drops to my lips, making my breath catch. My heart drums a staccato beat in my chest, the sound so loud, I’m afraid he can hear it.
“We should go. I’ll help you up.” I clutch his left arm, then drag him up with me as I rise from the messy floor.
He steps closer to me, which sets my face aflame. My entire body is humming thanks to his proximity. He’s like a beacon and I’m a moth, drawn to his light. I keep my eyes glued to his chest, but I don’t step back.
Good grief. What the hell is happening to me? Troy is the enemy, and our war probably just took him out of commission. If he didn’t hate me before, he does now.
“Charlie? You can let go.” His voice is low, strained, sexy.
Not sexy, you fool. He’s in pain.
At once, I let go of him and step back. Still not making eye contact, I return to the kitchen sink to wash my face properly. The small hairs on the back of my neck stand on end when I sense Troy’s approach. I reach for a towel, stepping aside to let him use the sink as well.
“Can you help me?”
I freeze mid-motion, then slowly lower the towel from my face. He’s watching me expectantly, but I also notice the tension around his mouth. He’s trying to hide his discomfort.
“Sure.”
I grab a clean towel from the drawer, and after dampening it with lukewarm water, I offer it to him.
He glances at the offering, then back at me. “Do you mind? It hurts when I move.”
“Oh, okay. Sure.”
I try my best to focus on the task and not on the fact that Troy’s eyes are glued to my face. Neither of us speaks as I drag the towel across his cheeks, nose, chin, and forehead. When I’m done, I move away quickly, afraid my body will betray me further and I’ll do something stupid, like lick his damn lips. I bet they taste sweet now.
Gee, Charlie, get your mind out of the gutter already.
“I should change,” I say.
“Oh no. If I have to wear a whipped-creamed T-shirt to the ER, so do you.”
“Really, Troy? Are you that petty?”
“Petty?” He arches both eyebrows. “There are a dozen chickens in my bedroom, and I have a dislocated shoulder.”
Remorse sneaks into my chest, making me lose my misplaced annoyance. “I’m sorry. Let’s go.”
13
CHARLIE
After three hours in the ER, we’re finally home. The doctor gave Troy a strong painkiller, and he’s now a little out of it. I have to help him out of the car and hold on to him as we walk into the house for fear he’ll stumble and fall again.
I haven’t stopped feeling awkward thanks to my proximity to him. My heartbeat is still accelerated, and radioactive butterflies are having a rave in my stomach.
“I’m hungry. Are you hungry?” he asks.
“Yeah, sure. Let’s get you to bed, and I’ll make us a couple of sandwiches.”
“Oh shit. We can’t get to bed. My room is now a chicken coop.” He chuckles.
Damn it. I had completely forgotten about those stupid birds.
“Ugh. Karma is indeed a bitch,” I mumble.
“Sure is. Look at me. Coach is going to skin me alive.”
“It was an accident. I’m sure he’ll understand that.”
“Are you coming to my defense? The journalist who roasted me for not caring about football anymore?”
I sigh. “I thought you were supposed to be loopy.”
“I am or I wouldn’t be so nice to you.”
There’s nothing I can say to that. He has every reason to be furious with me.
Clamping my jaw shut, I veer for the stairs, my hand firmly clasped around Troy’s bicep.
“Where did you find them?”
“What? The chickens?”
“No, the alien babies doing the cha-cha in my room. Yes, the chickens.”
I ignore his remark. “Someone I know owns a farm.”
“Man, aren’t you resourceful?”
I steer Troy to my bedroom because he needs to lie down and rest. “Okay, it’s time for you to take it easy.”
He smirks lazily. “Charlie, if you wanted to get me into your bed, you didn’t have to go through all that trouble.”
“Ha-ha. The doctor said you need to sleep, and thanks to me, you can’t use your own bed.”
“And where are you going to sleep? With me?” He grins.
“Not in this lifetime, pal. The couch will do.”
I let go of him to pull the duvet out of the way. Troy crawls onto the mattress, shoes still on and everything.
“Hold on. Let me take off your dirty sneakers first, dummy.” I drop