I consider myself to have a high pain tolerance, but goddamn, everything hurts like a motherfucker. The nurse was in here at some point and gave me more pain meds, but they wore off, and now I need a double dose.
My hand fumbles around as I feel for the call button. As soon as I groan, Fisher’s on his feet and at my bedside.
“What do ya need, baby?” he asks.
“Pain…” I whimper, trying to hold my eyes open.
“More meds? Okay, hold on.”
He presses the button and asks if I need to readjust, but the thought of it has me shaking my head. Every inch feels like a mile, and I’d rather not move unless I have to.
The nurse enters with a smile, but her eyes linger on Fisher a moment longer than necessary. Of course he’s oblivious to it as he keeps all his focus on me. If I had an ounce of strength to spare, I’d tell her to keep her flirty gaze off him. But as long as she delivers what I need, I’ll save scolding her for another time.
“Hi, Noah.” Her voice is low but bubbly. “I have more morphine for you, but it’s gonna make you drowsy.”
“Good,” I whisper.
“Once I’m done, I’ll replace your ice packs. That should help your ribs.”
I manage to nod because it’s all I can do. My head pounds from the mild concussion, which is what the morphine is supposed to help with, along with every other inch of my body that’s suffering.
Everything was pure chaos from the moment Fisher carried me into the ER. They put me on a stretcher and rolled me into a room for a full-body examination. I remember screaming in pain as they checked my ankle and ribs. Once an x-ray ruled out any internal bleeding from my ribs, they took me in for a CT scan and found a fracture in my ankle. Then they wrapped it until a specialist could look at it to determine whether I need surgery.
My parents arrived within an hour of my being admitted and have been talking to the doctors about a recovery plan. I already know I’m going to have to stay off my foot for six to eight weeks, but I don’t want to hear it. Someone like me doesn’t have time to sit around for two months.
As soon as the meds hit my system, every part of me relaxes, and I grin.
“Better?” Fisher asks, brushing his hand over my cheek.
“Yeah. Can ya tell the doctor my ankle’s fine, and I won’t be needin’ surgery?”
“Considerin’ it’s black and blue, swelled up to the size of my fist, I doubt he’s gonna believe that.”
I frown. “Nothin’ ice can’t fix.”
He brushes loose strands of hair around my ear and smiles weakly. “Sorry, love. Even without surgery, they’re gonna tell you to stay off it. No gettin’ around that.”
I groan and drop it for now. “Is Donut alright? What about the snake?”
“Tripp got him to calm down and brought him back to his stall. He was shaken up, so they called the vet to give him some sedatives. The snake was found and disposed of.”
It’s a miracle Donut didn’t hurt himself, and I’m thankful he’s at least okay.
“Was there only one? Where’d it come from?”
“That’s all I saw, but your brothers are searchin’ the entire trainin’ center and other barns to be sure. Tripp saw Craig by the barn doors. He musta released it, then waited to make sure Donut reacted.”
“God, he’s like a parasite that won’t go away. I remember Tripp rushin’ out. Did he find him?”
“No. Tripp called the sheriff, and they’re on high alert for him. He wasn’t at his house when they went to question him.”
I groan at the thought of him still on the loose. “I didn’t even do anythin’ to him.”
“My best guess this time is he’s pissed about Delilah. He somehow knew you’d be practicin’.”
“He’s not gonna quit till he kills me,” I say, and then my eyes get too heavy to keep them open.
“Well, the good news is you don’t need surgery. The bad news is you will if you don’t stay off your foot. Rest is key.” The doctor looks at me, and I want to argue that I can’t be off that long. But with my parents, Gramma Grace, and Fisher standing in the room, there’s no fighting it.
They’re going to make me stop training until I’m fully healed.
“I’ll make sure she stays off it,” Fisher says, and I hold my breath as I wait for my parents’ reaction. “I feel responsible for what happened. The least I can do is help her through the recovery.”
