“I guess. Do you all have something I could eat?”
“I’ll get to it. Don’t worry,” she said. “We refrigerated your dinner, so there’s always that option.” The nurse harpooned the IV line with the needle and slowly depressed the syringe’s plunger.
“I’m guessing a Dick’s burger is out,” Drew joked.
“It’s almost one AM, my friend. Dick’s has gone home for the night.” She finished administering the pain meds and produced a portable urinal. “Will this do, or do you need me to help you to the bathroom?”
“I’ll take that,” he said. He let out a sigh as the plastic container vanished beneath the sheet and blanket covering him. “May I ask you a somewhat weird question?”
“I’ll bet you’re going to ask me if it’s freaky to touch some guy’s junk I’m not sleeping with.”
“Well, yeah. Plus, I don’t even know your name.”
“I’m guessing your normal policy is to know a woman’s name before she starts getting grabby with Mr. Happy.” She grinned at him. “My name’s Cheryl. And to answer your question, it’s part of my job. Obviously, I can’t say anything about yours to anyone else due to HIPAA laws, but if that wasn’t the case, I’d be telling the other nurses that you’re well-endowed,” she teased.
He had to laugh. “That would help me get a few dates,” he said.
“I don’t think you have a problem getting dates, Mr. McCoy,” she said. She extracted the plastic receptacle from beneath his sheet and blanket and disposed of it before turning to face him again. “I’ve heard about you.”
“Is that so?”
“Hell, yeah.”
Whatever she gave him was starting to work. Maybe he didn’t need to eat after all right now. His eyes slid closed, and Cheryl’s voice sounded like it was coming from a long distance away. She was taking his blood pressure and his temperature. Again.
“Okay, Drew. You take a little nap, and buzz me when you wake up again. I’ll make sure you’ll get something to eat.”
“Thank you,” he tried to say. He wasn’t sure if he spoke aloud or not. He floated on an almost pain-free cloud of warmth and comfort.
DREW FELT A soft hand taking his and a whispered, “Baby, I’m here.”
“Mmpht,” he said. He smelled green apples. He was dreaming about Kendall. If he opened his eyes, she’d be gone, and he’d be alone. In the midst of the fuzz of being half-asleep and the pain medication, he felt someone lie down next to him in the bed. He felt soft hair brush his chin as she laid her head on his good shoulder and breathed in her sweet fragrance. Shit, it felt so real. He didn’t want to wake up and discover it wasn’t.
“I missed you so much,” he said to the woman in his dream.
“I missed you too,” she whispered. “Go back to sleep.”
He let out a long breath.
KENDALL OPENED HER eyes the next morning to Drew having a murmured conference with a tall, dark-haired nurse. He still clasped Kendall’s hand.
“I’d like some breakfast, but first, I think I need to visit the men’s room,” he said to the nurse.
“You’ll need some assistance for that.”
“Are you sure?” he said. “Will I be able to take a shower today?”
“I don’t think you’re going to be able to get those stylish boxer briefs off by yourself right now, Mr. McCoy,” she teased.
“Normally I’d think that was a great thing,” he muttered. The nurse burst out laughing.
“How about a sponge bath after your trip to the men’s room?” she coaxed. “The doc was nice enough to use some waterproof sutures in your shoulder, so we’ll try a shower tomorrow morning before you leave.”
“My hair—”
“I have some lovely dry shampoo with your name on it.” The nurse glanced over at Kendall and grinned. “Good morning. And you are?”
Kendall shoved her hair out of her eyes. “I’m Kendall.”
“I’m guessing you two know each other.”
“You could say that,” Kendall said.
She probably looked like hell. The hospital was probably used to seeing people in less than magazine cover model condition, but she didn’t want Drew to scream and run when he glanced over at her.
“We don’t usually let visitors bunk with the patients, but I’ll overlook it.” The nurse stuck out her hand. “I’m Cheryl. I’m about to go off-duty, but I’ll be back at eleven tonight. I’ll take Drew to the men’s room, and the day nurse will be here to help him with the rest of the items on his to-do list.”