As I was unpacking, I found a note at the bottom of one of the bags that was folded in half. When I opened it, tears started falling.
But it was what was at the bottom that really hit its mark.
It took me a moment to pull myself together.
After I put everything away. I put the coffee kettle on since I wasn’t going anywhere and made enough for two just in case Jimmy wanted some as well.
I doctored mine up with milk and sugar and brought a second cup that was straight black, ready to give either to Jimmy. When I returned to the bedroom, he looked up in surprise from his book. “I thought you left?” Then he immediately got sidetracked when he saw the coffee. “Oooooo, coffee.” Reaching out a hand, with grabbyfingers.
“Doctored or black?” When he answered black, I handed it over, careful not to spill all over the bed.
After he took a couple sips of the hot liquid, he asked again, “So why are you still here?”
I filled him in on what I had discovered which, by the looks of it, shocked him just as much as me. “I shouldn’t be surprised the workers and their families rallied but I am because it came from your father.” His tone of voice was in awe. I just nodded because I didn’t know what to say to it. It was so out of the ordinary for my dad.
Jim ended up handing me his cup back saying he was done for now, having drank half of it. When he took a big breath, his nose scrunched up. “Um, so, I’m in need of a shower. I am starting to smell myself. I'm surprised you even slept next to me.”
“You didn’t smell bad to me last night. It was calming to tell you the tru–” Then it hit me. He needed a shower.
Naked.
And he was going to need help.
NAKED.
I felt my face blaze like fire.
I closed my eyes and braced myself.
I can do this. It’s fine. It’s just Jimmy. A man I kissed. A man I’ve kissed multiple times. A man I slept next to last night. A man I was going to see naked eventually, anyway. It will just be in the shower instead of in bed.
I took a deep breath.
I opened my eyes again, and Jimmy had somehow got out of bed on his own and moved to be right in front of me, silent as a ninja. “Did you just have a one-man pep talk in your head?” He tapped my temple, the smartass. I squinted at him, and he chuckled. He’s enjoying this too much. Teasing me and mysensibilities. “Don’t worry. I think I can wash myself for the most part, Charlie. Please don’t panic. I’ll just need help keeping the stitches dry and for you to wash the parts of my back and legs that can get wet since I can’t reach or bend over.”
“It’s fine. I’m fine. Everything is–”
“Fine,” he finished for me. “Seems like it,” the corner of his mouth quirking.
Ass.
“Come on,” I walked ahead of him. I couldn’t believe this was about to happen. Was I sweating? I felt damp. I wiped my face with my full palm.
Once we got to what used to be a white walled bathroom, that was now clearly stained tan, I stared at the tub shower combo that not all homes had yet, like ours, which was just a white tub. Jim’s was tiled with this blue shade that was actually pretty and the tub was the same color.
Jim cleared his throat, making me jump.
Shit.
I was in his way, so I stepped aside in the limited space to give him room to come in and stand in front of the shower. He opened one side of the curtain and was able to reach in and set the temperature of the water. Then he unbuttoned his shirt, letting it drop off his shoulders to the floor, exposing his muscular back and the bandage covering his wound.
He turned around and stood there. “You okay? Or should I get David over here?” My jaw dropped. Then he added with humor to my open-mouthed response, “I thought we weren’t doing that just yet?” My eyes blew out making him laugh, which made him put a hand on his wound, cringing a little. “But seriously, are you okay with this?”
Shaking myself out, I cleared my throat, “Yes. I’m okay with this. Um, let me take the medical gauze off you.”
He nodded his head, showing me his left side. After I tenderly pulled it off and discarded it, he pulled the tie string that was holding up his bottoms, letting them drop on their own. He was still in his white jockeys, but his bulge looked a little bigger.
Oh my God.
