We pulled into the school carpark in the Lexus, and I spotted Tash, Lil, Jade and Steph. Tash had not long left City Towers herself to pick up William and Thomas, and I loved that Bryce had been so wonderful when organising her role as an event supervisor. She now had a flexible job she loved and was able to work hours where she could still drop her kids off and pick them up. He’d mentioned she was always thanking him for it.
“Wait there, Hunny and I’ll help you,” he said, as he switched off the engine.
He exited and gave the girls a wave as he crossed over the front of the car and opened my door. I went to grab my crutches when he lightly gripped my arm and pulled it toward him.
I automatically protested. “No, you are not carrying me in the carpark of my kids’ school. I absolutely and unequivocally put my foot down, Bryce.”
“You can’t put your foot down, remember?” he said with a tinge of arrogance. Smartarse.
“Bryce, I mean it,” I said sternly.
“Okay, okay,” he chuckled. “Your friends are coming over here anyway, so I won’t need to carry you.” He nodded toward the girls who were making their way over to the car. “Just let me help you out, Hunny.”
“Okay,” I said, as I abandoned my stance.
He took hold of both my hands and slowly pulled me up and out of the passenger seat so that I was standing on one leg. I put my hands on his shoulders for support, when he took advantage and placed his hands on my sides, lifting me flush against his chest and quickly wrapping his arms around my arse.
“You lying arsehole, put me down,” I said through gritted teeth, while scanning the carpark for onlookers.
“Settle down, I’m only carrying you to the bonnet. Although, we can stay just like this if you’d like.”
“Bryce Edward Clark—”
He gave me a wicked smile. “Bonnet it is then.”
As he placed me down on the hood of the car, I glared at him with a smile that I tried desperately to suppress but couldn’t. He was just so aggravatingly adorable and I had to secretly commend him on his efforts.
Standing there facing me with his back to my approaching friends, I looked up at him and let out a long frustrated breath.
“I hate this part,” I said, with a regretful groan.
“What part?”
“The sympathy and sadness part.”
He lifted his hand and put his knuckle under my chin, tilting my head up. “It goes hand in hand with progression.”
“I know, I just hate it.”
He winked at me encouragingly as Steph stopped beside him.
“Lex, how are you?” she asked as Bryce stepped aside.
She moved forward and wrapped her arms around my neck, giving me a squeeze.
“I’m getting there, Luv.” I replied, while smiling reassuringly over Steph’s shoulder to the others.
“That’s good, Hun. One step at time,” Lil said, always calm, supportive and first to offer encouragement. Jade agreed and gently squeezed my thigh. I placed my hand on top of hers as a gesture of thanks, that being all Jade and I needed to exchange. She was like me in that way; sometimes less is so much more.
Tash stepped up to me next, pausing before she leaned and hugged me tight, sending me a message through her body-hugging squeeze. The beautiful bitch brought a tear to my eye.
“Don’t you dare start singing,” I warned, as I choked back more tears.
I heard her sniffle next to my ear. “I won’t...I’m just...so sorry, Lex.”
I whispered back. “I know, Hun.” I patted her back to let her know I was grateful for her thoughts, but that I was alright.
She pulled away and wiped a tear. “If you need anything, you know where I am.”
I nodded. “I know, Tashy.”
“You know where we all are,” Lil reaffirmed.
“Yes, I do”. I smiled then quickly changed the subject. “And as soon as this boot is off and my foot is dance ready, we are going out.”
Tash playfully rolled her eyes. “You can still dance with crutches, Lex. You’d pull of a decent zombie in ‘Thriller’.” She proceeded to slump her arms and twitch her shoulder and neck.
“You idiot,” I giggled. “No, I’m not going out in public and dancing with crutches, forget it.”
***
Bryce asked Tash how the job was going while I talked to the girls about the surgery and when I was expected to be walking properly again. I also reminded Lil and Steph that Charli’s birthday was next month and that she wanted to have a sleepover with her friends, which included Lil’s daughter, Jasmine, and Steph’s daughter, Katie. Both Lil and Steph sounded over the moon at the prospect of relinquishing their daughters over to my care for the evening. Me...not so keen. I remembered all too well how loud, fun...and loud, a sleepover could be for a young girl.