Chapter 27
Two hours later, after five stitches to close the head wound and declaring the scans to be clear, David released Quinn with instructions to take it easy for the next couple of days.
“Thanks for coming in at night,” Quinn said.
“No problem. I do it all the time. In fact, I might want to talk to you at some point about backing each other up so we can actually take vacations once in a while.”
Quinn shook his hand. “I’d be down for that. Sounds good.”
Katie wheeled Quinn to the door where Mallory waited with her car to take him home.
“I can go with Jared and Lizzie,” he said.
“Oh, um, we’ve got the guest room all ready for your parents when they come,” Lizzie said, glancing at Jared.
“Could be any time now,” Jared said. “You want Mom falling all over you?”
Mallory held her breath, waiting to hear what Quinn would say.
“No, I don’t want that.” He looked up at her. “You sure you don’t mind?”
“I don’t mind, and Brutus is waiting to see you.”
He gave a short nod, which was the only indication she got that he was coming with her.
She sent Lizzie and Jared a grateful look.
“Call us if you guys need anything,” Jared said.
“We’ll be fine,” Mallory assured him.
With Jared’s help, Mallory got Quinn settled in her car, and Lizzie discreetly placed the prosthetic leg in the backseat.
“Call me if you need me,” Jared said again.
“Thank you, Jared.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks. I fear I’m going to need it.”
He gave her shoulder a squeeze, and then he and Lizzie headed for their cars.
Mallory wiped her damp palms on her jeans and got into the car. The brief drive home occurred in total silence. She pulled into the driveway and cut the engine. “I’ll get the crutches.”
Brutus met her at the door, and she took a second to give him some quick attention.
“Be careful with your daddy. He’s hurt and feeling bad.”
Brutus whimpered and followed her into the bedroom, where Quinn’s crutches had been propped in the corner for a couple of days now. Knowing how much he hated them, it pained her that he had to use them again, even temporarily.
“Stay,” she said to Brutus when she went back out the front door to help Quinn.
He took the crutches from her without a word and got himself out of the car, pausing when the concussion fought back against the movement. Closing his eyes, he took a couple of shallow breaths.
Mallory watched over him but kept her distance, knowing he’d want to do this himself. However, she stayed close enough to grab him if he stumbled.
Quinn moved slowly up the walk to the stairs, which he took one at a time while Mallory followed.
Brutus lost his mind when he saw Quinn, but didn’t jump on him.
“Hey, buddy,” Quinn said to the puppy as he made his way to the sofa, where he landed with a wince and a long exhale.
Brutus jumped up on the sofa to give Quinn a full sniffing, focusing on the forehead wound.
Mallory went into the kitchen to get them both some water and to give herself a minute to figure out her next move.
He’d come with her because he hadn’t had a choice, but she couldn’t believe the guy she’d been so happy with over the last couple of weeks wasn’t still in there somewhere under the veil of despair and dejection over this latest setback.
Resolved to be strong for him and to fight for them, she took the water to the living room, handed him a glass and sat next to him on the sofa.
Her phone chimed with a text that she saw was from Mac.
Are you coming to the bonfire? Syd thought you might.
I can’t make it tonight. Tell her I’m sorry to miss it.
Everything all right?
Quinn had an accident, but he’s fine. Will check in with you tomorrow.
Sorry to hear that. Let me know if you need anything.
I will. Thanks.
“Are you supposed to be somewhere?” he asked. “You don’t have to babysit me if you’ve got stuff to do.”
“I don’t have anything to do.”
“But you had plans?”
“We were both invited to a bonfire at the Harrises’.”
“I’m sorry you had to miss it.”
“I’m sorry you got hurt.”
“Again.”
Mallory shrugged. “Shit happens.”
He took a drink of his water and put the glass on the table. “This is the Summer of Mallory. You don’t need to be taking care of an invalid.”
She snorted out a laugh.
“You think this is funny?”
“Only the part about you being an invalid. Clearly, you don’t have much experience with invalids if you think you are one.”
“You know what I mean!”
“I know that you’ve had two recent setbacks that have you thinking this is how the rest of your life is going to unfold, and surely no reasonable woman would want to be part of that.”
He stared at her, seeming taken aback that she’d zeroed in on the heart of the matter so quickly.
“What happened to you, in both cases, were freak accidents that could’ve happened to anyone.
Does it occur to you that if you’d never lost your leg, you might still have stepped in that hole in the dark and maybe torn your ACL or MCL and needed surgery to fix it?
