I shook my head and reached for my water. “Want some, Damon?”
Waiting a beat in case he answered me this time, I took a drink.
“You know, my voice is going to go hoarse if you don’t wake up soon. I need someone to talk back to me so my vocal cords don’t poop out.”
Staring at his lips, I had to smile. They were pale and pasty, yes, but still full. I imagined a slight curve to the right side as he let out a laugh at me talking to him day in and day out. A total stranger.
Yes, it was weird. Then again, so was I.
“What movie are we watching tonight, bubba?”
Silence. Not one single movement.
“Vin Diesel it is, then.”Again. He royally kicked ass, and I need a little kick-ass going on right now. Who knows, maybe if I tweeted out to him he’d come kick Damon’s ass.
I laughed to myself.
“Scoot over,” I said as I maneuvered the computer and sat on the bed. “You’re a bed hog. But I guess I should be happy you’re not mouthing off at me. So I’ll let it go.”
I wiggled next to him and lay on my back beside him. There really wasn’t much room, but that was okay. I was small. Compared to his big body, which I’d read on his chart was five-eleven, my five-two body was pretty tiny. Then again, him lying in that damn bed made him look small.
He had physical therapy every day, but still, it seemed like he was shrinking. There was only so much they could do to keep his muscle mass up.
At least that was what they told me yesterday when I bugged them again about how he was looking.
“So, if you wake up during the movie, I’ll give you a prize.” I tapped my lip, thinking, as the movie loaded. Darn internet connection was slow in this hospital. “How ’bout a kiss?”
That just kind of fell out of my mouth. I’d wanted to say it before, but… Oh hell, what was the big deal? He wasn’t waking up.
“Like Sleeping Beauty. Only you’ll wake up, and thenI’llkissyou. Yeah, let’s try that one.”
I shifted, turning my head to see him. This close—and I’d lain here countless times before, watching movies—his scent still radiated through the sterile hospital smells. I’d brought some cologne for the nurses to use when they cleaned him up, and since then I’d been addicted to his scent.
It wasn’t like those dumb commercials or anything, but it was pretty awesome, and it made heat swirl through my stomach, which wastotallyawesome.
“Why won’t you wake up, Damon?” I whispered. “Move, please? Something. Anything. You know your brother is starting to get really scared.”
So was I, actually.
“I want to call him and tell him you moved. Better yet, you opened your eyes.” I stared at him, holding my breath until my lungs burned.
Nothing.
The movie started, and Vin’s glowing eyes filled the screen. “So, Damon, what color are your eyes? Can you show me?”
I knew from the chart they were blue, but I’d like to see what color, for real. Mine were blue, too, but dark, closer to midnight blue. I wondered if his were like that. Or were they more like the ocean?
“Okay. Maybe you can show me after the movie,” I whispered, resting my head on his pillow. “Promise?”