She looked unsure. And exhausted.
Inwardly he cursed himself. She’s just out of the hospital, dickhead. But maybe he could subtly Top her. Help her. It seemed she had a lot of misconceptions about herself. He stood. “Are you going to be all right if I head out and grab your stuff as well as fill your ‘scripts?”
“I’ll be fine.”
“I want all this water gone and at least half the food by the time I get back. And rest,” he bossed.
She flung him a salute. “Yes, Sir Pumpkin Lips.”
“Not happening, brat,” he growled at her. “Maybe I should have gotten someone to sit with you. What if you get out of bed and collapse?”
She rolled her eyes at him. “I’m not going to get out of bed and collapse. I’ll be fine. I don’t feel dizzy at all.”
“Even so, I don’t want you getting out of bed unless it’s an emergency, understand?” he said sternly. Shit. The pharmacy closed earlier today. If he waited for someone to come sit with her, then he might not get these ‘scripts filled.
“And what if I have to pee?” she challenged.
“Not an emergency. I can change the sheets when I get home.”
“Ed!” she squeaked.
He grinned at her.
“Stop teasing me,” she grumbled. “Jesus, I thought you were serious. Thought you were going to whip out a pair of adult diapers.”
“Hmm, you’re so small, I think toddler-sized ones would fit you.”
She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.
“Hey, where did these violent tendencies come from?” He shook his head. “You think you know someone . . . “
“Idiot,” she muttered but he saw her fighting a grin.
“Rest,” he commanded. “Stay in bed unless it’s an emergency or you need the bathroom. Where’s your phone? I’ll put it on the bedside table.”
“I don’t know, I guess it’s in my handbag.”
“I’ll go get it for you.”
He returned quickly with her handbag. “What? You didn’t go looking for it yourself?”
“Hey, I know better than to go through a woman’s handbag. I’m not a complete caveman. Kiesha taught me that when I was younger. She likes to keep Kit Kats in her bag and I used to go in and steal them. One day, she booby-trapped her bag with a mouse trap. No idea how she managed it but to this day, I’ve never gone into another woman’s handbag without permission. Unless it’s for work, of course.”
She grinned. “I love Kiesha.”
“She loves you too.”
Her grin disappeared. “Do you think so?” She drew out her phone and tried to turn it on.
“I know she does.”
“I’ve never had a friend.”
Never? What the hell?
“What about at school? At work?”
She shrugged. “I was homeschooled when I was younger. Then when my father finally put his foot down and sent me, I was the strange kid. The odd one out since everyone else knew each other. And once I was older . . . well, any girls who did try to be my friend, it was usually because they wanted to get close to my brothers.”