“I can’t believe it! This is bullshit! Tor called you on his own even though I didn’t want him to. In fact, I told him not to call you, and this is how you thank him? What the hell is wrong with you?”
I was taken aback by the strength in his voice. His face warmed to a reddish hue and he slammed his fist into the bed. He was taking deep breaths and I squeezed his hand.
“Wesley, calm down. It’s okay,” I whispered.
“No, it’s not okay!” Wesley shouted. “I’m sick of the way they treat you.”
“Wes, calm down,” Mr. Carroll said stoically. His expression never changed, and it was like he was blaming Wesley for being angry. Wesley looked down into his lap and went quiet; his grip loosened on my hand and he didn’t say anything more.
“Why… why don’t we go down to the cafeteria and get some lunch?” Mom suggested after a silent moment. “Wes really needs his rest right now, so let’s give him some time to sleep.”
Mom smiled awkwardly and Alycia picked up her purse from the floor. Mr. and Mrs. Carroll stared at Wesley, who didn’t look up again, and then agreed. Mom and Alycia led the way out of the room, smiling at Wesley and telling him to get some sleep. Mrs. Carroll patted his leg over the blanket and followed Mr. Carroll out of the room after glaring at me again for a long moment. Wesley lifted his eyes to the door and then sighed with bated relief. He squeezed my hand and looked down into his lap again.
“You always do that,” he said weakly, after everyone was gone.
“Do what?” I asked, turning to Wesley with upturned brows.
“Back down to my parents. You let them walk all over you and I’m sick of it,” he said sullenly.
“I just thought that now wasn’t the right time,” I answered quietly.
“It’s never the right time, but I’m sick of how they treat you.”
“Wesley,” I interrupted, tightening my grip around his hand. “They’re never gonna accept me and I’m fine with that. Because you said you chose me. But I don’t want you to cut all ties with your family. It’s important to me. Besides, we don’t see them all that often, so it’s okay as long as you come home to me,” I explained. It was honestly how I felt, and I believed every word I said.
Wesley exhaled heavily through his nose and nodded. “All right, you win. But I still don’t like the way they treat you. I just wish they would get it. I wish they would see that you really are what’s best for me.”
I leaned down and kissed Wesley on the lips, just a short kiss, but one that was filled with promises. Wesley finally smiled at me and sighed again. He laid his head back down and took some deep breaths.
“How are you feeling?” I asked, concerned that he wore himself out more from all the excitement.
“I forgot I was tired,” he said with a sleepy laugh. “But how are you? Are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah, I’m okay. Well, a lot better now,” I acknowledged with a grin.
“Well, you look like hell.”
“You’re one to talk!” I said, lightly slapping Wesley’s shoulder.
“You’ve gotta be tired, though. Did you sleep any? Want me to scoot over?”
I kissed Wesley again and pulled a chair next to the bed. Wesley tried to stay awake, but his eyes kept shutting and he eventually drifted off. I watched quietly with a smile on my face. I was so grateful that he was okay; the thought of losing him scared me more than anything. He was still holding my hand and I squeezed it twice. I told him I loved him and then I fell asleep too.
Chapter 41
I HAD learned that clichés are often true; men do act like babies when they’re sick, but Wesley acted like a six-year-old without any toys.
He came home from the hospital the morning after his surgery. He stayed in bed and slept most of the day and I sat beside him, reading a book or doing puzzles. He didn’t have much of an appetite, but he ate a little bit of soup and half a slice of bread. He took the prescription painkillers every four hours as directed and slept away the day while his body healed.
I called Gus at the shop and explained what had happened. His voice faltered when I told him Wesley had an emergency appendectomy and I clearly heard his relief when I said that Wesley was already home and on the mend. Gus wanted Wesley to take as much time as he needed because he would work his ass off once he got better. On the second day, Wesley spent most of his time in bed, but he sat up and talked and played games with me. He even sat on the sofa and watched TV while I made dinner. The third day was spent in the living room, curled up on the couch, watching movies and playing video games. He regained his appetite and ate larger portions of soup, sandwiches, and some of the lasagna that Gus’s wife had made for us. By the fourth day, he was able to move around a little more freely, and he was getting restless.
“I’m bored,” Wesley sighed, leaning back in bed and stretching his arms.
“So read a book or play a game,” I suggested, dropping my T-shirt into the dirty clothes pile on the floor.
“Don’t wanna,” he answered, watching me closely as I pulled a white polo shirt over my head.
“Then watch a movie or something,” I said, stepping into a pair of khaki pants. I took a pair of socks from the top drawer of the dresser and sat down on the edge of the bed.
“I’m not in the mood,” he answered, sitting up and scooting closer to me. “C’mon, Tor, play with me.”
“I can’t. Today’s the first day
