"Can I come in?"
I quickly shut the shower curtain, and let him know that he can.The door opens, and my heart pounds.I'm more aware of everything today than I was last night.He's in the room with me while I'm naked, and there's a part of me that's kind of excited about that.My cheeks heat as I think about him holding the towel open for me last night.He'd not even bothered to sneak a peek.
"Here you go."
A hand comes around the curtain, with a towel in it."Thank you."
"Do you need some help getting out of there?"
I hadn't needed it to get in, but getting out might be a different story."Just stick around for a second."
With shaking hands, I wrap the towel around my body, tucking it in at my chest.Then I pull the curtain back and try to balance as I lift one foot, but it's hard.Lifting in this direction engages the side of my body that got beat up the most, and Darren sees it before I can tell him.He's at my side, holding my hand, and grasping me around the waist.
"I got you."
And he does.He always seems to be there when I need him."Thank you," I say again."I feel like I'm going to be telling you that a lot."
"You don't have to keep thanking me."He scratches at the back of his neck."I'm going to help you whenever you need it.Let's just realize that, and move on from it."
"Okay."In between the time he woke me up, and he went to get his daughter, he's put on a shirt, and I'm sad as hell about it.He puts me down on my feet, and I'm pleasantly surprised when I put weight down and it doesn't hurt.
"Everything good?"
"Yeah, I feel a lot better.Where did you put the clothes from your mom?"
He walks out into his bedroom and grabs the bag, before bringing it back in."Do you need anything else?"
"Toothbrush?"I raise my eyebrows as I ask the question."I know it's asking a lot."
He laughs."No one wants you running around with morning breath, Mace.I have a toothbrush that's never been opened."
I don't say thank you again, because he's going to rebuff it, so I just say it in my head.He walks over to the closet beside the sink and grabs it out, handing it to me.
"Anything else you need?"
"No, I'll be quick."
"Take your time.I'll be in the living room with Nic.Yell if you need help."
When he leaves, I can't help but enjoy the view.The t-shirt he's wearing kisses his strong back as he moves.I wish with everything I have that he was still shirtless, and we weren't here in a different situation.
It took me almost twenty minutes, according to my Apple Watch, to get dressed.Which is so much longer than it normally takes, but I'm trying to give myself grace.Now that I'm dressed, have brushed my teeth, and have taken the medicine that Darren left on the table next to his bed, I'm ready to take on the world.
But there's an intimidation to it.To knowing that his daughter is out there with him, and although she's little, she may have questions.Because I'm not sure if either of us have answers.When I leave the bedroom, I hear a noise, and the laughter of a little girl.
Walking toward it, I get to the living room, where I spent most of my night last night."Hey," I wave at the two of them.
"Hey," Darren grins."Nic, this is Daddy's friend, Macie.Can you say hi?"She waves her little hand at me, and I'm pretty sure this is the moment she steals my heart.
"Hi," I wave back.
"Are you hungry?"He reaches over, and pulls Nicole so that she sits in his lap, making room for me on the love seat they're sitting on.
My stomach picks that moment to growl, and my cheeks heat with embarrassment."You could say that," I laugh.
"C'mon, let's go get you something to eat."
He stands up, putting his daughter on his hip, and I'm not sure there's ever been anything as hot as the picture they make.His hotness just amped up at least fifty more percent."You don't have to make me anything.If you just tell me where everything is, I can handle it."
