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She tried to keep herself busy, pulling down a book from Nate’s extensive collection, settling down in the corner of the sofa, and opening it up, hoping it would use up some time. But her mind was too active, her body too fidgety, and every time she finished a paragraph her thoughts would wander. She’d think about the café and what everybody was doing there right now.
What Nate was doing, in particular.
Ugh.
The television wasn’t much better. She’d never watched daytime TV before, but it was full of grown women arguing with each other as their rich husbands ignored them – and those were just the reality shows.
She made a really terrible patient, that much was for sure. It was a good thing Nate and Riley weren’t here to see her embarrass herself. Maybe if she got the restlessness out of her system now, they wouldn’t notice.
But her body had other ideas. After Nate called her at lunchtime to check that everything was okay, she let her head fall back on the leather cushion of the sofa and felt her eyes fall down like curtains on a play. The next thing she knew the door was slamming and she heard Nate and Riley talking as they walked up the hallway, their footsteps loud as they reached the living room.
“Hey, Ally,” Riley called out through the open doorway. “How was your day? Did you have fun?”
Ally smiled. “Yeah. I did some reading and watched some TV.” Lie, lie, and lie.
Riley sighed. “Sounds like heaven. I wish I could break my ankle and stay home from school.”
Ally couldn’t help but laugh at her wistful expression. It was so nice to have people home with her. She’d never tell them how lonely she’d been while they were both out at school and work, though. It would be her secret.
“I gotta go and finish my homework. I’ll see you at dinner, okay?”
“Sure.”
Behind her, Nate raised his eyebrows. Ally remembered what he’d said yesterday about homework being a code word and grinned again.
He smirked back at her and yep, her heart stuttered. Just a little.
“How are you feeling?” he asked her, walking in. It was only then that she saw the huge box he was carrying. “Did you get any rest?”
“A little.”
He put down the box and opened up the lid, sliding some white Styrofoam out. “I got you something on the way home,” he told her. As he removed the foam, she saw exactly what he’d bought. “I thought it might help.”
“A game console?” she asked as he put the white box on the floor.
“Yep. It works for teenage boys who have more energy than they know what to do with.” He pulled the leads out, connecting them up. “Well, that and other things, but I figured we’re keeping this family friendly, so the console will have to do.” He gave her a wink.
She couldn’t help but laugh. “I don’t think I’ve been compared to a teenage boy before. What is it, the low voice or the bad attitude?”
Nate plugged the console in. “I’ve never met anybody less like a teenage boy,” he told her. “But the energy thing is a shared problem.” He pulled open the shopping bag he’d brought in, and took out some games. “I asked the guy at the counter for his recommendations. He says that Echoes of War is the best thing to get rid of any excess energy.”
“Echoes of War,” Ally repeated. “It sounds dangerous.”
“There’s lots of running which should be right up your street. I’m not so sure about the blood and gore.”
She glanced down at her leg. “Apparently, I’m good at that, too.”
Nate switched on the television and sat next to her. He handed her one of the controllers, keeping the other in his hands, and waited for the console to boot up.
“I should give you some money for this,” Ally said. “I can’t believe you went out and bought this for me.”
“It’s fine. I’ve been looking for an excuse to get one of these for ages. I just haven’t had the time to think about it.”
Half an hour later and they’d both worked out how to use the controllers. On the screen, their soldiers were kneeling behind some barrels, trying to snipe at their enemies. “You’re a terrible shot,” Ally said as she managed to hit another mercenary. “You want me to do all the work?”
“I’m
just being polite,” Nate replied, squinting his eyes as he took another shot. “I’d hate to beat you on your first try. I’m a gentleman.”
