Page 25 of Theirs to Treasure

“Ask her how long it’s been hurting, Chance.” Josie turned to glare at Sam. When did he become such a tattletale? Chance stroked his hands down the front of her thighs, and she turned her attention back to him. His blue eyes brimmed with concern and worry, and she couldn’t stand it. She reached out and touched his cheek, then frowned, because even that little bit of movement hurt. Chance gripped her wrist, pulled it back from his face, put it back down into her lap, and turned to Sam.

“I don’t understand. We had her sitting in the dining room chairs with the soft backs.”

“It’s not the chairs,” Sam answered, his glance shifting to the fireplace. “I think it’s the damn heels.”

Chance’s grip on her hand tightened, and Josie looked between the two men. Both seemed angry. She couldn’t blame them. She knew the purpose of this evening, and now they thought she was going to let them down. “Look, guys, it’s really not that bad. We can still do…uh…things. I’m really fine. This is just a little ache that I get almost every day.”

As she looked from one to the other their expressions got even darker. With the pain she felt, and her heightened nerves about tonight’s plans, she was just a morass of confusion. Everything was getting to be too much. She wanted to go home. Now. She was sick of not measuring up. For an instant in Sam’s arms last night, she thought she’d been good enough, but looking at the thundercloud on his face, she was obviously wrong. She wanted to go lick her wounds in private.

“Josie, come back to us.” Sam’s curt demand cut through her confusion. She looked over at him. When had he sat beside her on the couch? Why did he look concerned all of a sudden?

“Where did you just go?”

“Huh?”

“In your head, you just went to a really bad place. I could see it on your face. Where did you go?” Sam asked gently. He lifted his arm and put it around her, letting it rest as gently as a butterfly on her shoulder, as if he knew any kind of pressure might hurt.

“I’m just screwing this up, Sam.” Josie was aware of Chance still kneeling in front of her, holding her hand, but Sam seemed to understand her dark places, and it felt like he pulled answers from her, so she spoke to him. “Yeah, I really, really hurt.” She felt one tear drip down her face, and she swallowed so she could continue. “I wanted this to go right, even though I didn’t know where it was going. I care so much for both of you, it really scares me. You both seem to like me, and I don’t know why.” Another tear. “But now I hurt so bad I messed everything up and you just have to take me home.”

It was at that moment her back clenched in spasm. She gripped Chance’s hand, and gritted her teeth, arching up. It was gone in just a moment, leaving her breathing like a horse that had just run a race. She looked at Chance then back at Sam, the tears falling freely. “Please just take me home,” she begged.

Chance stood up and she was in his arms before she could blink.

“Baby, do you have your medicine?” Sam asked as he followed Chance down the hall.

It took a moment for Josie to comprehend the question, and then she shook her head against Chance’s neck. She was having trouble forming words.

Really? Really? Were the shoes worth it?

I’m going to give every pair of heels I own to Goodwill just as soon as I’m through dying, Josie promised herself.

“She said no, Sam. No medicine. Do you need to go back to her apartment?” Chance asked.

Josie felt herself being laid down on a soft comforter. It didn’t matter how soft, it hurt.

“Seriously, just…” She paused to take another deep breath, then another. “Home,” she finished. “Just take me home,” she panted.

“Are you out of your mind?” Sam snarled.

“Zee, you’ve got to quit poking the tiger,” Chance said as he leaned over and brushed her hair from her forehead. “Sam is ready to spit nails. You’re not going anywhere. You’re staying here tonight. We’re going to take care of you.”

“Josie! The last time it was this bad, did you have to go to the hospital?” Sam demanded.

Josie just stared up at the two men. She really didn’t want to answer that question, but it was Sam’s fierce glare that forced her answer.

“Yes. I needed a shot,” she admitted.

“Gee, I can’t imagine anyone overdoing it so badly that they would need a shot,” Chance said sarcastically. Josie cringed at his tone, and her face crumpled. Now he was making fun of her, and she felt bad enough as it was.

“Oh, Zee, I’m sorry. I was talking about Sam, not you.” Chance leaned down and kissed her tear-stained lips, one kiss after another, until she finally believed him. When he drew back, she saw Sam standing beside the bed with a syringe.

“Baby, what my asshole of a friend is trying to tell you, is that I have been known to overdo and bring on my own migraines. He’s had to administer shots to me, when I’ve been too out of it. I checked out your prescriptions at your apartment, and this is just a stronger dosage of the same stuff. I knew we had a lot in common.” Josie was amazed to see the first real smile on Sam’s face since they had gone into the living room. It made her feel good to think he might forgive her.

“Chance, hold down her arm, I’m worried she might move if she has another spasm while I’m injecting her.”

Chance gently applied pressure to her arm, and Sam inserted the needle.

“Josie, do you need ice and heat next?” Sam asked. She nodded her head, amazed at his level of knowledge. He left the room.