Tate blinked away the tears and mouthed, “Yes.”
Logan winked back at him and said, “Just so you know, that doesn’t count. And it won’t until you’re back on your feet, giving me hell, and then telling me yes.”
And with that, nothing more needed to be said. The challenge had been issued, and the prize was now within reach.
Chapter Eighteen
“Come on. It’s all ready.” Logan’s voice echoed down the hall to where Tate was seated on the couch.
“You’re really going to make me do this?” he asked as Logan walked into the living room and crossed his arms. He’d rolled the sleeves up on his black, knit pullover and was barefoot in his jeans as he stood there with his brow raised, tapping his foot.
“Yes, I am. So come on. Time to get up,” Logan said, holding his hand out.
Tate took it and got to his feet with a wince.
“This will do you good.”
It had been a couple of hours since he’d been released from the hospital and gotten a haircut, and ever since then, Logan hadn’t stopped—until now.
“I don’t remember the doctor saying anything about this,” Tate pointed out.
“Everyone knows that a soak in a bathtub is good for sore muscles.”
“Really? And how many times have you used this bath of yours after a long, hard workout?”
Logan wrapped an arm around his waist and smiled at him. “Never. But we aren’t discussing me.”
As Tate leaned against Logan’s side, he rolled his eyes. “Of course not. You do remember the doctor saying I can walk on my own now, right? I’m also allowed to bathe myself.”
Logan stopped them at the bathroom door and scrunched his face up. “Yeah, but where’s the fun in that for me?”
Tate chuckled. Logan had been amazing since he’d woken up two weeks ago. Hell, from what he’d been told by the hospital staff, he had been pretty damn wonderful the entire time he’d been unconscious. Not only had he spent each night by his bed, they’d told him that he would play music, read to him, and even, at times, yell at him.
He studied Logan’s side profile and smiled. Tate had no trouble believing that Logan would get frustrated at him while he was lying out cold, and every now and then, when he closed his eyes and really thought back, he almost remembered parts of it.
“Okay. I’ll get in the bath if you—” His words came to an abrupt stop when he spotted the tub filled with… “Bubbles? You ran me a bubble bath?”
“Of course,” Logan said. “That’s the only way to take a bath, isn’t it?”
“How would you know, since you’ve never had one?”
Logan’s lips twitched as he looked from the tub back to him. “I watch TV?”
“Mhmm. And what kind of bubble bath is it?”
Logan gave a small shrug and helped him over to the sink, where Tate rested against the vanity. “I don’t know. Lavender or some shit. The woman told me it was soothing.”
“Did she?”
“Yep, she sure did,” Logan said, examining the sling strapped around his shoulder. “So the doc said we could take it off for a little and then put it back on, right?”
Tate nodded. “Right.”
“And you feel okay? You don’t need to lie down?”
“Logan?”
Logan brought his worried eyes back to his.
“I feel fine. And I’d love a bath. Thank you.”
“Okay,” Logan answered, tapping his fingers against his lips in concentration. “We should take off your clothes, then.”
Finding Logan’s nerves endearing, Tate waited to see what he would do next, and when he didn’t move, he asked, “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“You sure? Because I can do this later. By myself.” He didn’t want Logan uncomfortable in any way, and if helping him take a bath crossed too many lines—
“No. That’s not it. I…” Logan sighed. “It’s stupid.”
“Tell me,” he coaxed.
Logan looked at the bath, a sheepish expression crossing his face. “I don’t want to hurt you. That’s all.”
Tate took Logan’s hand, and when their fingers touched, Logan faced him. It was high time to lighten the mood around them, and why not start here? He couldn’t imagine the stress Logan had been under for the last month and a half, and as he stood in front of him, exposing his most vulnerable side, it just made Tate love him even more.
“How about we make this fun and concentrate less on all these ugly bruises and scars. I know something you never can say no to. Truth or dare,” he suggested with a flirty wink.