42. Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Leon Aldon
It’s been a couple of days since Maeve and I’s night on the couch and things have felt a little better at home since then.
She even fell asleep on me that night and I didn’t have the heart, desire, or stupidity to move her. Instead, I pushed the tray aside, turned off the TV, and clung to my girl while we both slept.
Sure, I woke up to a fucking disaster after one of us knocked the tray of the couch, but it was worth it. Besides, that’s what hardwood floors are for.
I cleaned up the mess while Maeve slept and felt grateful that she didn’t wake up to see it; she’d likely feel terrible for causing the mess.
She didn’t even want me to clean the towels, she was worried about me handling blood, but little does she know that I’m far too comfortable with blood.
I even stayed home the next day to be with her again.
She was still bleeding pretty heavily and dealing with some severe cramps, so it felt more than worth it to take care of her again.
I brought her pre-packaged food, laid her against me, gave her the remote, and spent our entire day in bliss.
She even had the confidence to ask me for some pretzels while we watched some goofy ass animated movie about a robot at the end of the world.
I gotta admit it was pretty cute, both the movie and her needing me.
Today, however, we’re in my study while she does her finals.
I know she’s ready for this, she’s been studying like crazy and even quizzing herself when she thinks I’m not paying attention, but she’s understandably nervous.
Despite her nerves, she’s been polite with the professor who is assigned to monitor her, making small talk when she’s allowed and even explaining her entire situation to her.
That impressed and worried me. She told the professor that she was accidentally given gluten at a restaurant and is still very sick.
She confidently lies that her doctor is worried about the structure of her bones and is encouraging her to stay inside as much as possible until she gets the chance to get a bone density test done.
I don’t like that she lied so well, it worries me that this is a real fear for her and something she’s likely already endured. Now I’m worried and feeling guilty that I may have permanently damaged her body.
She seems okay now, but I’ve looked up the lasting effects of a celiac being fed gluten and causing a reaction, I could have caused her infertility!
I could have ruined our chance of children as well as her life!
I can never make that mistake again.
I sit back and work on patient notes on my phone while she uses my laptop for finals, but I look up at her periodically while I work to make sure she’s doing alright. When the professor calls out that she has a five minute break between finals, she hops up and heads into the restroom while I head into the kitchen to grab her a snack and some water.
I know if she were in class right now, she'd only be taking an exam or two a day. She’d have plenty of rest time between tests, but right now she’s being pushed through every final in a day.
She’s going to have to take all nine exams in one day with only a small break between each one and I’m almost positive that by the time she’s done, she’s going to be exhausted and have a headache.
So as a precaution, I grab her blue light filtering glasses that she swears are a lifesaver when she’s on her computer for too long.
When I walk back into my study, Maeve is just sitting down from her bathroom break, so I sit the water and the bowl of fruit I’d cut up for her on the seat next to her on the couch and pull her glasses out of my shirt collar a moment later.
She looks up at me and smiles, a genuine smile and it makes me realize that I’d wage wars just to see that smile every morning.
“Thanks.” She says sweetly.
I feel like a fucking fool that all I’m doing is staring down at this beautiful woman with a goofy smile on my face, but I can’t help it, she’s so beautiful like this.
She’s wearing her pajamas, a short pair of silky shorts and a loose t-shirt that I’m pretty sure is one of mine, and her gorgeous golden brown hair is in a mess of a pile on top of her head and secured with one of those giant claw clips.
I love the sight of her just being herself.
“Do you need anything else?” I ask while I start to knead her shoulders in hopes of loosening up any tension she’s carrying from the stress of finals.
She cranes her neck to look up at me and smiles while shaking her head. “I’m okay, thank you.” She promises.
I know it’s probably hard for her to thank me when she thinks I’ve stolen her life from her, so it doesn't go unnoticed that she is. “Anything for you, ma petite fleur.” I promise.
I lean down to kiss the top of her head and see the professor walk back into the camera view as I’m doing so. “Sorry, I was just leaving.” I reassure the professor.
She makes a face at my presence, but quickly smiles. “Dr. Aldon?” She asks.
I quirk an eyebrow at this woman on screen, but smile kindly.
I guess I should have gotten used to being recognized after that “Hottest 35 under 35 of Texas” article came out, but it’s still weird to me whenever it happens.
“Yes, I apologize for the interruption, I was just making sure my fiance was alright.” I explain to this woman.
