst into laughter.
“Sure, Randy, I’ll keep an eye on your rear while you put it in,” She said, and we began giggling again.
“Okay, kids. Let’s all calm down,” Randy said.
Back in my wheelchair, we went round the corner and I saw both the familiar sight of Galaxy Burgers and Frank Jackson waiting outside.
“Hi, Pa,” Randy said in greeting.
“Hi Randy. And Lucy, hope the foot’s doing better.”
“It’s getting there, Frank. This is Hannah, by the way.”
“Hi there,” Frank said, before turning to the building. “I remember this place back in the day, it was really something, wasn’t it, Randy?”
“Sure was, pop.”
Randy and Frank might not have been what you’d call okay, but they were both at least trying. It would be a long road, but the first steps were the hardest.
“So, what are we doing here, Randy?” I asked. “I’m not really in the mood for massive burgers.”
A smile spread across Randy’s face.
“Turns out not many people were in the mood for burgers around here.” He said.
“Okay. So…”
“They’re giving up the lease. In three years, it’s coming back in the family.”
“You mean… Randy’s restaurant?” I asked.
“Not Randy’s,” He said. “It’ll be called Harry’s. Just like it used to be.”
“Randy, are you serious? That’s amazing!”
“Figure I’ve got three or four years’ game-time left. Now, there’s a new chapter to look forward to.”
Despite my ankle, I hopped onto my one good foot and bounced over into his arms in excitement, “I’m so proud of you!”
I really was. This man. The one who had hidden himself behind all those layers for so long, now he was emerging as his true self into the world.
It would take time, and I knew it wouldn’t always be perfect, but I didn’t want perfect, I wanted genuine, I wanted someone who was brave enough to try, to grow, to stand up for himself, to find himself. That took real courage.
“Good job, Randy,” Frank said, visibly moved at the gesture.
Randy gave Frank a nod, then looked at me with soft, wide eyes.
“Now, Lucy, about that date. A real one this time…”