Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
H er heart picked up speed when Mercedes got the text from Evan.
He was at the walk-in clinic and needed a ride.
What were his injuries? Was it bad? He’d said it wasn’t serious, but it was obviously bad enough that he couldn’t drive.
Had he hurt his foot or leg? Anxiety flowed through her as she dashed to her car and started it up.
She quickly set her GPS, which said she’d be there in seven minutes. Let’s hope it was accurate.
Praying Evan was okay, her mind whirred as she drove.
Well, obviously he was okay enough to text her and leave the clinic.
It couldn’t be that bad if they released him, right?
Maybe she was worrying about nothing. She pulled into the clinic parking lot exactly at the eight-minute mark and began scanning for the gorgeous man. There he was, at the door.
There was already a vehicle in that spot, letting someone out, so she pulled behind them and shoved the car in park.
Popping out, she figured he might need some help.
When she rounded the car, he headed toward her, no limping noticeable.
Okay, maybe not a foot or leg. Oh, he had a bandage on his forearm.
And he was squinting, pain on his face. That wasn’t good.
His eyes softened when he spotted her, and her insides flipped. In two steps, her arms were wrapped around him in a tight hug. His arms came around her in return.
Easing back, she signed, “Are you okay? What happened to your arm?”
“Stupid. That kid I told you about, he’s an idiot.”
“He caused this? Did he get hurt, too?”
Evan rolled his eyes, then grimaced, pain slashing across his features. “No, he’s fine. I’ve got stitches and a concussion thanks to his actions.”
“A concussion. What did they say you had to do for that?”
He handed her a sheet of paper, and she skimmed her eyes down the page. She could handle this. First, she had to get him home.
Taking his elbow, she started guiding him to her car, but he shook her off. “I’m not an invalid. I can walk.”
The hurt she felt must have shown on her face, because he took her hand and squeezed. “I’m sorry. I’m somewhat defensive right now and more than a little cranky. Too much concentrating causing fatigue, if you get my meaning.”
She gave him a winning smile. “It’s okay. You can be cranky. Why didn’t you call earlier? I could have interpreted for you.”
His lips thinned and tightened. “I can communicate by myself just fine. But thank you. I’ll remember for the next time I get hit by a drainage pipe and land on a backhoe.”
Oh, dear. That didn’t sound like a minor incident. Evan was downplaying it, most likely to keep her from worrying. Pressing on her toes, she kissed his cheek. “Yes, you remember, please.”
His mischievous grin showed up. “You can come with me when I have to get the stitches taken out in ten to fourteen days. I’ll even let you call and make the appointment with my doctor, since I hate having to go through Deaf Relay for stuff like that.”
“You’ve got a deal. We’ll call as soon as we get home.”
They got in her car, and Evan rested his head back as soon as she put the car in drive. It wasn’t like him to take a nap during the day or show any kind of weakness. He must be hurting.
The ride home was quick, and soon she was following him up the stairs into their apartment. Before he headed down the hall, she took his wrist. His pulse thudded against her fingers, reminding her he was alive and well.
He stopped and smiled at her. “Thanks for picking me up. I appreciate it.”
“You scared me.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. You were one of the first people that came to mind when I needed a ride. I hope that’s okay.”
She was thrilled that he’d thought of her, but was it only because she was convenient? After all, she worked closest to the clinic. They also lived together.
“Of course it’s fine. I worried the injury could be really bad, since it’s not like you to leave work in the middle of the day.”
He made a face. “I didn’t have a choice. Boss told me to go so I went. The bandage they put on at the site had already bled through and needed stitches. That and the huge dent in my hard hat.”
She winced at the thought of how hard he’d been hit if his hard hat had gotten dented. “Don’t do it again.”
His grin was faint but there. “I’ll certainly try. Now, I need to take a shower and clean off all this dirt.”
His clothes were as filthy as usual, but a thought hit her. “Aren’t you supposed to keep your stitches dry? Let me check the sheet.” She pulled the paper from the pocket she’d shoved it in earlier. Yup. No getting the stitches wet for at least twenty-four to forty-eight hours.
His face appeared set in granite. “I need a shower.”
“Let me see if I can wrap a few plastic bags around your arm to keep the stitches dry.”
He nodded, resigned. Another thing she wasn’t used to: Evan Jameson simply giving up and agreeing to something he didn’t want.
