4. Chapter 4
Leigh
Bama took his family home and Sam finally left. Bruce’s head lifted, the hair on his back raised.
“It’s alright, boy. Just her food.”
I stood to meet the driver at the door. Bruce stayed, but he was on high alert.
The driver handed me two bags. “Sorry for the wait. Here you go.”
“No problem. Enjoy your night.”
Heading down the hall, I walked into the spare room that we’d turned into Glenda’s recovery area.
Her eyes opened at the sound, but she only looked at me briefly before looking away. Her dirty blonde hair wasn’t as full and wavy as normal but fanned behind her on the pillow as she sat semi-upright.
I pulled the tray up from the side of the bed with one hand, then put the bags on it and started pulling items out. “I wasn’t sure how bad your throat was. Sam said you should have whatever you want and can keep down.”
She finally glanced down at the tray holding the chicken nuggets, fries, tomato soup, grilled cheese, and cheesecake.
“I can’t eat all of that.”
I shrugged. “I know. Eat what you want and I’ll take the rest.”
“Thanks.”
She tried to adjust in the bed but was struggling, so I hit the button to prop her up more, then grabbed a pillow from below it. “I’m gonna shove this behind you.”
My hand met her back and she flinched, but I pressed her up enough to put the pillow between her and the bed.
“I don’t suppose I have any clothes here?” she asked as she grabbed a nugget and took a tiny bite.
“No, but Linny said she’d bring some tomorrow. I have a t-shirt and some sweats with a drawstring if you want.”
She put the nugget down and tried to reach her water. I grabbed it and handed it to her.
She took a few sips and said, “I don’t think I can eat the nuggets.”
“That’s alright. You want a shirt?”
She nodded as she pulled the soup closer and looked around.
I looked in the bag and the spoon was in the bottom. “Here. I’ll go grab something for you to put on. Be right back.”
She was petite but curvy; my clothes would be long on her, but parts of her would fill them out. Bruce heard me and came padding down the hall.
“Not bedtime yet, buddy. Just getting something for her to wear.”
Bruce moaned but waited by the door.
“Sofie wore you out, huh?”
After digging out some cotton pants with drawstrings and a t-shirt, I went back to find her still working on the soup. Bruce followed me inside.
I put the clothes on the foot of the bed. “I’ll help you after you eat.”
“Is my phone here?” she asked between bites.
“No. Sorry. I’ll ask Bama if they can bring it.”
I had pulled out my phone to text him when she said, “And my car?”
“Your car’s at Bama’s.”
“I need it.”
“No, you don’t,” I told her as I sent the text about her phone. I also asked if they knew where the keys to her car were, but clarified she didn’t need it for now.
“Once I can walk, I do. I’m not staying here forever.”
“When Sam clears you, I’ll take you where you need to go.”
She dropped her spoon and crossed her arms.
“You need to eat.”
“I’m not hungry anymore.”
“Bullshit. Eat.”
“Fuck you.”
“You can hate me all you want. But starving yourself isn’t gonna help you heal any faster.” I stepped closer and pushed the soup back toward her. “The faster you heal, the faster you can get away from me.”
She snatched the spoon and leaned back over to take another bite.
I grabbed the nuggets and fries, then sat down in the chair in the corner and waited for her to finish.
“Do you have to sit there and watch me eat?”
“I don’t got anything else to do.”
She rolled her eyes and continued eating. Bruce sat next to me and put his head in my lap. I gave him a few fries and we all ate in silence.
Bruce had the last nugget, and we waited as she finished her soup. Once she pushed the tray away, I stood up.
“You full?”
“Yeah, I can’t eat that sandwich. I’m sorry.”
I grabbed the sandwich and tore a piece, tossing it to Bruce. “Why are you sorry?”
“I hate wasting stuff. But my throat is still weird.”
“Bruce has no problem taking care of it. Do you, Brucie?”
“He’s gotten big.”
“Yeah. Having Sofie around has been good for him. He needed the exercise.”
I got Bruce as a puppy when we had a run-in with a dealer trying to cross us.
Fucker was also running a puppy mill. After killing the dealer and his guys, a few of us each took a puppy.
We were nomads then, still unsettled. Somehow, even with all the moves, I managed to keep Bruce, hopping from chapter to chapter until Jameson formed Mobile and Hammer asked me to join ranks with him.
