AllFreeNovel
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“It’s enough, Jim. I’m okay. I actually slept almost as well as you last night.” Her pale cheeks pink with a blush. “I only woke to feed Bean, then Kit took her away to burp her and sleep. I haven’t changed a single diaper yet. I haven’t wiped spit up away–”
“Speaking of spit up.” Jon scowls. “You still fucking stink. Go and have a damn shower. This room smells like curry and vomit.”
The stench of vomit and apple juice make themselves known in an instant. I’ve been wearing this shit for more than twenty-four hours, now. The vomit has dried, and my jeans now crackle when I move.
I’ve been wearing these jeans so long, I’ve become desensitized to the stench.
“Alright. Shower. Definitely. You guys stay with Iz, I’ll be out in a minute.” I lay a quick kiss on her lips before I swing my legs off the side of the bed. Bobby’s spare clothes are balled up and thrown on the chair in the corner, so I scoop them up and walk into the private shower attached to Iz’s room.
Bobby brought me sweat pants and a gym T-shirt. I’ll be going commando, but at least I’ll be clean. I close the bathroom door and quickly strip away the filthy clothes. Tossing them into the shower stall, I step in and flip the taps on. I’ll try to rinse the stink off while I’m showering.
I was exhausted last night, but eighteen solid hours on a flat surface has me feeling brand new. I work fast and knock my elbows on the narrow walls, but nothing can dim my mood. I’ve slept. Iz has slept. She’s okay, she’s losing her wires today, Bean’s blood sugar is stable.
Everything’s coming up Millhouse.
Using one hand to hold the shitty shower head, the other to lather up and scrub, I use my feet to kick my wet clothes around in an attempt to dislodge spew from the fibers. I rinse them a second and third time, then hang the heavy denim and shirt on the towel rail. They drip onto the floor and down into the drain. They might never dry, but I don’t care.
Rinsing myself one last time to make double sure I don’t smell like chicken curry, I turn the shower off and step out. Thankfully, someone stocked the bathroom with towels. They’re thin and cold, but I take one down and swipe away most of the beaded water from my skin.
I’m busting to get dressed and back out to see Iz.
And then, Bean.
Fuck if I don’t miss my little girl.
I know my big brother has her back. I know he’d die before she ever hurt, but I want to see her. Soon. I want to hold her, and touch her, and smell her. Forty-eight hours ago, I had a pretty defined top ten list of favorite smells; Iz, in one form or another dominated that list. Iz’s hair. Iz’s perfume. Hell, even Iz’s training bag. But now, Baby Lucy has knocked her mommy off that pedestal. Lucy’s hair. Lucy’s hands. Lucy’s baby breath.
I dry quickly and finger comb my hair, then I pull Bobby’s sweat pants and shirt on.
It’s time to see my girls.
