Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79425 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
I bent and kissed his cheek then headed to my office, knowing one simple truth.
Pain and heartache once again waited for me when he left. And I could never allow him to see that.
I had made my choice, and I had to live with it.
Oliver
I woke up, groggy and disoriented. The sun was high in the early evening light, and I was in Kassie’s bed. A glance at the clock showed me it was just after six.
Why was I in bed at six in the evening?
I sat up, flinging off the blanket, and stood. Immediately, the reason hit me.
Jesus, the pain.
I let out a gasp and heard rushed footsteps. Kassie came in. “Oliver? What’s wrong?”
I grabbed her arm. “Did anyone get the name of that truck that hit me?”
She bit her lip. “Not a truck. You fell off a horse.”
I blinked, and it all came back. “Fuck,” I muttered. “That hurt.”
“You need some more pain meds.”
“I need a new hip. Maybe two.” I looked at her quizzically. “Can they do new butts?”
She began to laugh, and I glared at her. “It’s not funny. I’m in agony.”
“I imagine you are,” she agreed. “I think you’ll be a more cooperative patient now than you were earlier. Docile, perhaps.”
“I was a model patient.”
“Hardly. You pulled me into the tub and had your way with me.” She came closer, tilting her head. “Shall I push you down on the bed and show you again?”
I whimpered at the thought. My hips wouldn’t survive. My ass protested at the thought. Even my dick was in agreement. “Have mercy.”
“As I thought. Now, hobble to the bathroom and take some meds. Supper just came, so that should make you feel better.”
“Can I eat it standing up?”
She laughed over her shoulder. “I got you something to help.”
I shuffled toward the en suite, where I knew the pills were. I decided I hated horses and this stupid movie.
And the thought of having to pretend tomorrow that I was fine was going to take every skill I had in my arsenal.
The pillows Kassie piled up were a godsend to my aching ass. The food spread out on the coffee table was a feast. I piled my plate high with the steaming noodles, ginger beef, General Tso’s chicken, garlic green beans, and the dumplings. One bite and I was transported back to my teen years. This was always our favorite takeout, and it hit home like a bullet.
“Good God, it’s still incredible,” I mumbled around a mouthful of the spring roll I’d grabbed in addition to everything else.
“I know,” she agreed, adding some chili sauce to the beef and snow peas she was eating. “It never disappoints.” She reached for a dumpling. “I have to decide which ones are my favorites when I order since it’s only me. Even two dishes feeds me for three days.”
I indicated the full table. “Won’t be a problem tonight.”
She laughed. “Does anything curb your appetite?”
I shook my head. “Very little. And right now, the ointment is working, I’m starving, and the night is young. Remember when we used to finish any leftovers around midnight? Sitting around the table, chopsticks and sticky fingers, polishing off everything cold?”
She smiled in remembrance. “I do. Those were good times.”
I chewed some ginger beef, the tang of the sauce exploding in my mouth. I swallowed and wiped my lips. I stared at her for a moment. “All my good memories contain you, Kassie.”
She stopped eating and leaned over, patting my leg. “Mine too.”
“I’m sorry they stopped.”
She shrugged. “Life happened, Olly. You can’t keep apologizing for the past. It’s done. We’re here now, we’re friends again. When you leave, we can stay in touch this time.”
I wasn’t sure how to tell her I wanted more than to stay in touch. She seemed to be at peace with our situation, and I was afraid to rock the boat. To tell her I wanted to have more.
To tell her I never wanted to miss her again.
I forced a smile. “Maybe you can visit me. Fill a bag with Wong and come see LA.”
She laughed. “I don’t think that’s legal.”
I sighed. “Then I’ll have to fly back for Wong nights.”
She nodded as she picked up her spring roll. “I’ll look forward to it.”
The next morning, I arrived on set, ready to work. I was stiff and sore, but I was able to cover it well. Kassie had rubbed my entire backside and legs with the ointment and I smelled like a medicine bomb, but it took the pain away. I’d complained the whole time she did it.
“I hate this,” I muttered as she massaged the cream into my aching body.
“I know. I’m sorry it hurts.”
“Not that,” I griped.
“What?”
“Your hands are on me, and I have no desire to rail you. Well, my head wants it, but the rest of me is screaming no.”