We haven’t had more than a couple of moments alone to talk, but I see him struggling with the guilt and the reminder of what happened with his daughter. As soon as Donut reared and I felt my foot get stuck, I immediately thought about how this would affect Fisher and tried like hell to get myself out. I hadn’t expected Donut to pummel me, or I would’ve tried harder to move faster.
Gramma grins as she looks back and forth between us, and I swear, she knows something.
“It’s not your fault, Mr. Underwood,” Momma tells him. “I told her trick ridin’ was dangerous.”
I nearly roll my eyes out of my head. “Ridin’ always is when there’s a snake in the arena. Wouldn’t matter if I was sittin’ on him regularly or hangin’ off the side.”
“If that were the case, you wouldn’t have this many injuries.” She tsks.
I don’t bother arguing since I’ve already told her the full story.
“We’ll send you home with some painkillers for the discomfort, but ultimately, time and patience are your key to healin’,” the doctor says.
Two things I don’t have right now.
Once the nurse brings in my discharge papers, Dad pulls around his truck, and they roll me outside in a wheelchair. They’re sending me home with crutches and a boot I already want to rip off.
“Oh God.” I wince, sucking in a sharp breath. Breaking three ribs on the same side is a pain I’ve never experienced before.
“Take it easy now,” Momma says when I try to stand on my own.
Fisher’s at my side, holding me up with one hand and resting his other on my back as I hunch over.
“Can you jump in?” he asks softly.
I look up at the open door. “Doubtful.”
Without another word, he wraps an arm underneath my knees and lifts me. I quickly grab his shoulders as he carries me the last two feet to the truck and sets me down on the seat.
“No point in makin’ ya suffer when I can help you inside myself,” he says as if to explain it aloud with my parents behind him.
“So strong, Fisher.” Mom squeezes his bicep. “Don’t be strainin’ your back while liftin’ her now.”
“Gee, thanks, Momma,” I deadpan, struggling to buckle myself in.
She stands next to him as Dad puts my crutches in the back.
“Oh, honey. You know what I mean. You’re all muscle.”
I know I’m being sensitive, but I just want to go home and lie in my own bed. My mother fussed over me all day while Fisher beat himself up over me getting hurt. We all know it’s not his fault, but no matter how many times I say it, he argues how he should’ve handled it differently.
The only thing that needs to be handled is Craig and as soon as Sheriff Wagner finds him, I’m pressing charges for trespassing and assault with intent to harm. With all the new cameras installed, we’ll get a clean shot of his face this time. He’s going to pay for sabotaging my career and for scaring my precious Donut. I’m going to visit him at the family barn as soon as I can so he knows I’m not mad at him.
“I’ll meet ya at your house,” Fisher says when Momma walks away.
“You don’t have to take care of me,” I say firmly. “This isn’t your fault, and I’m not your burden.”
His eyes darken as his jaw clenches, and I worry he’s going to blurt something in front of my parents that’ll cross the line.
But then he leans in close to my ear and murmurs, “You will never be a burden to me, Goldie. I would give up the privilege of breathin’ if it meant takin’ an ounce of your pain away.”
It’s not fair he says these sweet, caring things to me, and I can’t express them back. He ended the relationship, losing his right to speak that way to me.
“You comfortable, sweetheart?” Dad asks, hopping in the driver’s seat.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I lie.
Momma and Gramma get in the back seat, and Fisher helps shut their door.
“I’m gonna run to the grocery store. Figure she can’t stock up her fridge, so I’ll make sure she has everythin’ she needs,” Fisher tells my family.
“That’d be very kind, thank you,” Momma says.
I stare at him, biting my tongue to tell him not to bother. The last person I want around me when I’m not feeling my best is a man I’m in love with and can’t have. I have four brothers who could help. Plus, Magnolia is ready to quit her job to help me full-time. Honestly, she just wants an excuse to tell Mrs. Blanche to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine, but I told her not to bother since Fisher designated himself as my personal nurse.
