Page 100 of Hot Damn
She lets me hold her and I’m relieved when her tears don’t come. I hate it when she cries. It guts me. When she sniffs loudly and pushes away, I let her go but frame her face so she’s forced to look at me.
“This is not your fault. And Cami would never blame you for something someone else did.”
“I feel so bad, Dad. I had to help her wash her hair and get dressed and she’s so still now.”
The fear in her eyes amplifies my own and my next words are as much a reassurance for her as they are me.
“That’s probably the Zolpidem still affecting her.” With everything in me I wish the words to be true.
“When will it stop? I don’t like seeing her like this. I want the Cami who threw her laptop at that reporter.”
“You and me both, baby, but her body needs time to recover from her fall and the drug, and we need to give her that.”
“Can I stay in here with her until she wakes up again?”
“If that’s what you want to do.”
“I think one of us should be with her until she’s better.”
Whit’s need to care for Cami matches mine, making it easy for me to go along with her request. “I agree. Although I don’t think she’s in any danger. She’s just sleeping.”
“I still want to stay with her. I can bring my laptop in and work on my English assignment.”
“Okay. Go get what you need and when you’re back, I’ll head downstairs and make us something to eat. Or order in. I’m not sure what we have in the fridge.” Hell, I can’t remember the last time I shopped for groceries.
“Can you see if we have everything to make chicken noodle soup? I think she’d like that.”
Studying Whit, I realize Cami isn’t the only one who could do with some homemade soup. “Yeah, I can do that. And if we don’t have what I need, I’ll go to the shop.”
“Should we wake her up when the food is ready or let her sleep?”
“I think it’s best if we let her sleep. Let her body do what it needs to, to recover.” An idea hits me and I smile. “How about a picnic? I can bring our food up here and we can put a blanket on the floor while we keepan eye on her.”
I need to take care of both of them. Whit is scared and needs reassurance Cami is going to be okay, and if letting her stay in my room until Cami wakes is what does that, then I’m going to do everything I can to make it happen.
Pressing a kiss to her forehead I let go of her face and nudge her toward the door. “Go get your laptop. I’ll clean up the bathroom before I head downstairs.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“For?”
“Humoring me.”
“I’m not humoring you.”
“If you say so.”
“I’m not. Letting you stay in here with Cami eases my own fears so if I’m humoring you, you’re humoring me.”
She frowns, her gaze going back to Cami and before she speaks, I know I’ve chosen the wrong words. “You’re worried?”
“No. Not worried. I know she’s going to be fine, but, like when you’re sick, I want to be near her so if she needs something I’m there to get it for her.”
The smile she shoots me is full of adult knowledge and scarier than having a drugged Cami sleeping in my bed. “Like me, huh?”
“Go.” I put my hands on her shoulders, turn her and push her toward the door. “Get your laptop.”
With a laugh she leaves the room and I shake my head. Whit has never known me to care for anyone besides her and Mama Dot, and while I’m not in a relationship with Cami, I’m invested.
