* * *
Sitting at the end of the couch, I stare at the TV, not really watching it, just waiting for her to wake up and trying not to be weird about it.
The sun streaming through the windows. I tried to sleep a little, but that didn’t seem to happen. I went to the hospital last night, but after telling me there was nothing they could do, they cleaned it out and packed it and scheduled a follow-up.
“How’d I get here?” She whispers, causing me to look over at her.
“That I don’t know.” I laugh, shaking my head.
She scrunches her forehead as she tries to think to herself. “Ow.”Rubbing her head.
“Here.” I hand her a couple of painkillers and some water. “You need to hydrate.”
“Thanks.” She gives me a small smirk.
I let the conversation fall, leaving her with enough space to feel safe as I turn my attention back to the screen.
“I went out on a date last night.” She whispers, and I feel as if a dull knife is being forced into my chest. “I’d been out with him before. Seemed nice enough.” She shrugs.
“I know.”
“What?”
“You told me last night. You said you weren’t sure if you’d remember today.” I pause, sighing before I finish. “Do you remember?”
“Some of it. Up until I ran, then it goes fuzzy.” She laughs, shaking her head. “But I came here?”
“You did. Found you passed out on my porch.”
“That’s embarrassing.” She shakes her head, laughing. Conflicting emotions fill her face; she looks back at me, biting her lip before the whisper comes out. “Did anything…” trailing off as if she’s not sure.
“Not for a lack of trying…” Trailing off for dramatic effect, I shake my head as I stand up, walking back into the kitchen. “On your part.”
“What?” she calls after me.
Dropping the empty glass in the sink, I laugh to myself, wondering just how much I want to embarrass her. Stepping through the threshold into the living room, I look at her, realizing that she isn’t sure about it. “I had to fight you off.”
“Shut up.” She laughs as her cheeks flush.
“I’m serious. Why do you think you ended up sleeping on the couch?”
Her head tilts at my question.
“After you had your whole ‘I’ve never seen you in your uniform before’ and tried to take my pants off.”
“You’re full of shit.” She laughs again.
“I’m not. I put you to bed and then came out here to sleep on the couch. You weren’t having any of that, and after I fell asleep, I woke up to you climbing on top of me.” I leave out the bits between when I put her to bed and when I finally fell asleep.
“Fuck off.” She laughs again.
“I’m serious.” I can’t help but laugh now. “You finally passed out, and I slid onto the floor.”
“That must have been so hard for you.” She cuts out sarcastically.
“No.” Peering at her as she looks up, a confused expression on her face. Leaning forward, inching closer to her so she can’t look away. “I was more concerned that you were okay.” I pause, fighting against a smirk. “And you had been drugged.”
“And not wanting to take advantage of me?”