“Make sure you call Mallory and Serena. They’ve been worried sick about ya. Serena was in the ER with her grandma when Fisher brought you in,” Momma says.
“She was?”
“They were just leavin’ from seein’ the baby. Mimi said Fisher was pale as a ghost and frazzled when he tried to explain what happened.”
My heart shatters at the memory of him carrying me to his truck. I could barely keep my eyes open, and he told me to squeeze his hand until the pain went away.
I didn’t let go until they brought me back into a room and told Fisher he had to wait.
Magnolia sits next to me as I lie propped up with some pillows and sulk about not being able to go to the barn to see Donut. As soon as I got in bed, I took off the boot and literally crawled under my covers.
Once Fisher showed up with bags of groceries, my parents and Gramma left so I could rest, but there’s no way I can sleep soundly with him in here. I texted Mallory and FaceTimed with Serena before Magnolia came over. My brothers sent me a group text, all betting how long until I go stir-crazy.
I won at only an hour.
“He’s been in there for thirty minutes cookin’ ya dinner,” Magnolia says. “Smells damn good, too.”
“I wish he wouldn’t. I don’t have much of an appetite,” I admit, wincing when I accidentally use my bad foot to push myself up higher.
She jumps to her feet in a panic. “What do ya need? Another pillow? More ice?”
“More meds. Fisher has them in the kitchen.”
“Got it, be right back.”
When she leaves, I maneuver myself to the edge of the mattress and reach for my crutches. I’ve never used them before, so as soon as I lift my foot, I fall back into the bed.
I can hear Magnolia talking to Fisher in the kitchen and figure I have enough time before she comes back.
Not wanting to ask for help, I readjust myself until I have them secure under my arms, then try again. I get to the hallway before I slam into the wall and knock over one of my framed photos.
“Noah!” Fisher rushes out of the kitchen with a spatula in his hand. “What’re ya doin’?”
“I was just comin’ back,” Magnolia follows.
“I have to pee. Is that okay or am I not allowed?”
Fisher hands Magnolia the utensil before grabbing my crutches and handing those to her next.
“Hey, I need those.”
Silently, he lifts me into his arms and walks me the rest of the way to the bathroom. Surely, he’s not doing what I think he’s doing.
“This is ridiculous,” I tell him when he places me on my feet in front of the toilet.
“Can you lower your shorts or do you want me to?”
“I think I got it from here.” I bite my lower lip, not wanting to admit how much it hurts to move.
“Why’re you lyin’ to me? Just let me help you.”
“Excuse me for not wantin’ to pee in front of you. I don’t like bein’ waited on,” I admit.
“I’m not waitin’ on you. You never minded me takin’ off your clothes before.”
I shove my fist in his chest. “You know what I mean. Can I have some privacy, please?”
“I’ve kissed, licked, and seen every inch of you.”
A shiver runs up my spine at the memory of our last time. “Well, let’s not add this to the long list of things you’ve seen or done.”
“Noah.” He cracks a smile. “Let me pull them down for you, then I’ll leave.”
The urge to go gets stronger, so I stop arguing and nod. “Fine. But don’t look.”
He chuckles as he kneels in front of me, loops his fingers in my panties and shorts, then closes his eyes.
Slowly, he lowers them down my thighs and the soft touches of his thumbs brushing my bare legs nearly have me moaning. He’s careful not to touch my ankle as he stands.
“Do you wanna lean on me to sit?”
“Oh my God, no. I’d like some dignity left.”
Smirking, he keeps his eyes shut. “Fine, I’ll be out in the hallway. Shout when you’re done.”
He shuts the door behind him, but it only closes halfway. I’m too desperate to yell at him, so I don’t bother. Sitting on the toilet is more painful than I expected, but I bite my lip to keep from groaning.
Once I’m finished, I manage to pull my shorts up as I stand and balance against the counter. Then I hobble to the sink and wash my hands.
“You’re done?” Fisher barges in, startling me.
“Jesus. Yes.”
