He stands a little taller, his body going rigid. “Maybe this somebody should be fucking worried. That same somebody should be banging on this front door because they haven't heard from you.”
“Well, my sister doesn't have a car yet.”
“Your sister?” I nod. “Is that who you were on the phone with earlier today?”
“Yes, I know you said to do it on my own time, and I’ve been gone all day. I’ll be fast, I swear. It’s just—”
“Stop.” His head drops for a minute, looking down at the floor. He takes two deep breaths before pulling his cell out of his pocket. He walks over, holding it out for me, and I grab it. “I’m an asshole. Call your sister whenever you want.” He releases the phone before turning to go into the bathroom and shutting the door behind him.
I call Kat and give her vague details about what happened but don’t bring up the wreck. That’s the last thing she needs to worry about when there’s nothing she can do. What’s done is done. When I hear the water in the bathroom turn off, I let her go, telling her I’ll call her tomorrow.
I put the phone down on the table, and I start to feel sleepy but know I can’t go to bed. This is going to be a long night. When the bathroom door opens, I’m struck still for a moment. Clay stands there with damp hair, gray sweats and no shirt. I knew he was built, but it’s one thing to know it and another to see it on full display.
“Like what you see?”
I gasp, covering my face with my hands. How long was I staring?
He chuckles. “I’ll get a shirt.”
I drop my hands as he slides on one of the white shirts I folded earlier. “You and those white shirts.”
“I have to tell you I’m not sure how this is going to be a temporary thing. You feeding me, making sure I have shit to wear, and how the house actually looks like a home. I’m spoiled.” His praise makes me feel warm inside.
“Well, I’m glad you like it because I wasn't sure. You have a tendency to yell.”
“Yeah.” He reaches up and grabs the back of his neck. “I was jealous earlier today. I thought you were sending him a picture.”
“Him who?”
“Your fiancé.”
“Oh yeah. I guess I could see that, but it was just my sister.”
He walks back over to the side of the bed. “I’ll stop yelling.” I lift an eyebrow, making him laugh. “I’ll stop yelling so much.”
“I’ll take it.” I point to the phone on the nightstand. “Just in case you need it.”
He waves it off and goes back to the dresser. I watch him, unable to look away. How is this man single? Furthermore, why is he jealous over me and why does that do all kinds of things to my insides?
“I don’t think a shower tonight is a good idea, but we should change you at least. Think you can wiggle out of those jeans under there?”
I undo my jeans and slide them down my hips while keeping the blanket over me. At the same time, he reaches under the blanket and takes my shoes off. I lift up as he grabs the bottom of my jeans and pulls.
“Oh wait.”
“What?” He stands there with my jeans in his hand.
“Panties.” I point to the jeans, and when he looks at them, I swear he blushes.
“I don’t think they are required.” He drops them at the end of the bed and looks up at me. “Are they?”
“Required? No, I don’t think it’s a law to wear underwear.” Gosh, I’m enjoying this way more than I should. It’s nice teasing him, and somehow it feels natural.
“Shirt.” He holds out the one he got from the dresser.
It takes a little wiggling, but I pull it off and pass it to him. After I put his shirt on, I lie back, feeling a million times more comfortable. I still when Clay’s hand comes up and he pulls another leaf out of my hair.
“Is it bad?”
“No, beautiful as ever,” he says softly and turns around. For a second I wonder if I heard him right. When he turns back around, he hands me a damp cloth. “For your face.”
Then he really shocks me when he takes another cloth to my arms and wipes them down. When he gets to my left hand, he pulls the ring off and places it on the nightstand.
Maybe I should say something, but right now I really don’t care. I don’t want to fight with Clay about it, and honestly at this moment, I really don’t want the damn thing on my finger. Not when I’m feeling all kinds of ways about Clay. In some weird way, it felt like I was cheating, not on Judge, but on Clay.