27. Indy

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Indy

" E asy," I order as Fox and Jackson brace Derek to get him out of the truck. He was released from the hospital today, despite my protests, and told he could heal up back at the ranch. Again, I don't agree because I know he's going to be moving too much, and the while sitting on him thing won't work with his stitches.

"Indy," Derek grunts, his bad mood extra spicy today from the amount of touching and attention. "I'm only going to say this nicely once, back off."

"That was you being nice?" Fox mutters while Jackson snorts.

"You best be nicer to her. She saved your life, and the guys and I now like her more than you." I blush at the statement as I walk to the steps.

"I-Indy, stop!" Derek barks out as I go to the step. I grip the railing and count to five before while up the two steps, despite the pain and him cursing.

"I'm fine. Now shut up and let the one with medical training handle this." I snap back, opening the door and leading the guys to Derek's room. Once they get him sitting on the edge of the bed, they take their leave as I begin to undress him.

"Indy, stop," he grunts. He sounds so exhausted.

"Derek, I have to look at your bandages and make sure they don't need changing. Then you need a sponge bath. Let me take care of you."

"Indy…" It sounds like a plea, and I stop rifling through my bag and stare at the tired man. "Darlin', please, I need you to not do this to me right now. Check my bandages if you must, but I can wash myself."

"Derek–"

"Indy," He says my name firmly. "I don't want to be coddled. I want to be left the fuck alone. I've had too many people up my ass for days. I want to piss on my own, wash my own junk and not have someone cheering me on because I'm able to shuffle four feet." His words sting, but I force a smile and nod. I know what it's like. He feels like his independence has been taken, and he's angry.

"Okay." I run my thumb over his jaw. "Let me check your thigh and side, and then I'll leave, okay?"

"What are you going to do with your time?" He asks while I sanitize my hands before checking his bandages.

"Travel mostly," I joke or try to. He doesn't really laugh. "I'll go clean the kitchen, see if your mom needs help, and talk to the aide to see what she's been doing for your parents. Offer to cook the guys some food or have Janie do it, but she's worse at cooking than me."

"You need to sleep," he states firmly, and I shrug while trying to stand. It takes me two tries to get it, and I know it hurts him that he can't lift me.

"I can't go to sleep with you in the next room. I'll be worried."

"Then sleep here. I'll sit in the chair." Shaking my head, I shove the wrappers in his waste bin. "You need to sleep with your legs up.

"Then get in the bed with me. You ain't going out there and working. I won't be able to sleep then." I give him a light chuckle as I grab his bottle of pills and shake them.

"In about twenty minutes, you won't have a choice." He glares at me.

"I'll spit them across the room. I ain't swallowing shit until you're in the bed." I huff before slipping my shoes off and crawling into the bed.

"Satisfied?" I snap as I lay on one of the pillows. His brown eyes darken and narrow.

"Keep that attitude up, darlin'," he warns lowly, and I roll my eyes.

"Your big bad wolf routine doesn't work on me, Derek, so when you're down acting like a child, please lay down and take your pills. It's important to stay ahead of the pain." Derek relents while slowly shifting into the bed but stops, hissing in pain. "What is it?"

"Nothing, I think my shirt is rubbing something." He looks at me, and I know what he wants to ask, but his pride won't allow it. I get it and decide I've teased him enough for the day.

"Yeah, I remember when they had to do surgery on me; my shirts drove me nuts," I move to help guide his injured arm out of the sleeve before taking the shirt off completely and tossing it off to the side. "That better?"

"What did you have surgery for?" He grunts while I hand him his pills. Lifting my shirt, I show him the faint scar on my abdomen.

"Nothing too exciting. My appendix crapped out on me at thirteen." I shudder as Derek's thumb runs over the scar.

"Sorry," he mutters, pulling his hand back. "I-I don't know what I'm doing." I give him a soft smile before guiding him to lie beside me. Resting my hand on his chest, Derek tenses at the contact before relaxing.

"You need to stop doing so much," he whispers as I trace the cracked skull tattoo on his chest. He lets out a faint, almost needy sound. He likes this; he just doesn't want to like it. Biting back a smile, I curl closer to him, resting my head on his shoulder before whispering in his ear.

"Stop making me work so much," I tease and smile whenI feel his heart rate quicken.

"I don't make you do anything," He scoffs while turning his head away. I giggle while pressing my lips on his firm shoulder.

"You make me work awfully hard for any closeness or affection." He stiffens again as his hand goes to grip mine.

"I'm sorry," his apology stuns me. I expected a scoff and him to say something about not wanting closeness. Anything but an apology. "Baby girl," he lets out a small, tired chuckle. "You wouldn't be the first woman to tell me that. I'm not very good at affection, evidently." His thumb runs over my knuckles, and I feel my heart quicken.

"You're actually really good at it, Derek," I smile softly, kissing his shoulder again. "Ijustthink you get in your head too much and overthink it. You know you have a lot to offer." He groans while rolling his head so he can stare down at me.

"Don't pep talk me. I ain't looking for a wingman to help me find a girl," he mutters, and I notice he's having difficulty keeping his eyes open. His pain meds must be kicking in. I try not to think about him calling me his wingman or how much it bothers me.

Derek lets out the cutest snort as the corner of his mouth hitches. "You get a wrinkle," he pokes me on my forehead. "Right there when you get jealous."

Heat floods my cheeks as I stare at him in shock. "I do not! I'm not jealous! You're just high."

Derek cups my cheek and pulls my burning face to his. "Oh, I'm very high right now," he murmurs, his eyes only slits. "I don't know what you gave me, but I don't like it." He leans down and presses his lips to my head. "I ain't looking for a wingman because I already found the girl," he whispers as he releases me and rests against his pillow.

I'm in shock, unable to move at his words. When I'm finally able to come to my senses, I look at his now slumbering form, and a tightness forms in my belly. Me? I'm the girl?

Pfft. He's high, he ain't talking about you.

My darkness makes me cringe; its voice is like nails on a chalkboard.

You're only going toget your stupid heartbroken because you're trying to break the rules.

"I like him," I whisper weakly, still staring at him. He looks so peaceful, and it warms my heart that he's getting the color back in his body. His ashen skin nearly destroyed me.

If you like him, do him a favor,anddon'tadd a burden.You wanna fuck? Fuck. But leave it at that. Indy, you can hate me all you want, but you know everything I say isthe truth. He doesn't deserve what you come with.

I squeeze my eyes shut as the tears begin to flow. My darkness is right; Derek doesn't deserve it. Sure, I'm forcing myself to help him, but my body is killing me. And what happens the time he needs help and I'm physically unable to help him? He deserves a partner, not an anchor.

Resting my head back on his shoulder, I starttracing the skull againas he sleeps. "I've had a crush on you for over a year now," I admit weakly. "And in that time, I went from being able to take steps and bounce around to becoming exhausted over making a hat. Regardless of my feelings or yours, I know what I decided over a year ago isstilltrue. I won't become your burden, no matter how bad my heart aches to be near yours."