“Yes! We also need to get a tree... Christmas is in three weeks. God Hale, the first Christmas we’re spending together. It makes me so happy! We have so much to decorate. Do you want to decorate your dad’s too?” She looks so hopeful. I don’t want to tell her I don’t give a shit what holiday it is as long as she’s with me. I’ll dress like fucking Santa Claus if it makes her happy.
“We can just do Nan’s. I’ll stay over with you for Christmas. What do you want?” I know she’ll say nothing, but I’ll be damned. I’m making this the best fucking Christmas she’s ever had.
“The fact that you’re here is enough of a present to last me a lifetime. Trust me.” She gives me a smile that loosens up the ice surrounding my heart.
We spend the night talking about old times, learning new things about the other, and laughing at old stories about our childhood. Tomorrow she starts back to school and dance three days a week and it’ll be hard to have a moment to ourselves. I plan on spending the rest of the night inside her tight body, showing her just how much I plan to worship her.
I came up with the idea while her head was buried inside of an English book. I’ve been searching for over a week for something to get her for Christmas, something that was perfect. She didn’t want any material things, but I got her a pair of diamond earrings that I hope she’ll wear. Now, with only two weeks left, I’m fucking panicking. I need to talk to B and get her to help me set it up without Ember finding out. I want it to be a complete surprise. Jared mentioned a few weeks ago that if I ever wanted to use his hunting cabin to just let him know. You know to get away from all the “town talk” he says. As I sit here watching Ember so submersed in the book, she probably doesn’t even realize I’m watching her, I got the idea to take her there. She gets out for winter break this Friday, and I want to take her up there and spend a few days. His cabin is way out in the woods in the middle of fucking nowhere right on the lake, and I know she’ll love it. I know she’s bummed that B is flying to Colorado to spend Christmas at Nashville’s parents, but I think this will make up for it.
Her coughing pulls me from my thoughts. She sounds like she’s hacking up a lung. Reaching over I press my hand against her forehead to try and gauge her temperature.
“Jesus Ember, you’re burning up. Close the books, c’mon. Go upstairs. When did you start feeling bad?”
“It’s just the weather. I don’t think being in the rain the other day helped. I need to finish this paper, but I’ll go to bed as soon as I’m done I promise.” Her cheeks are flushed from the fever and she has her brown hair in a pile on the top of her head. She’s wearing my old football hoodie, some pajama pants, and still has the blanket wrapped around her.
“Baby, you’ve got a fever, you need to take something and get your ass in bed. The paper can wait till you feel better.” I pick the book up and close it, making sure to mark her place. I bend down and pick her up right off the couch, ignoring her squeals of protest and start up the stairs. Once in the bedroom I set her down on the bed and pull back the covers, tucking her in tight.
I leave her in there to get some Tylenol and a Gatorade from the fridge. Walking back into the room I see her sound asleep and curled into a ball. I hate to wake her up, but she has to break the fever.
“Em, baby. Wake up I need you to take this for me.” I nudge her gently pulling her from sleep. She quickly swallows the pills and lays down, burrowing into the covers. If she’s not feeling better by morning, then we’re going to the doctor. I’ll have to call out of work. I go back downstairs to lock the house up, cut the lights off and feed Deacon then head to the bathroom for a quick shower. I dry off with the plush brown towel that Ember insisted on buying on the “furniture” trip that ended up being an every fucking thing under the sun trip. The things I do for my woman, yeah? I cut the light off and walk back into the bedroom, slipping inside the covers next to her. Her body radiates heat, but nothing like it was before the medicine. I pull her body against mine and tuck her head against my chest. I never want to take this for granted... all these moments that seem so small.
For the first time in years, I sleep peacefully. I didn’t wake up drenched in sweat from the same nightmare that has been replaying in my head like a broken fucking record. I did wake up drenched in sweat because of the furnace that was pressed against me. I realize that furnace is Ember and she’s fucking burning up. I run my fingers through her hair, “Wake up baby. We need to get you to the doctor. You’re sick.” She groans and moves her body away from me. I chuckle, “Sorry Sweet Girl, I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to get dressed. Can you get your clothes on?” I hope out of bed and throw some clothes on then head downstairs and throw some food in Deacons bowl. I finish getting everything ready and run to the car to turn it on and warm it up. By the time I make it back upstairs I see Ember has changed, but is laying back down in bed.
“C’mon babe, let’s go.” I call from the door. She gets up slowly and pulls the hoodie closer to her. We stop only to grab some medicine from the kitchen and then we’re out the door. I grab her purse that she forgot in her haze and get in the Camaro. The heats blowing full force and I see her still shivering. I’m sure it’s the flu and if I hadn’t made her go she would probably still be in that bed. Damn frustrating woman.
The doctor’s office is packed when we finally make it inside. People are everywhere, all coughing and sneezing. I’m automatically on alert, taking in my surroundings and willing myself not to breakout in a cold sweat. We walk toward the reception desk and speak with the nurse who looks frustrated and overwhelmed. She hands Ember a clipboard and a pen, asking her to fill it out and bring it back. We find a seat towards the back of the room and she begins filling out the paperwork. I feel so damn helpless not being able to make her better. When she’s finished I walk the clipboard back to the nurse who tells me that they’ll call her name when they’re ready.
After waiting over an hour the nurse finally comes through the door and calls her name. We follow through the door from the waiting room and we’re placed in a small room with instructions that the doctor would be in shortly. Tucking Ember tighter to my side, I place a kiss on her forehead, hating the burn of her fever against my lips.
The doctor finally comes in and pokes and prods her, taking a swab of her throat and promptly diagnosing the flu. Shocker. He prescribes an antibiotic for the ear infection that she hadn’t even mentioned and said she would be down for about a week. So, I would be staying at Nan’s to take care of her. Perfect, I can get some shit done around the house that Ember refused to let me do. We make a stop at Walmart on the way home to get her prescriptions, junk food, and lots of juice. I made her stay in the car while I ran in and got everything. As soon as we make it into the house, she walks to the couch, bundles up with the covers, and is asleep within a minute.
Ember
My entire body feels like it’s been hit by an eighteen wheeler carrying the heaviest cargo ever. Even my eyes hurt. I’ve spent the past three days in bed and only today do I feel well enough to get out of bed and move around. Hale has been so sweet, I can hardly stand it. He’s waited on me hand and foot, and he even washed my hair in the shower. I’m hoping to feel better by the weekend so we can decorate the house and put the tree up. I swear Hale has spent more days here than at his Dad’s. Deacon has a doggy bed right by my bed.
Hale’s fingers run through my hair causing a moan to leave my lips. It feels like heaven. I look up and see him looking down at me, a smirk forming on his lips.
“Finally, those eyes I’ve been missing,” he jokes.
“I still don’t feel one hundred percent, just not so deathly. I think I’ll take a bubble bath. I could use someone to wash my back….” I tell him teasingly. Sitting up, I leave him there and walk to the bathroom. I take off the old hoodie I’m wearing, tossing it to the side and turning the faucet on, running the hot water and adding too many bubbles. I’m reaching behind my back to unclasp my bra when I hear the door open. Looking over my shoulder I see Hale standing in the doorway. His eyes travel the length of my body and he steps inside, closing the door behind him. He reaches behind his head and pulls the white t-shirt he was wearing off. He stalks toward me and without warning takes my lips in a kiss so fierce, I lose my breath.