“None taken in the slightest. Yeah, I’m not very coordinated.”
“Do you watch anything on TV? Go out to the pub and scream for your team?”
Shaking my head quickly, I wished I hadn’t. It felt too weird with the bandages. “I don’t like large groups of people.” Trying to think of something upbeat, I added, “I do like watching downhill skiing though.”
“Me too!” he exclaimed. “Those people are totally fearless. It’s inspiring.”
“It’s terrifying. But I can’t look away,” I said. “I swear, my heart stops when they do the jumps, especially when they flip upside down.”
“Yeah, that’s nuts,” he said. “I get nervous for them when they’re at the top of the hill, waiting for that buzzer that tells them when to go. What goes through someone’s head when they’re about to fling themselves down a mountain?”
My hands were fidgeting nervously with the edge of the blanket just from thinking about it. “I have no idea. It’s a level of bravery, or insanity, that I hope I never understand.”
“Says the girl who studies giant psychology books,” he chuckled. Then he patted my foot. “But you’re plenty brave, little one. Look at you, dealing with surgery, and dealing with a total lack of sight for a week.” He paused. “I think you’re really incredible for choosing to do this.”
I smiled. “Thanks. I don’t feel brave at all.”
“Well, you’re wrong. So there.”
I started laughing. “If I could see, I’d throw a pillow at you.”
“Sheesh, what’s with women chucking things at me? Gwen pitches baseballs at my head.”
“What?”
“They’re imaginary, but still.”
Then I laughed. A big, doubled over, gut shaking laugh that may have been welling up inside me for days.
Liam laughed with me, sounded delighted by my goofiness. When I finally started to compose myself, he patted my shoulder. “I’m glad you’re awesome, Kayla. I had no idea what I was walking into here.”
“Thank you for coming,” I said, still shaking a little. “Honestly, being trapped in the dark is weirdly lonely.”
“Thank goodness I brought cookies, then,” he said, getting up and rustling in one of his bags. I heard him go to the kitchen and open a few cupboards.
He came back, and I heard a china plate slide onto the table. Picking up my hand, he tapped my fingers on the edge. “I assume that dark chocolate and caramel cookies are filled with nutrients that are good for eye healing?”
“Yes,” I grinned, picking up a thick, chunky bakery-style cookie. “I’m surprised you’ve already read about that, they only finished that research last month.”
“Oh, I’m completely on top of cookie-related healing techniques,” he said with his mouth full. “I love science.”
***
Liam coordinated my food, rest, and conversation for the rest of the day, and I found myself relaxing around him much more than I ever would have expected.
He sounded reluctant when it was time to leave. “Do you know anyone else named Liam?” he asked.
“No. Why?”
“Hold on.” He went to my bedroom for a moment, then returned. “Okay, I’m a contact in your phone. Tell it to call Liam if you have any trouble. And I have a key, so with your permission, if it’s an emergency, I’ll just come in.” He paused. “Why are you grinning like you’re trying not to crack up?”
“It’s sweet that you’re overprotective,” I said, still surprised that I was being so open with him. “But I’ll be fine. I did a few blindfolded walkthroughs with Gwen, and we went over the night routine. There’s no muscle rub right next to the toothpaste.”
His big, deep laugh triggered my hand, which automatically reached out to lay against his chest. He took my fingers and gave the back of my hand a gallant little kiss. “Don’t worry, m’lady. I know I’m a big scary guy, but how am I doing at playing nurse so far?”
“A-plus,” I grinned.
“Excellent,” he said, and I could sort of hear the smile in his tone. “Lock this behind me, and I’ll be back at ten in the morning.”