Abby had first watch and was showing a strange, albeit very welcome, restraint when it came to questions about David. The living space and bedroom were all one room. This had forced Zoe to get creative with the space and she had done so in a way that made it cozy and welcoming, with plush places to sit, perfect for snuggling up with a good book or a long Netflix marathon. The living space served as bedroom in one corner, living room in another, and the other half of the space, furthest from the windows, was where she worked on her art. She had art all around the exposed brick walls, mostly from others she admired but some of her favorite pieces were up as well.
Abby helped Zoe get into bed, propping Zoe's foot up on every pillow she could find.
"Here is your cell phone and I'll grab you your laptop, anything else you need before we settle in for the Friends marathon I have planned?" Abby asked.
"You have done more than enough. Thanks A." Abby brushed the comment off and walked to get Zoe her laptop. Zoe glanced at her phone.
15 Missed Calls.
30 Text Messages.
Zoe should have been shocked by the fact that every missed call was from work and more than half the texts were as well but she did not have the strength or energy. Cheryl had sent a series of long texts with work related questions and she knew her days of rest would probably just turn into working from home. Zoe hoped it would make the time go faster. The idea of being stuck at home in bed for three days was daunting.
She flipped through texts from some friends and co-workers checking in to make sure she was ok and she responded to each with a generic message of "I'm home now and I am ok! Thanks for thinking of me but I am fine."
There was a series of sweet and concerned texts from Matt, each of which included an unneeded apology. Zoe would respond to those later. As she looked through the rest of her messages a new one came in from a number she did not recognize.
555-8726: Zoe, Make sure you are getting plenty of rest and please do not hesitate to contact me if you need anything. I want you well. - D.M.
"Holy Shit, Zoe. What is going on with you and David Moore?!" Abby was standing over Zoe looking at her phone with her jaw open.
"Nothing, it's nothing. I am pretty sure he is just worried I might sue or something." Zoe turned the screen off on her phone and reached for the laptop. "Anyway I have a zillion messages from Cheryl, I need to do work while you start the marathon, that ok?" Zoe could have sighed with relief as Abby happily sat next to her on the bed and flipped on the TV.
Zoe worked on e-mails as Abby got sucked into the world or Ross and Rachel. She could feel her phone go off a few more times but was too nervous to open them around Abby. Not that he would say anything, he didn't want Zoe, the moments they had were fleeting and Zoe knew it. But what about what he had said at the hospital. "Don't you ever scare me like that again." Just thinking about it made her ache for him, to feel him again deep inside her, to feel his arms wrapped around her, his lips on her neck. She had never desired something so fully, with every fiber of her being.
"I'm going to grab a soda, want anything while I am up? Need more pain meds?" Abby asked standing next to the bed.
"No, I'm good. Thanks." As soon as Abby turned towards the kitchen Zoe had her phone out.
The new messages were not from David, but more from friends. Disappointed, Zoe added him as a contact in her phone. The hours of TV with Abby continued as Zoe kept working on her computer.
Abby got a text. "Shit, Zoe. I am so so so so sorry but I have to go! Are you going to be ok if I go? I just, crap, they are calling some kind of emergency meeting at the firm. Don't they know it's a fucking Saturday!?" Abby spoke frantically while gathering her things. "I'll call Lexie and see if she can get out of the party early and take the night shift tonight, k?" Abby was so panicked, all Zoe could do was nod and say it was okay, and for the most part she believed it. She had crutches next to her bed and her apartment was easy to get around.
"I'll be fine, go. Thank you for everything today!" And before she could finish her sentence Abby was walking out the door talking frantically to someone on the phone. Zoe's phone buzzed.
David: How are you feeling?
Zoe: Fine, tired but better.
David: Good. Are your friends taking good care of you?
Zoe hesitated, she was not sure how he would actually react if he knew she were alone and she was not entirely sure she wanted to find out, she knew so little about him, about his temperament.
Zoe: Excellent care, Thank You. And Thank You again...for everything.
David: ...Everything? If we are saying thank you for everything than I have quite a few things I should be thanking you for as well.
Her stomach dropped and the ache for him rushed deep inside her.