She drops her smile just a tad and gives a short and expressionless nod. I don’t know what she was expecting or hoping for, that I’d say Maeve was one of my patients? That she is mentally unstable and I’m babysitting her therefore I’d love to take this bitch on a date?
Not happening.
“Ah, I see.” She says shortly. “I’m Professor Mound, I teach psychology and it is an honor to meet you, I’ve heard fantastic things about your practice.” She says kindly.
I give her a charming smile, but I refuse to take my hands off Maeve to prove a point to this woman. “Why, thank you. I’m just doing my best to help as many people as I can.” I say kindly.
When I look at the timer, I see that they only have about 30 seconds left of their break. “I’ll leave you to it.” I say as I lean down and kiss my girl on the temple and take a seat in my chair across from the couch in my study.
I work on my usual stuff while Maeve does her exams and I take every break she gets as an opportunity to check on her, but by her fourth break, my girl puts her hand on top of mine and smiles up at me. “How about you take the couch and take your leg off?” She offers.
Not happening.
I sat Maeve on the couch so she could be comfortable and focus on her exams, I’m not moving her. “I’m okay, ma fleur. I want you to be comfortable, you still have five exams left today.” I remind her, but she simply shrugs, grabs my laptop off her lap, and moves to the chair I had been sitting in.
My girl may be selfless, but I will argue with her during her next break. I need her comfortable so she can pass. I can’t let her fail and feel like it was in any way my fault.
“Where’s that boyfriend of yours, Ms. Henderson? Did he tire of catering to you? He has a real job, you know? He actually contributes to the world.” The professor snaps when she comes back on screen.
Her tone is nowhere near as friendly as it had been earlier, she must not know that I’m within earshot.
I stand up from the couch to confront the professor, but Maeve snaps back before I get the chance to. “Oh, he’s busy between my legs right now, stress relief, you know?” She says with a charming little laugh. “Did you need him for something?” She asks sarcastically.
Fuck that’s hot.
Not only is my girl sticking up for herself, but she’s willing to let this professor know that we’re intimate.
The professor almost gasps in surprise at my girl’s outburst, but I’m so fucking proud. “Excuse me?” She asks with a venomous tone.
My girl smiles back at her, but it isn’t her usual smile. No, she’s proud that she stumped this woman. I’m just glad that she has no say in the grading process.
“Oh, I’m sorry, did I say too much? He was just busy catering to me when he’s not at his real job contributing to the world.” She sasses.
I am so in love with this girl.
It’s not surprising, but it is irritating that the professor stops with any pleasantries after my girl’s little outburst. She switches to doing the bare minimum required of her.
Good.
I’d hate to have to pay this woman a visit and embarrass her in front of her entire class.
I’d hate to have to drag Maeve in there and fuck her senseless on top of this woman’s desk, but I will if she opens her mouth again.
I keep an eye on Maeve while she takes her exams, but I stretch out on the couch and give my leg a rest, but I won’t take my leg off. I want to be able to jump up and get her anything she could need. I also want to insist she switch seats with me when she starts her next break.
I doubt she’ll say yes, but it’s worth a try.
By the time the sun is starting to set, Maeve still has two finals left and rubs her temples every chance she gets. She’s clearly feeling a little sore, and I doubt the medicine I gave her for a headache earlier is still helping.
“How about you move back over to the couch? It’s more comfortable and you have some better back support.” I suggest.
She looks up at me and takes a quick sip of her water, but shakes her head in protest. “I’m fine, really. Rest your leg.” She insists.
I don’t know if something is finally shifting and she cares about me or if she is just such a good person that she feels guilty whenever she sees my bruised leg.
Either way, I feel like it’s a step in the right direction.
I stand up and take my laptop from her. “How about we compromise? You come finish your exams on the couch while I make something for dinner?” I suggest instead.
I don't know if I trust her not to tell the professor what's happening here, but I also just want to be near her in case she needs me. Once she starts an exam, she's not allowed to get up or leave the view of the camera for any amount of time. So I can grab her things while she's testing if she asks me to.
Maeve looks at me nervously, but she stands up.
I don't know when this professor will join us at her computer again, so I can't say anything that may hint at our unique situation. "I looked up everything about celiac, I will not hurt you again. That is a promise, ma fleur. Can you give me a little of that trust again?" I ask her.
I wrap my arms around her and pull her into my chest. She stiffens, but she doesn't push me away or say anything about the embrace which I honestly love, maybe she is warming up to me.
"I can try." She finally answers.