Chapter Thirty-Five
Caleb
One week later, I was still in the hospital after developing a minor infection in my incision, but thankfully, it cleared up with another round of intravenous antibiotics.
Mum and Dad barely left my hospital room, and Indi didn’t either.
Even though the hospital was technically her workplace, she wanted to be there for me every second she could.
It made everything easier. Not the pain, the endless aching throughout my body, or the memories the hospital dragged up from when I was a kid, but having everyone around me made it all a hell of a lot easier to get through.
Annie cried so hard the first time she saw me.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen her that upset before, and it honestly broke my heart.
Poor thing looked absolutely shattered. But Indi reassured her over and over that I was going to be fine and that she’d make sure her cousin was back on his feet and fighting fit in no time.
The police came in and took my statement.
It was hard to tell them much, seeing as I couldn’t remember anything, but they also took statements from Aston, Chad, and Johnny.
Then they charged me with driving without due care and attention and, of course, drink driving.
My blood alcohol level came back at eighty-five, and since the legal limit is eighty, I was over.
They said because I had no prior offenses and my driving record was otherwise flawless, it would work in my favor.
Still didn’t change the fact that I fucked up.
My baby, my Lexus, the gorgeous car I’d worked my ass off for, was totaled.
I hit the tree on the left-hand side, and the impact crushed the entire side inward.
The trunk punched through so violently that it shoved me hard against the driver’s side door, which explained why most of the damage to my body was on the left side.
I couldn’t even bring myself to look at the wreck.
I just let Dad deal with all of it and haven’t bothered buying a new car.
After consulting with our lawyer, he’s pretty confident I’ll lose my license for at least a year, so there’s no point owning a car right now anyway.
It’s going to make getting to and from Oxfordshire a pain in the ass, but Chad already said he’d drive me wherever I need to go, seeing as we both live in London, and if Chad can’t, Indi will.
Still, I can’t help feeling like less of a man.
I can’t even drive my girlfriend around anymore.
It’s fucking pathetic, and completely my own fault.
We pull up at my house on the way home from the hospital.
Indi is staying with me while I recover, and after that, we will seriously discuss where she’ll live.
I want her to move in permanently, but she wants to take things slow, which I understand.
Honestly, after everything we’ve been through, I get it.
Rob was surprisingly cool about me being out of action for a while.
He said the gigs he’d lined up weren’t anything huge anyway and that we could focus on recording the album while I recovered.
I’m glad because at least I’ll feel useful.
There’s no way I could run around onstage right now even if I wanted to.
Hell, walking to the bathroom is enough to nearly take me out.
Indi stops the car and gets out at lightning speed while I fumble with my seatbelt and try to open the door. Before I can even reach the handle, she’s already there, opening it for me.
I huff while she leans in, slipping her arms beneath mine to help lift me out. She’s tiny, so I’m not entirely convinced how much support she can realistically give me, but somehow she manages.
“C’mon, up you get,” she says softly.
I wince as I straighten and instinctively shift most of my weight onto my right side.
“You okay?”
I close my eyes briefly, trying not to show her how much pain I’m really in. I want to be brave for her. I definitely don’t want her worrying any more than she already is, and when I open my eyes, I force a smile.
“There’s that panty-dropping smile I love,” she teases, making me chuckle.
“Baby, I’m all for you dropping your panties, but maybe wait till we get inside at least. I don’t want the neighborhood seeing what’s mine.”
She giggles and ducks beneath my arm, helping support me as we slowly make our way to the front door.
“Right, for the rest of today, I want you in bed while I bring you food and pain meds. Then tomorrow, maybe we can get adventurous and move you to the living room. How does that sound?”
I roll my eyes. She’s definitely going to be more nurse, Indi, than girlfriend, Indi, for the next few weeks.
“How about a compromise?” I ask while she slides the key into the lock.
“Depends. Try me.”
The door clicks open, and we walk into my messy living room.
“You come to bed with me.”
She laughs and lightly taps my chest. “Caleb, I think someone needs to clean this house before we both catch some unknown disease. So I’m going to do that first, then I’ll come lie with you, okay?”
“I should get the bags,” I say, turning slightly.
She grabs me and turns me right back toward the bedroom. Tiny but terrifyingly strong when she wants to be.