David: Tell your friend to open the door.
Shit. He isn't here. He wouldn't do that, right? Zoe began to panic.
Zoe: Why?
David: Just do it. I got something for you.
Zoe pulled herself up in bed and reached for her crutches. She was in lavender pajama shorts and a white tank top with her hair piled into a giant bun on the top of her head. When she used the crutches her tank top pulled up and revealed her flat white stomach. Please don't be him. Please just be pizza. She thought as she hobbled to the door. She couldn't look out the door before opening it, opening it was a big enough of a challenge and as she pulled the heavy wood door open towards her she lost her balance on her crutches and fell forward, right into his strong solid arms.
As he steadied her stance she looked up into his grave face, it was betraying him yet again. Normally void of emotion, his face showed the slightest signs of anger on it's edges. Their eyes met and it was clear he was mad but he did not say a word as he wrapped one arm around her and helped her to the couch. Setting her down he went back for her crutches and a bag of take out he had dropped when he caught her mid-fall.
"Where are your friends?" He growled the words with an anger that put her desire for him on edge. I know almost nothing about this man. The thought made her uneasy.
"She had to leave, something came up. Another friend will be here in the morning, possibly sooner if she can." Zoe felt like she was trying to apologize with every single word, as if she had committed some terrible sin but as soon as the words were out she regretted it: what did she owe this man?
He was practically pacing. Pacing like a wild animal getting ready to strike. Zoe became brave.
"Why are you even here?" She wanted the words to come out like daggers but instead her voice was a whisper, almost a whimper. How does he do this to me?
He sat on the ottoman facing her, she was sitting on the edge of the couch so their knees touched. Her ankle hurt from the fall so she was trying to hold herself up with her arms to help keep the weight off her leg. Their eyes met, she tried hard to show she was in pain but she couldn't help but wince as her weight shifted uneasily. He reached a hand up to lightly move a stray hair away from her eyes, just as he had at the hospital and as he placed the hair behind her ear his fingers ran along her jaw bone, down to her chin which he lightly lifted towards his.
The aching inside her filled her with longing for him. She had goose bumps all over as he slowly, lightly, lifted her chin higher and moved his lips closer to hers. She couldn't take it, she thought she might explode from the desire and longing. She ached deep down inside and could feel he had made her wet with wanting. She could barely breath.
He kissed her softly just once, and pulled back to meet her eyes.
"You." He finally answered her question.
He moved in again with more force, moving his hand into her hair and drawing her to him. She returned his kiss deeply, her body begging for more, begging for him to be deeper within her. He moved his free hand to her waist and began to pull her from the couch onto his lap but her ankle turned as the pressure pushed down on her foot she leaned back and cried in agony from the pain. It was sharp and blinding and pulled her quickly from the flood of pleasure he had filled her with. In one swift movement he put his arms around her and she was in his arms again.
"It's ok, you're ok. Put your arms around my neck." She could feel the hot tears streaming down her face as did as he said. He moved her through the apartment like she weighed nothing at all, his arms solid beneath her, she could feel the lines of his muscles.
He placed her softly on her bed and began moving the pillows Abby had gotten for her ankle back into a pile. He pulled the coves over her and ran his hand along the side of her face, using his thumb to wipe away her tears.
"You're ok." He said softly, looking deep into her eyes. "When was the last time you took the pain medication they gave you?"
"I haven't...I haven't taken any." She whispered. She was no longer crying but all she could think of was the pain she was in. She could barely take him in and she barely noticed how it broke her more when he stood and walked away to the kitchen, grabbing the bag of take out on his way.
Zoe caught her breath, she took a sip of water from the glass on her night stand and pushed herself up slowly to a seated position.
David, with a plate of food in hand, moved quickly to set it down and help her up.
"Here." He whispered as he lifted her up to sit up straight. He turned and grabbed the plate he had set down. It was filled with mostaccioli in tomato sauce. "Eat this and then you are going to take your medication and rest."
"Are you just going to drop everything and take care of me?" She teased.
Without missing a beat and with his face like stone he met her eyes and said, "That is exactly the plan."
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