Page 33 of Replay

“You’d be good at that.”

“In the math world, the attitude is definitely that those who can’t, teach. So that’s kind of a backup plan.”

I didn’t know what she’d do in applied math, finance, but she definitely was a good teacher.

She smiled and then stood up, her plate empty. “That was really good food. Thanks for feeding me. Want me to put the leftovers in the fridge?”

“That would be great.”

My stomach twisted. She was getting ready to go. Which, yeah, she’d stayed longer than I expected, but I’d like her to stay for a while yet. I grasped at ideas to make that happen, but I had nothing. She had her own life and was probably busy with all her school stuff. I’d asked a favor of her to help me, and she’d already done more than enough.

I pulled the ice pack off my knee. It was getting warm, so I’d better get another, and then stretch out on the couch to play a video game till the Blaze game came on at seven.

I grabbed my crutches, balancing my weight on my good leg, and carefully moved toward the freezer.

“What are you doing?” She sounded strict again.

“New ice pack.”

She held up a hand and cut in front of me to pull one out of the freezer.

“Thanks.” I reached for it, but she moved it away from me.

“Go settle down wherever you’re going to rest, and I’ll bring it to you.”

“You don’t have to?—”

“I offered. Go, sit or lie down or whatever.”

I grinned at her and turned on the crutches and hobbled my way to the big couch in the living room. I was slow. Usually my body was my tool, doing whatever I asked of it. But these crutches were awkward, the movement strange to me.

Katie finished in the kitchen, putting our dishes in the dishwasher and the food away in the fridge before wiping down the countertop. I’d wedged myself into the corner of the couch, leg up beside me, crutches on the floor at my feet. She brought the freezer pack over and passed it to me so I could put in on the knee again.

“Do you want a water bottle or something?”

“Just a glass would be great, thanks.”

She opened a couple of cupboards, then brought out a large glass and filled it up from the fridge. She carried it over and set it on the coffee table in front of me. “What else do you need?”

“I’m good. The remotes are right there and I’ve got my crutches.”

She frowned. “When does your roommate get back?”

“After the game. It’ll be late. They’ll fly out from Ottawa after.”

“And you’ll stay put till he gets home?”

As if. “I’ll have to eat, and you know, hit the head. Get another ice pack.” She stared at me, foot tapping. “I’m good, Katie. I’ve got the crutches. I’m slow but I can do it.”

“The Josh I knew in high school was more likely to do something he shouldn’t. He wasn’t good at staying still.”

I wanted to say I’d changed and wasn’t like that anymore, but it was going to be hard to just sit all day on my own. “I’ve got some games I can play. I don’t need to be waited on.”

“No.” But she still watched me.

“What?”

She looked away for a moment, then back at me. “I can come back. Go home, grab the stuff I need for my classes, and get you through the evening till your roommate comes back.”

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