Reggie was with me then, too.
It was always quiet here besides Bruce and the sounds of the birds, but for some reason the silence was making my skin crawl. “You ready to change?”
“If you’ll just pass those to me, I can do it.”
Huffing a breath, I grabbed the clothes, moved the tray from over the bed, then walked out of the room. But I didn’t go far. Sam told me the extent of her injuries, but her stubborn ass was about to find out she was going to have to get used to having someone help her.
I waited in the hall and noticed Bruce hadn’t followed me out. Traitor.
As she grunted and huffed, I stifled a laugh.
“Jesus. Hey. Um. Hey!” she called out.
Turning the corner, I popped my head into the open door. “Yeah?”
She leaned against the pillow, holding the t-shirt over her tits. The gown was bunched around her waist. “I can’t get the shirt on.”
I leaned against the door frame, arms crossed.
“Well?” she asked.
“Well, what?” I answered.
“Oh my God. Can you help me?”
Pushing off the door, I walked in and stood by the bed.
I positioned myself so that when she leaned up, I wouldn’t see her goodies.
“I’m gonna push you back up a bit.” I grabbed the shirt, then helped her lean.
Her back was covered in brown and green bruises.
The only thing that kept me from losing my shit was knowing the fuckers that did that to her were already dead.
Once I steadied her, I pulled the shirt over her head, then helped her work one arm in at a time. “I don’t have any hair ties, but I have some bandanas if you want to keep your hair off your neck.”
“That would be great. My hair feels gross. I need to shower.”
“I can help you if you want one.” My hands were still on her shoulders.
She moved from my grasp. “I’ll wait for Linny.”
Leaning closer to her ear, I said, “Nothing I ain’t seen before, Glenda.”
“Please stop.”
I straightened back up. “I’ll be in the living room. Do you need to pee or anything before I go?”
“I can try.”
I helped her off the bed, careful where I was holding her.
It took nearly two minutes for her to shuffle to the bathroom with my help.
I could have easily picked her up, but Sam said she needed to move to get her muscles going and to get her blood flowing.
Once in the bathroom, I got her over by the toilet.
My shirt was well past her ass and she hadn’t put the pants on yet.
After helping her sit, I left and pulled the door to give her some privacy. Bruce was still sitting by the bed.
“What are you doing, boy?”
He blinked his brown eyes at me but didn’t move.
“Fine. I see how it is.”
I headed to my room to grab a bandana for her, then went back to the spare room, grabbed the pants, and knocked on the bathroom door.
“One second.” I waited a few beats then she finally called out, “Okay.”
Opening the door, she tugged at the shirt, trying to cover her thighs.
“Here,” I said, holding the pants out. I worked them up as far as I could. “Grab the hem. I’ll lift you and you can pull them up. Alright?”
She nodded, never looking at me. I pulled her up and she pulled the pants around her waist. I held her as she took a few steps toward the sink. I stood behind her, holding her as she washed her hands.
“Um, is there a spare toothbrush anywhere?”
Still gripping her with one hand, I reached down to the drawer and pulled one out with a mini toothpaste. “I keep these from the dentist.”
After she brushed her teeth and splashed some water on her face, she said, “Okay. Back to bed.”
I helped her back to the bed, one small step at a time. Bruce was still sitting there like he’d been waiting on her to return. She stopped and patted his head. “Hey, Brucie.”
His tail thudded on the carpet as I helped her climb back up.
“Covers?” I asked as she got settled.
“Yes, please.”
I pulled the blanket up over her and adjusted her pillow. I wrapped her head to get her hair off her neck, then asked, “Want me to lower this?”
“Yeah, but not all the way. I don’t know if I can handle lying on my back.”
After adjusting the bed, I made sure her pillow was in a good spot and moved the tray back so she could grab her water and nibble on the cheesecake.
“Alright. Well, I’ll be in the living room. If you need me, just bang on the tray or something. Otherwise, I’ll pop in before I go to bed.”
She laid her head back, her eyes closed. “Okay. Thanks.”
Heading to the door, I stopped and patted my hip. “C’mon Bruce.”
But instead, Bruce circled three times, then plopped down on the floor.
“Fucking traitor,” I said.
But before I turned to go, I caught a glimpse of a small grin on her face and her dimples deepened. It was for my dog, but I’d take it.