Page 36 of The Closed Off Captain

“Thanks, Coftman.”

“Do you need anything?”

I shake my head. “I have my bag, so I’m good. Do you have more painkillers for tonight?” He nods. “Be sure to take them. And you don’t have a concussion, right? You don’t need to be woken up.”

“I’m good; get some sleep.”

“You too.” He closes the door behind him, and I spend a few minutes getting ready for bed. I’m used to sleeping in different places all over the country, so this isn’t really anything new for me. Well, aside from the fact that I’m sleeping at Gunner’s house.Thatpart isnew to me. Thankfully, I’m exhausted, so I don’t have to overthink it. I pull back the comforter on the bed, only to find that there are no sheets on the bed. I debate a moment, wondering what to do before I decide to go look for some. It can’t be that hard. Only they’re not in any of the drawers in the room or the closet. With a sigh, I quietly open my bedroom door and tiptoe out into the hallway. Using my phone for a flashlight, I open all the doors in the hallway until I find a linen closet—one without any sheets. Fighting the urge to groan, I lean my head against the closet door before looking over at Gunner’s door. It’s not closed all the way; maybe I can sneakin there really quick and find them. They have to be in a closet in his room because they’re not anywhere else. My guess is he took pain pills and is already asleep. As quietly as I can, I push open the door to his room and tiptoe inside. I can hear his soft breathing, and I relax the slightest bit. I tiptoe around his room feeling the wall until I find the opening for what must be the bathroom. Once I feel cold tile beneath my feet, I close the door behind me. Only then do I turn on the light. A quick search of his bathroom reveals no sheets. I resist the urge to cry in frustration and exhaustion. I turn off the bathroom light and slip out of his bathroom and tiptoe across the floor. I’ve given up; I’m just going to sleep on top of the blanket.

“Is there a reason you’re in my room?”

I shriek and spin around and try to remember how to breathe. “Oh, my stars. You scared me,” I accuse, even though I can’t see him.

“Again, my room.”

“I know.” I take a breath. “I am so sorry. It’s just there are no sheets on the bed, and I was trying to find some.”

He grunts. “Sorry.” I hear the sound of movement.

“No, stop. Don't get out of bed. I’m fine. I don’t need sheets. I’ll just—”

“Did you check the hall closet?” he grunts out.

“I did. It’s fine. Don't worry about it.”

“Just sleep in here.”

I pause. “What?”

He sighs wearily. “Just sleep in here. We already slept together last night.”

“But your arm...”

“It will still be attached tomorrow morning.”

I stand in indecision for a moment. I really don’t want to sleep in bed with him...again. But I also know if I don’t take care of this right now, he’s going to get out of bed and try to deal withit. And he needs to rest and keep that shoulder still. “Okay. Are you sure?”

“Come on, Liessman,” he says in a voice that sounds like he’s already falling asleep. I remind myself that he’s on a heavy dose of pain killers and won’t remember any of this in the morning. I already have my phone, so I put it on silent and pull back the covers and gingerly climb into bed. I lay on the edge of the bed and hold still. His breathing is even, and I’m pretty sure he’s already asleep. I wait a little longer before I roll over.Yeah, he’s totally out. I stare up at the dark ceiling and wonder what in the world I’m doing. This is the second time in the past twenty-four hours that I’ve had to share a bed with Gunner. I turn my head towards him. I can’t see him, but I can feel his presence. My heart goes out to him, and my mind runs the gamut of what this injury could mean for him. My heart hurts, thinking about him being out for the season; and I sigh heavily. Hopefully, that won’t be what’s ahead for him. Slowly, I feel the weight of the last twelve hours begin to fade away as sleep starts to take over.

"Hey Bro, mom sent me—Oh...sorry.” The door closes quickly, and then there’s silence. I jerk upright in bed, holding the blanket to my chest, trying to restart my heart and figure out what day or even year it is. I blink at the sunlight and look over at Gunner and immediately look away. He’s not wearing a shirt. I’m not really sure what else he is or isn’t wearing, because the blanket’s over his lower half.

“Sorry.” His voice is mostly a rumble.

I turn my gaze on his face this time, and my heart clenches. “Oh, Gunner. Where are your pain killers?”

His eyes are closed, and his good arm is slung across his face. I climb out of bed and move over to his bedside where I see the packs of pain pills the medical staff must have given him. “Here.” I rip it open and give him two pills along with the water bottlethat’s next to his bed. He sits up to take the pills, and I can see the pain clearly etched on his face. “So, that was fun.”

“Thatwas my brother.”

“Oh boy.” I knew he had a younger brother, currently in college; but I’ve never met him. “Well, I guess I’d better go set the record straight.”

“What record?” he asks, still not moving from the bed.

“That we aren’t sleeping together.”

“Pretty sure that’s exactly what he saw.” Gunner’s voice is little more than a growl.

I scowl at him, even though he still hasn’t opened his eyes. “You know what I mean.”

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