“Nope. I’ll get them. I’m your maid, your nurse, your cook, your personal assistant—”
“What about my girlfriend?” I ask.
She smiles as we reach the side of my bed. Carefully, she spins me around and lowers me onto the mattress. “Most importantly, I’m your girlfriend. Now let me undress you and get you comfortable, then I’ll join you in a bit.” She reaches for my hoodie and starts tugging it over my head.
“Can I undress you?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.
“Behave, Caleb. No sex for quite a while. We don’t want you straining the muscles around your wound because trust me, sex would definitely do that.”
I frown dramatically while she bends down and removes my shoes.
“So when you say abstinence, Nurse Indi, exactly how long are we talking?”
“A long time, Caleb.”
I huff and drag my fingers through my hair. “So what? Like four days?”
Indi bursts out laughing while she carefully lifts my legs onto the bed. Pain tears through my left side, and I grit my teeth.
“No, Caleb, we’re talking weeks. You won’t be fully healed for at least six weeks, babe. I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to accept that we won’t be sleeping together for a while, no matter how much we want to.”
I pout, and she smiles, leaning in to kiss my bottom lip. “You’re cute when you pout,” she murmurs. “Now lean back.” She fluffs the pillows behind me, and I slowly lower myself down.
“Argh,” I groan.
Indi screws up her face sympathetically before pulling the blankets over me and tucking me in. “I’m sorry you’re hurting, but I’ve got all your medications, and I’ll make sure you stay on top of them. I want to make you as comfortable as possible.”
“Thanks, baby. I’m really glad I’ve got you looking after me.”
“Yes, you are,” she says with a grin. “Now get some rest while I clean up and bring the bags in. Then I’ll come cuddle you.”
“Thanks, Ind. I really appreciate you taking time off work for me.”
“I’ve got heaps of leave saved up anyway.
Plus…” She shrugs slightly. “I think we really need this time together. If the hospital needs me for an emergency, they can call. I’ll get Chad or Hux to watch you.
But I want to be here for you… for us. I think we’re important right now, and honestly, while you’re temporarily an invalid, I can get my own way.
” I smirk at her. “Right, first things first, I’m getting your bags and your pain meds.
You don’t fool me, rock star. I can see you’re hurting. ”
I sigh. “Sorry. I just wanted to be brave for you.”
Her expression instantly softens, and she brushes her fingers along my cheek. “Babe, admitting when you’re in pain is brave. That’s what makes you a real man. Let me help you, okay?”
I nod.
She smiles, kisses me softly, then presses another tender kiss to my forehead. God, I love kissing her. It feels so natural and so damn right.
“Right, I’m off. Sleep,” she orders playfully before leaving the room and quietly shutting the door behind her.
I smile to myself, wondering for the millionth time how the hell I managed to get her back. I’m one lucky son of a bitch, and there’s no way I’m ever letting her go again.
Not for anything.
Not for anyone.
I close my eyes and try not to focus on the pain ripping through my body or how awkwardly I’m lying. Every movement hurts like hell, so I stay perfectly still while listening to Indi move around the house, cleaning and unpacking.
After what feels like an hour, my back starts cramping badly.
I know rolling over is going to hurt, but I can’t stay like this any longer, and I don’t want to call Indi in just to help me move.
Gripping the edge of the mattress, I take a deep breath and carefully pull myself onto my right side.
The pressure on my left eases instantly, but the stretching around my wound burns like a bitch, and I groan quietly through gritted teeth.
Eventually, after a lot of awkward shuffling, I find a position that feels almost comfortable. I close my eyes and let the sound of Indi softly singing somewhere in the house lull me to sleep.
An arm wraps gently around my stomach sometime later. Warmth covers my back before a soft nose nuzzles into my neck. I wake slowly and realize Indi has climbed into bed behind me and is spooning me.
The thought should probably feel ridiculous considering how much smaller she is than me, but instead it just feels… safe.
She presses closer carefully, wrapping one arm around my torso while her hand settles over my chest, right above my heart.
“Hey,” I murmur, instinctively trying to nuzzle back into her before pain flares through my side.
“Shit, sorry. Did I hurt you?” she asks quickly, lifting her head.
“No, baby. It was me. Forgot about the pain for a second.”
“Are you hurting badly? Do you want something for it?” she asks before kissing gently behind my ear.