“While you search for a bag, I’m going to ditch the clothes.”
He strode off to his bedroom, and Mercedes dashed into the kitchen.
A small trash bag was procured along with some duct tape, and she met Evan in the hallway on his way to the bathroom.
Her breath hitched when she saw him standing there in only a pair of navy boxer briefs.
She wasn’t expecting that and needed a moment to begin breathing again.
“Here. Let me wrap it up.” She tried to keep her eyes on the bag and his arm, but every now and then her gaze slipped to his incredible chest and long legs dusted with hair.
“All set.” Thank goodness he couldn’t hear, her voice somewhat worse for wear, given his proximity. She told herself to turn away as he headed into the bathroom, but the little devil on her shoulder taunted her to take in his fine form from behind. And it was fine.
She lingered in the kitchen so she could hear him in the shower. In case he got dizzy and fell. That’s what she told herself, anyway. It was not to get another glimpse of him in his underwear.
Sadly, she missed him when he scurried from the bathroom to his bedroom. A few minutes later, he entered the kitchen in gray sweatpants and a navy t-shirt, his hair damp. The bag was still wrapped around his arm.
“Can you take this off, please?”
She got some scissors and took care when cutting the tape she’d used to keep it on. There were a few wet spots on the bandage, but it had stayed dry for the most part.
“Are you hungry? I didn’t make anything for supper yet, but we’ve got leftover shepherd’s pie from two days ago.”
“I’m starving. I can get the leftovers. You go do whatever you need to. I’m sorry I made you leave work early.”
“Don’t be sorry at all. Tasha was being especially annoying today. I earned an hour off.”
“Glad I could help. Guess you owe me, huh?” His crooked grin found its way onto his face, clearly to charm her.
He was too much. “I’ll repay you by calling the doctor’s to make that appointment. What’s the information?”
When she got his doctor’s name and number, she made the call and checked with him to see if the date and time was okay. He nodded, focused on his own phone. He’d texted his boss to give him the details of his trip to the clinic.
Once the appointment was made, and Mercedes had noted it in her calendar, she pulled out the leftovers and reheated them.
When the food was on the table, they both sat and ate in silence.
It wasn’t that uncommon for the silence, but typically Evan was teasing her or telling some funny story about people he knew.
Today, the pain on his face was the only thing she could see.
“Do you want some ibuprofen for the headache?” she asked.
He narrowed his eyes. “How do you know I have a headache?”
She reached out and stroked his cheek. The skin there heated and turned pink. Wow, he could blush from only her touch. She liked that idea. “The pain is right there on your face.”
He finished off his meal and brought his dish to the sink before she could take it. “I’m not that injured I can’t carry a plate to the sink. But I think I will take something and close my eyes for a bit if you don’t mind.”
“Why would I mind? You had a rough day. I think the least you should do is take a rest.”
She dug in the cabinet for the painkillers and handed him a few. He stuck his head under the sink for some water, and she rolled her eyes at him. Men. She followed him to his room and waited until he’d settled on his bed.
“Are you going to tuck me in, too?” he teased, that lopsided grin too tempting.
She wanted to kiss it again. Maybe she would soon.
Not right now. It wasn’t the time, and they’d need to have a conversation once she did.
One that was long overdue. For now, she’d take care of him in whatever way he let her.
Evan woke to the feel of sunlight on his face. What? Why hadn’t his alarm gone off? Shooting into a sitting position, he remembered. The throbbing in his skull reminded him, fiercely.
He had the day off. Forcibly. Though with his arm stinging and his head pounding, along with a few other aches he hadn’t noticed yesterday, he wasn’t too sad about it. He was getting paid for it after all.
With that knowledge, he closed his eyes and drifted off again. Next time he opened them, the sun had shifted position. The clock on his nightstand told him it was after nine. Not too late for someone who had a head injury, but he’d still gotten more rest than usual.
After slipping out of bed, he shuffled to the bathroom, then headed to the kitchen, hoping there was a cinnamon roll left from the ones Mercedes bought a few days ago. When he saw her standing at the stove, he paused.
“Why aren’t you at work?” he asked, not bothering to sign, since she was facing away from him. Her clothes were more casual today than her typical work outfits—a pair of loose cotton pants with a drawstring and an over-sized lightweight sweater.