Evan moved closer and leaned in to give me a soft kiss. He leaned his forehead against mine and gave me a big smile. “Thanks for being so considerate. I think I’ll take you up on that.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and attacked his lips. It was the first real kiss we had since I was admitted in the hospital. It was probably wrong to want Evan to feel me up under my hospital gown.
A knock on the door interrupted us.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “Hi, Dr. Stephens.”
“Good news. Everything looks good. I’m signing you out now. You can go home in the morning, and I’ll see you in my office next week.” Evan and I breathed a simultaneous long sigh of relief.
“Thanks, Dr. Stephens. For everything.”
“My pleasure. You just take care of yourself, and I’ll see you next week.”
I turned to Evan. “So, tomorrow you can take me home. To our home. Sounds nice doesn’t it?”
Evan put his arms around me and covered my mouth with his. “I would love to take you home with me.”
I was going home with the man who was my home. Life didn’t get much better than that.
“General Tess isn’t freaking out that you’re living in sin?” Natalie gawked at me from across the table. I’d been home for a few weeks and started working from my apartment again, taking on a couple of small projects just to keep my mind occupied. I was still supposed to “take it easy” but staying inside was driving me crazy. When Natalie asked to meet for lunch on her day off, I practically jumped at the chance.
“No, she hasn’t said anything really. She has a big soft spot for Evan, so for whatever reason she’s not on my case about living together without being married. I think they bonded at the hospital. Who knows, but I’m not planning to bring anything up.” I chomped on the rest of my salad. I really wanted the cheeseburger, fries and shake I glimpsed at another table. My steroid dose had tapered a bit, but was still high. I spent most of my day fighting the urge to eat everything in my pantry or rip apart my closets.
Natalie crinkled her nose and nodded. “Yeah, wise not to poke that bear. So why the long face?”
“What long face, I’m fine.” Natalie rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“Like I can’t tell when something’s bothering you.”
I shrugged. “I guess it’s been a little lonely since I came home. Evan’s been working all the time the past couple of weeks, and . . .” I trailed off as I picked at the rest of my rabbit food.
“And . . . what?” Natalie rested her elbows on the table as she leaned forward.
“I don’t think Evan is attracted to me anymore.” I threw the fork into my plate and put my face in my hands.
“Are you sure they cleared you for that brain infection? Because you’re talking like you’ve lost your mind. That boy never left your side in the hospital. And don’t tell me it was out of obligation. I stopped in to check on you that first night and he was sitting there, just watching you sleep, at four o’clock in the morning. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.”
“I didn’t say he didn’t love me. But look at me, Natalie. I know it’s awful to sound so vain after what happened to me, but look at my face.” Natalie shrugged.
“Yeah, your face is a little fuller than before. You’re still beautiful, and I’d much rather see you with a rounder face than skin and bones like you were all those months. And I am positive Evan agrees.”
“After seeing me like that all those weeks . . . I had a catheter bag for fuck’s sake. Maybe he doesn’t see me the same way anymore. We haven’t even had sex since I’ve been home. Kissing and cuddling, but that’s been it.” Natalie started laughing and shook her head.
“I’m a little upset over here; it would help if my best friend stopped laughing at me.” She put her head down and laughed even harder. I nudged her arm.
“You shouldn’t anger a woman on steroids, Nat. What’s so damn funny?”
She lifted her head and let out a long sigh. I fumed as she grabbed my hand.
“You were in the hospital for a month, plus the poor dude has been working non-stop for the past two weeks. Even a couple with a porn star-quality sex life like you guys had wouldn’t be able to just jump right back in under those circumstances.” I leaned back in my chair and narrowed my eyes at Natalie.
“Porn star? What are you talking about?”
“You remember the night of Jack’s funeral? Evan had to go to your uncle’s house to sort out some papers so I came to your apartment with some Godiva liqueur to take your mind off things. Remember saying you’d get drunk faster if you mixed it with the Bailey’s you already had?”
I shrugged. “Vaguely.” I remembered making that suggestion and then waking up in my dress and makeup. I didn’t recall anything in between.
“Well . . . you told me all about you and Evan. How all he has to do is walk into a room to get you wet, how awesome the stubble on his face feels between your legs, how he’s the only man to make you come more than once in the same night—”
I put my hand over my eyes. “Okay, you can stop now.”
“Wait, what else did you say? Let me think. Oh yeah, how big he is. How you always hated blow jobs but loved sucking on his huge cock. Do you know how long it was before I could look Evan in the eye again? I still really can’t. Who would have thought Evan would be packing a boa constrictor between his legs?”
“Ahem, ladies. Is everything okay here?” Our baby-faced waiter turned three shades of red at the last thing Natalie said.
“Sure, hun. All good.” Natalie gave the waiter a smile and a wink. Poor kid.
“Well, that wasn’t humiliating at all. Why didn’t you shut me up that night?” Natalie choked on her water and cracked up again.
“Are you kidding? I was sorry you passed out when you did. You were just about to tell me how you love to bite Evan on his . . . and then you lost consciousness. Shame really. Anyway, even the couples on Tumblr would need some time to come back from what you guys went through. I’m sure the poor guy puts a lot of pressure on himself to not let Jack down with the business. And I’m not saying he’s not attracted to you like he was, but I would think seeing you so sick this past month took its toll on him. Give him a break. Kiss and hug, and I’ll take you to buy that rabbit if you need it.”
“Thanks, I . . . think.”
Natalie tapped the top of my hand. “Always here for you, mama. Just relax.”
After I left Natalie, I took advantage of the sunny September day and went for a long walk. I guessed she was right and Evan and I needed a little recovery time. I noticed Evan’s car parked on the corner as I turned onto my block. It was early for him; lately he’d been walking through the door around eight o’clock.
“Hey! What are you doing home already?” Evan looked up from the living room floor as he fiddled with my TV stand.
“Aren’t you happy to see me, Daisy?” I giggled as he pouted at me.
“Of course I am! I’m not used to seeing you home so early.”
He stood from the floor. I gave him a quick peck on the lips as he wrapped his arm around my waist and cupped my cheek.
“I know and I’m so sorry. Jessica told me the numbers were down from last year and I panicked. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t wasting money anywhere. Last thing I want to do is let Jack down.”
“You are not letting Jack down. You’re busier than you ever were.”
“But before he died, he told me to make sure work didn’t get in the way of my life. We’ve been sharing an apartment for weeks and I’ve hardly seen you.”
I kissed his cheek and shook my head. “Babe, I understand. It’s okay.” Truthfully, I’d been lonely and a little hurt for a while but I didn’t want Evan to feel any worse. “What were you doing with the TV?”