The prosthetic probably saved you from a more serious injury, and yes, a week on crutches was a drag, but it wasn’t the end of the world as we know it.
In fact, that week gave you a good excuse to stay here with me, and if I’m not mistaken, that week was pretty great.
Or maybe I was the only one who thought so. ”
“You weren’t the only one.”
“Then why are you pushing me away rather than pulling me closer when you need me?”
With his jaw set in the now-familiar mulish expression, he glanced down at his hands, which were flat against his thighs. He looked as if he wished he could get the hell out of there but knew that wasn’t possible. “I’m not good at needing anyone.”
“No kidding. Really?”
His gaze shifted toward her. “Are you laughing at me again?”
“Maybe just a little.”
“That’s not nice,” he said with a glint of humor in his eyes that she eagerly welcomed. “I’m an injured veteran trying to navigate life post-injury and fucking it up every which way.”
Mallory inched closer to him, hoping he would welcome her rather than push her away. “Not every which way.”
“No?”
She shook her head. “I was really, really worried about you earlier when I couldn’t get in touch with you.”
“I’m sorry to do that to you.”
She placed her hand on top of his. “All that matters is that you’re okay.”
He turned his hand up and linked their fingers. “I need you to do something else for me.”
“Whatever you need.”
“Remind me why I can’t get rip-roaring drunk right now when I want to so badly.”
“Because we both know that’ll only make things worse rather than better, and you’ve worked too hard to create a life that doesn’t require alcohol and drugs.”
“It was easier when I could numb the pain.”
“Believe me, I know.”
“Keep reminding me of that?”
“Any time you need to hear it.”
With his palm pressed against hers, Mallory felt like she could truly breathe again for the first time in hours. “I’d also like to point out that the fact someone actually cares about you is the only reason you’re not spending a long, uncomfortable night in a dark, creepy basement.”
He huffed out a laugh. “True.” Giving her hand a gentle squeeze, he said, “You didn’t sign on to be my nurse.”
“I love being a nurse. I love taking care of people, especially the ones I love.”
His body went taut, and she swore he stopped breathing. “Does that include me?”
“What if it does? Are you going to run away from me screaming?”
“I’m not sure if you’ve noticed that I can’t exactly run at the moment.”
“Figuratively speaking.”
“I don’t want to be a burden to you.”
“You’re not. What you’ve been to me is so much more than that, and I’d like to think that if I ever fall down the stairs or wrench my knee stepping in a hole, maybe you would take care of me until I was back on my feet again.”
“Of course I would.”
“Then consider this a down payment on all my future needs.”
His gaze locked on hers. “All of them?”
“Only if that’s what you want, too.”
He raised his free hand to her face, running his thumb over her skin and igniting a firestorm inside her. “I want you. As you well know, I’ve wanted you from the first instant I laid eyes on you, and I’m beginning to suspect there’ll never be a time when I don’t want you.”
“Ditto.” She leaned in close enough to place a gentle kiss on his lips. “Let me take care of you. Let me care about you. Let’s do this together. There’s nothing you could throw at me that I couldn’t handle except losing you. Don’t make me have to go through that again.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
“How about we get you settled in bed where you’ll be more comfortable.”
“Only if you come with me.”
“Nowhere else I’d rather be.”
She helped him up and held him until he was steady.
“My head hurts like a son of a bitch.”
“I’ll get you something for that.” She helped him to the bathroom and waited outside the door to give him some privacy. This day had not turned out the way she’d planned, but they’d still taken a huge step forward, which was what she’d wanted.
He hobbled into the bedroom, where she helped him out of his shirt, running her fingers over the bruises on his ribs. “Does it hurt?”
“Not too bad. My head is the worst of it.”
When she reached for his belt, he stopped her.
Mallory looked up at him. “If we’re going to make a go of this, I’m going to see it every day.”
After a long pause, he lifted his hand, giving silent permission for her to proceed in removing his pants. She unbuttoned and unzipped him carefully, noting the bulge that had formed there. Glancing up at him, she smiled.
“Can’t help it. The sexiest babe in the world is undressing me. I’m concussed, not dead.”
“And thank God for that.” She slid the pants down over his hips and lower still, until his stump was revealed.
Wearing only his boxers, he sat on the bed. “There it is in all its purple glory.”
Mallory saw fading bruises from the earlier injury and new ones from tonight. “I’ll get some ice.”
“I’m having déjà vu.”
Mallory settled him against the pillows and pulled a light blanket over him. “Comfy?”
“Sort of.”
“What do you need?”
“You’ve given me this new ache that needs tending to.”