Without warning, he lifts me into his arms, and I settle against his chest.
“This is unnecessary. I need to learn how to use the crutches.” I hug around him tighter, enjoying his warmth.
“And ya will, but it’s only your first day home. You’re still drowsy from the morphine and the last thing you need is to get hurt worse.”
When he brings us into my bedroom, Magnolia stands from the bed and fluffs the pillows before he lays me down.
She grins at me with a brow arched as she looks back and forth between Fisher and me. I know what she’s thinking, but she’s wrong. Fisher and I can’t be anything more than friends, and if I’ve accepted it, then so does she.
“I have your meds, a fresh ice pack, and I downloaded a new monster smut to your app. You’re welcome.” Magnolia puts everything on my nightstand while Fisher elevates my foot.
“How dare you not bring me my rose vibrator with the smut!” I mock.
“I was trynna be discreet, but fine, here ya go.” She pulls it out of her bra and sets it on top of my Kindle.”
I cackle, then immediately wince at the tightness it causes in my chest and side. “No more makin’ me laugh.”
Fisher eyes the toy, then me, and I look away. Not like I could actually use it in my condition and was only joking. I didn’t think Magnolia would really bring it out here from my shower.
“I’m gonna go check on dinner.” Fisher walks away, leaving Magnolia and me alone.
“That man is a goner for ya…” She shakes her head at me as if the breakup was my decision. “Shoulda heard Gramma Grace when you were knocked out. She knows about y’all.”
“How?”
“She said somethin’ about it being how he looks at you and how worried he is cements that she’s right. Your parents weren’t around, but I acted clueless, and she smirked like she knew I was playin’ dumb.”
“Well, she can join the club and be disappointed when she learns it’s over.”
“I know that’s what y’all think has to happen, but I think Jase could handle it. He might be mad for a bit, but I don’t see him wantin’ to get in the way of your happiness.”
“Two weeks ago, he got into a fistfight with my brothers when he thought I was seein’ someone,” I remind her.
“Yes, and then he apologized and said he wanted to be friends.”
“It’s not my decision. Fisher has to be the one to tell him. He’s the one who’d be riskin’ their relationship and I can’t ask him to do that knowin’ everythin’ he’s gone through to get back in his life.”
“I can ask him.” She stands, but I quickly grab her wrist and pull her back down.
She laughs when I scold her. “If it’s meant to be, we’ll find a way. Otherwise, I’d like to get over the heartbreak and move on.”
She hitches a thumb over her shoulder toward my bedroom door. “With Mr. Tall, Dark, and Rugged in your kitchen makin’ you a feast? Good luck, bestie. You have more willpower than I do. I’d be on my knees, beggin’ him to pick me, choose me, love me.”
Her mimicking a Grey’s Anatomy quote has me laughing, and I scowl at her for making my ribs hurt again.
“Sorry, I can’t help it. I’m just naturally witty.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“If ya don’t need anythin’ else from me, I’ll go and let y’all have your Lady and the Tramp moment while he feeds you pasta.” She waggles her brows as she gets to her feet.
“I can eat on my own, thank you very much.”
“And I can sing like a pro, but I’d still let Justin Bieber give me singin’ lessons if it meant I got to spend time with him. Preferably naked.” The corner of her lips tilts up deviously as she walks toward the door.
“Go away, home-wrecker.”
“Team Selena!” she shouts as she walks down the hallway.
“Do I even wanna know what that was about?” Fisher asks, setting a large serving tray on my bed.
“Just Magnolia…being Magnolia.” I dig my palms into the mattress and use all my strength to push up so I can sit. “What’d you make?”
“Parmesan chicken bowtie with garlic toast.”
“Damn, that sounds so good.”
He brings the plate up and grabs one of the forks.
“Smells delicious,” I say, suddenly starving.
“Try it and see.” He holds out a forkful, and I stare at it, wanting to argue that he doesn’t need to feed me. But I’m too tired to fight, so I open my mouth and let him.
