"Colts game. Hit me like a fucking semi. Pretty sure I even quoted Bad Boys II in there somewhere." As confusion danced across her face he squeezed her thigh and grinned. "Shit just got real."
Her head drooped and her shoulders shook as laughter consumed her. "I have so much fun with you, Jake." His answer was his signature smirk and it made her heart skip. "And I'm so in like with you it's just… ridiculous."
Big tried to fight the enormous grin on his face, but it was pointless. Hearing her say that was pretty much the best thing ever (well, you know, besides being naked with her—nothing topped that, and fuck you for suggesting otherwise). "Well, that's good, Shorty, because I like you like you."
She laughed again. "Well, we've officially gone into grade school territory with this conversation."
"Who cares?" he chuckled. "So?"
"So?" Alisha repeated softly, a playful gleam in her eyes.
He cocked his head to the side, regarded her. "What happens now, Alisha?" he asked, squeezing the spot on her thigh that always made her squeal. "You wanna, like, be my lady friend or what?"
"Your lady friend?" Alisha asked with a snort. "And you'll be my gentleman caller? I'm not a hooker, Jake," she laughed.
"Fuck, Lisha, cut me some slack here. Goddamn!"
He was practically pouting and it was beyond adorable; so much so that she could hardly stand it. "Aw, I'm sorry," she told him, carefully running her hand over the scruff on his jaw before leaning down to whisper in his ear. "I'll let you in on a little secret though…you're on the right track."
Big folded his arms around her body and held her as tightly as his injuries would allow. "Alisha," he murmured into her ear, grinning when he felt her shiver. He kissed a trail up her jaw until he settled on her mouth. "I want you to be my girl," he said softly against her lips.
Alisha pulled back with a brilliant smile on her face. "I already am."
The door opened and James lumbered into the room closely followed by Maggie, Rosemary and Sarah. Big peered around Alisha to the intruders. "Thanks for stopping by, but would you all mind kindly fucking off for a while so I can kiss my girlfriend?"
There was a brief round of applause from the collective and Alisha giggled before turning to smile at her best friend. Maggie's face cracked into a smile and she made a 'call me' gesture before tugging James towards the door.
Rosemary was about to launch into a hearty congratulations, but Sarah stopped her. "C'mon, Mama. Let's leave them alone."
"But, I just want to—"
"I like Sarah's idea, Ma," Big grumbled. "I love you, but seriously, get the fuck out."
Sarah laughed and pulled their pouting mother from the room.
"Where were we?" he asked with a crooked grin.
"I was about to kiss my boyfriend," she offered coyly.
"Fuckin' right you were," he grinned, liking the way that word sounded coming out of her lips. (Shut up) Cupping her face gently, he pulled her mouth down to his and kissed his girl thoroughly.
Chapter 21
After five days of being in the hospital, Big was fucking over it already. He slept for shit because the damn adjustable bed was uncomfortable as all hell and he never got more than a couple hours at a time with the nurses walking in and waking him the fuck up to check his vitals. The food was disgusting; the only decent meal he'd had in the last five days was the burger and fries he'd threatened out of Chang's hands when that asshole came to visit.
In short, he was pissed off and ready to go the fuck home.
As he scowled at the gruel they tried to call breakfast on his tray, the door to his room opened and his mood improved instantly when Alisha walked in with a smile on her face and a paper bag in her hand. Yeah, his girl was fucking awesome like that. He dropped his fork and unceremoniously pushed the tray away before grinning at her. "Hey."
"Hey yourself," Alisha said, her smile widening as she reached his bed. "I brought you some breakfast."
"Thank God," he groaned, snatching the bag from her hands like a greedy child before pulling her down for a kiss. "I'm so fucking hungry I feel like I've been in a concentration camp for weeks. Ooh, breakfast burrito. Score!"
"Jake!" Alisha admonished, her hands snapping to her hips, eyes narrowing.
"What?" he asked with his mouth full.
"How can you make such a horrible and insensitive joke about the atrocities committed against our people?"
Big's forehead scrunched in concentration as he tried to remember what in the holy hell he'd just said. (Another thing he can thank the hospital for. Brain drain.) Oh. Oops. "Fuck's sake, babe, I was joking. Obviously I'm not down with Nazis. But look at that disgusting shit on my tray," he said, motioning to it and taking another enormous bite of the (delicious!) burrito she'd brought for him. "However this? S'really good," he mumbled. He swallowed and smiled up at her, watching the annoyance on her face fade away. "Thanks, babe."
Alisha lowered her hands and shook her head. It was hard to remain annoyed when he looked like he looked and said babe the way he did. She decided that was probably both a good and bad thing for their relationship. (Relationship. She was still getting used to that.) "You're welcome. Do you know if you're being released today?"
Inhaling the last of his burrito, he grunted, shrugged his shoulders. "If I don't I've already got
