I jumped when the phone rang and Elliot’s name appeared on the screen.
“Hello?”
“Hey,” he yawned. “Are ye still at the hospital?”
“Nope, I’m free! Freeedddoooommmm!”
Elliot’s laughter was masked by my parents’ as they shook their heads, amused.
“I’m on my way to my parents’,” I said. “You go home and sleep. D’you hear me?”
I could almost hear the pout in his voice as he said, “But I wanna see ye.”
“You can see me later, after you sleep. Come by – Mum’s making a pasta bake for dinner tonight.”
“I’d argue with ye, but I’m feckin’ knackered.”
I chuckled. “Sleep. I’ll see you later.”
“I love ye, sasanach.”
“I love you too, paddy.”
When the call ended, I relaxed for the rest of the drive home. When we finally got inside the house, everything was still the same, much to my relief.
“Thank God,” I breathed as I hobbled over to the flower-filled vase on the coffee table and admired it. “I was so worried that everything would have changed.”
“Like your mother would allow that,” Dad joked.
We spent the entire morning sorting through the clothes I had there that definitely did not fit me any more, and would go to a charity shop. I helped my mum rearrange my room until I was happy with the placement of everything. I whiled away the rest of the day watching films, reading some of a book, and constantly checking my phone to see if Elliot had texted me. He was asleep – he had just come off a night watch – so there wasn’t a chance in hell that I was calling him and waking him up.
He needed his rest, and when five o’clock rolled by, so did I.
I went upstairs intending to nap for an hour – two at most – but when I felt soft touches on my cheek, I groaned and flicked my eyes open for a moment to find that my room was coated in darkness. I was tired and couldn’t fully rouse myself from my sleep. I didn’t want to.
“No,” his voice murmured, sounding far away like in a dream. “Rest. I’ll see you first thing tomorrow, okay?”
I hummed in response.
“I love you, green eyes.”
“Love you too.”
I felt lips brush against mine, then the sound of a door clicking shut. I fell back asleep in seconds but awoke when I heard a car horn honking. I reached up, rubbed my eyes and stretched. I relaxed for a second, then quickly darted upright when I thought of Elliot.
I frowned.
I lifted a hand to my lips and wondered if I’d been dreaming of him or if I’d really missed him when he stopped by. I grabbed my phone and clicked on a text I saw he sent me.
I stopped by, but you were snoring and looked so cute and peaceful. I didn’t want to wake you up. I had dinner with your parents then came home so you could rest. See you first thing tomorrow. I can’t wait. Love you.
I covered my face in annoyance, I’d have to wait until tomorrow morning to see him now. I checked the time and saw that it was only half nine. I lay back on my bed and shook my head.
“This is stupid,” I said to myself. “Why am I not with him right now?”
I loved Elliot and he loved me. I wasn’t staying apart from him when I didn’t have to; it didn’t feel right to be separated from him. I was nervous about how our relationship would pan out now, but I was doing what Elliot had said and taking it day by day.
With my mind made up, I got up and looked at the new clothes and underwear my mum had bought for me. I settled on wearing black leggings, a black T-shirt and a light grey jumper.
I grabbed my old duffle bag from my wardrobe and packed a change of clothes along with clean underwear and socks. I pulled one of my white Vans on to my right foot, then put my boot cast back on my left. I packed some toiletries for myself, since I knew I had none at Elliot’s, hooked the bag over my shoulder, grabbed my crutches and slowly made my way down the stairs.
I paused by the sitting room when I saw Mum knitting.
“Mum.”
She looked up at me and an amused smile stretched across her face. “Is your father going to owe me twenty pounds?”
“Depends.” I raised an eyebrow. “Did you bet on something?”
“Yup.” She grinned. “I bet you wouldn’t make it past ten p.m. without coming down and telling us you wanted to go and be with Elliot; he bet eleven.”
I glanced at the clock and saw it was twenty to ten. I looked back at my mother and laughed.
“You win, I want to go and be with Elliot.”
“Figured as much,” she chuckled. “Come on, Dad will drive us.”