Sure enough, half an hour later, Gemma was at the front door. Holly ushered her in and she strode into my living room like she owned the place. “Impressive, Rosen. I gave you a whole six hours before you disregarded doctor’s orders and popped a stitch…you’ve managed it in two.”
I ignored her baiting and she smiled as she came near. “Let’s take a look.”
Holly and Jack shuffled out of the room as Gemma reached for my shirt and pulled it up to check my wound. I sucked in a breath as her fingertips brushed the skin around the thick bandages. “Does that hurt? I barely touched you.”
“I’m good,” I said, exhaling slowly. “Also, contrary to your sadistic little wager, I don’t think I popped a stitch. I just tried to get up too fast and my body let me know about it.”
I knew I was being crass and grouchy, but I didn’t care. Pain engulfed my body and the exhaustion was running me to the ground. I needed a long nap. Until I got one, I was going to be an asshole.
“I’m going to take these bandages off and check the incision and redress it.” Gemma didn’t leave room for argument as she laid out her plan. She got up and swooped back out the front door. When she returned, she had a small, black medical kit tucked under her arm. She laid it down on the bed beside me and reached for my shirt. This time, she tugged it—ever so gently—up and over my head.
I watched and had to fight a smile as her eyes roved over my muscles. After Boomer’s last visit, I’d been hitting the gym harder than ever, and the results showed. Gemma obviously noticed too.
“See something you like?” I teased, realizing after the fact that she’d probably seen more than just my bare torso as she’d worked on me the first night in the ER.
Gemma’s eyes flashed to mine, holding my stare for a moment, before she rolled them. “Focus, Rosen. You’re worse than a hamster on Adderall.”
I laughed but stopped short at the flash of pain from the sudden movement. “Fuck,” I ground out between grit teeth.
“Hold still. This is probably going to get worse before it gets better.”
“Fan-fuckin-tastic.”
Gemma worked her fingers over the bandaged area with sure but gentle fingers as she peeled away the tape and gauze. I glanced down and sighed. It looked worse than it had the last time I’d sneaked a peek. Great.
“Well, the good news is that you didn’t pop a stitch,” Gemma said, rummaging in her medical kit. “The bad news is I have to spray some of this on you before I can put you back together again.” She held up a bottle of spray antiseptic and I grit my teeth harder. I knew the feeling and I was so not a fan.
“Go ahead.”
She held up a hand. “Here. Squeeze as hard as you want. I promise I can take it.”
I arched a brow at her offered hand. “What am I? Five years old?”
She shrugged and sprayed the area.
I gripped her hand.
Hard.
When she finished, she applied a fresh bandage and helped me shrug back into my shirt. “Here,” she said, handing me a couple of pills. “For the pain.”
“Thanks.” I downed them with a hard swallow. Gemma got up and retrieved the water bottle that had been left by the front door. She handed it to me and I chased down the dose of painkillers with a long chug.
She took the bottle back and set it on the floor beside my bed. “Are you going to behave? Or do I need to stay and keep an eye on you?” She smirked down at me and for a split second, I wondered if she was fishing for an invitation to stick around.
“That’s up to you. I think I can manage, but if you’d feel better on supervision duty…that’s on you.”
She laughed softly and shook her head. “Are you always this impossible? Just ask me to stay.”
I chuckled. “All right. Gemma, would you like to stay? Boomer and Holly were gonna go grab some burgers and beer for dinner from this place called Harvey’s. You been there yet?”
She shook her head. “No, but it sounds good.”
“All right. Why don’t you go tell those two pussies that the blood and guts are gone and they can come get our order.”
Gemma laughed as she went to the adjoining room to get Jack and Holly. They took off a little while later to go get the food and Gemma stood by the door, her arms folded over her chest, staring out the front window. “That’s the museum?”
“Yeah. I’d offer to go take you around—you know, tour guide and all that—but whatever you gave me is kicking in, in a big way…” my voice trailed off as I relaxed back against the pillows, no longer able to hold up my own head.