“Edith?” Jack pushes in and moves Shelby out of the way so he can hold me up, although I am fine on my own two feet. I’m steaming mad, exhausted, and fucking cold because the door’s wide open.
“Edie?” Aiden is right behind him and gets an unexpected eyeful, as well. I know my ass is totally viewable in the mirror behind me.
“Jesus, guys! GET…OUT!” I yell and even Aiden seems to take a moment too long, in my opinion. Obviously, I am not getting privacy. One visit to the hospital and, suddenly, everyone wants to be up my ass.
“Um…” Aiden looks embarrassed and Shelby drags him out, laughing. His future patients are doomed if he can’t look at a naked woman without getting pink behind the ears.
“Sorry about that. I was finishing a call when I opened the door and Shelby barged in. I just didn’t think Aiden would join her.” Jack chuckles and I hug my towel-covered, dripping wet body to his chest. He is nice and warm so I rub my face against him. “Tired?” he asks.
“A little, but I can’t lounge forever.” I sigh deeply.
“I thought you said you wanted to sleep forever.”
“I don’t think I’ve slept in a single day in my life. Besides, I have work and classes to study for.”
“Yeah, about that. Um… I asked Aiden to go pick up your last check. I don’t want you working crazy all over the place. That neighborhood isn’t great.”
“What?” I look him in the eye.
“I’m not arguing, Edith. You’re here. I want you to stay. You’re recovering from the flu and running yourself ragged is going to put you at risk more than staying here with me will.” He looks so serious, but I don’t like that he feels responsible for me. I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time so I’m not used to this kind of care and interest.
“Can I get dressed now? Aiden and Shelby are here, and this is just too much for me right now.” I wiggle out of Jack’s hold and step back, putting some much needed emotional distance between us. He hands me my clothes and leaves, softly closing the door behind him.
Stepping out of the bathroom, I find Jack and Aiden sitting on the couch, watching a football game on his large screen television that I hadn’t noticed before. Shelby is in the kitchen arranging Chinese take-out containers and putting a plate of food together.
“What’s this?” I ask her, confused.
“A peace offering. We were really worried about you when Jack took over at the hospital, then took you home. I know your family isn’t any good to you, and Aiden and I feel partly responsible.”
“Responsible? For what, Shelby?”
“Well, had Aiden and I not been bickering this past week, we would have been checking up on you like we always do. You probably wouldn’t have gotten nearly as sick and dehydrated as you did.”
“News flash, Shelby. You and Aiden are a couple, not my parents.” I popped a piece of General Tso’s chicken in my mouth, chewing the protein goodness.
“We hang out almost every day. You’re our best friend,” Shelby pleads, pushing food at me.
“I don’t need my friends to babysit me. You’ve all got your own lives and I know that. Geez, Shelby. Nobody likes being told you’re their responsibility.” Shelby knows how to get under my skin, which is probably why we stopped being roommates after our freshman year.
“You don’t know, do you?”
“What?” I pushed the Lo Mien around my plate, still angry.
“Well, Jack found you. I know you know that part, but you were unconscious and severely dehydrated. He brought you to the hospital and, once they found out you had no listed next of kin, he had to bully the nurses and doctors to be with you.”
“Okay…” I look back over to the boys, who seem to be getting along just fine.
“Edie, he practically punched a doctor. I was kind of miffed you didn’t think Aiden or I would have come for you.”
“Wait. He almost punched a doctor?” Shelby is nodding her head. I don’t know how that information makes me feel.
“It was before we got there. I heard about it from a charge nurse.” I’m pissed Jack behaved that way. “She was telling us your hot boyfriend was being all caveman about your care.”
“Is that your ploy to get me to not stay mad at him?” I glance at Jack, who is watching Shelby and me. He looks worried, but I nod so he’ll quit staring at me and go back to watching the game with Aiden, who is also giving me a funny look.
“Is it working?” Shelby smiles and I drag in a deep, cleansing breath, frustrated as hell that I love them both. “Give Jack a decent chance. I think he’s worth it, girlfriend.” Shelby hugs me.