Dolly (Part three-Max Mitchell series)

EIGHT

"Ouch! Why do you have to be so rough?" I shrieked at my sister, who was pulling tape and gauze dressing off of my stomach. I could swear she was ripping the tape off more aggressively than was necessary.
"Come on, this is a piece of cake compared to what you've already been through." She replied as she wiped my stomach wound with antiseptic.
"You be nice or I'll sic my big tough boyfriend on you."
She rolled her eyes at me.
"Please. That man wouldn't hurt a fly."
"Oh, I don't know, ladies. I can be pretty tough if I need to." Tom retorted, as he bounded up the stairs into my bedroom.
"He's right. I've seen him sword fight, and he can be pretty badass. And Loki? Don't even get me started."
"You're too kind, Dolly." he leaned down to kiss my forehead, as I was immobilized on my bed by my sister and her torture.
"How was your run?"
"It's a beautiful day out there. Maybe we can try a little walk later."
"I'd love that."
I'd been able to work my way up to a stroll down the street to the coffee shop in the few days since I'd been home. I had come to accept that I wouldn't be back into fighting form for awhile. A snail's pace walk had to suffice.
"Alright Maxi. You're all set." Tab said, as she pulled the saline syringe out of my IV port that was attached to my stomach. Tom lifted me up from the bed, and helped me get dressed.
"Thanks Tab."
"No prob, sis. The folks and I are going out for the day. We'll pick up dinner."
"Sounds good. See you later, then."

I turned around to find Tom, flopped down on the bed, soaking up the sunshine like a housecat. He reached out, gesturing for me to come lay with him.
I propped myself up on a stack of pillows and he laid his head next to mine. His blue eyes looked curious, and I knew what was coming next.
"Do you want to talk about your hospital visitor yet?"
I knew he'd ask about it sooner or later.
"Well, unexpected as it was...it helped me close that book, so to speak. Know what I mean?"
He nodded.
"What did he say to you?"
"He said he was sorry, mostly. He was in my room for a matter of minutes, maybe fifteen."
I also told him about Robert's desire to be friends someday, which clearly irritated him, so I decided to redirect.
"He also said that you are a lucky man." I grabbed his chin and waggled his face around a bit, in an attempt to lighten the mood.
"Well, at least he's right about that." he smiled, planted a kiss on my lips and bounded off to the shower.

***

Sorry, boys! I'm soooo changeable. It is a weakness with me, but to be fair to myself, it is my only weakness. You can't be allowed to continue. You just can't. I would try to convince you, but everything I have to say has already crossed your mind.

Then probably my answer has crossed yours.

"Oh. My. God." I was fixated on the television, watching the first series finale of Sherlock.
"I still cannot believe this is the first you've seen of Ben's show."
"Painfully unaware, remember? I did watch Wallander with my dad, though. Thats got to count for something, right?"
"Of course it does." Tom said.
Just then, my phone buzzed with an incoming text message from Stef.

Since when are Wendy and Luke a thing? -Gaga

What??? That's news to me.-Max

Well, it's all over the internet. Somebody's been spying on them-Gaga

"Tom, do a google search for Wendy and Luke. See what comes up."
"What's this about?"
"They've been spending a lot of time together, it would seem."
Tom started laughing.
"Seems someone's got it wrong." He said.
"I'm gonna call her and ask her."

"Hello, boss! How are you?"
"Oh, I'm good. How's your weekend?"
"It's great. What can I help you with?"
"Oh, nothing. Just wanted to call you and say hello..."
There was some muted shuffling around on the other end of the line, and then she spoke again, but much quieter.
"What's this about Max? You're being weird."
"What do you mean?" I replied in a melodramatic fashion.
There was a pause on the other end of the line. She was waiting for me to stop being weird.
"Alright...fine. What's up with you and Luke?"
She let out a definite groan.
"What do you want to know?"
"Well, there's pictures of the two of you out on the town together. I'm just curious."
"We're not dating, Max."
I made a mild snort-like noise.
"We're not."
She sounded like she was avoiding saying something.
"Why didn't you tell me you guys were--"
"Because, hello! Luke is gay, Max."
Maxine Delilah, you idiot. I mentally slapped myself in the face.
"Ohhhhhhh. Ok."
"He's become a great friend, lately. He and I can really relate, and he's helping me figure out how to be good at my job."
"I'm so sorry. What a nosy bitch I am, huh?"
Wendy was laughing hysterically on the other end of the line, and I felt like a horses ass.
I hung up with her, and noticed that Tom was red faced, and desperately trying to contain his laughter.
"You little brat! Why didn't you tell me about Luke?"
I threw my phone at him, and he blocked it with a pillow.
"I just thought it was common knowledge, about him."
"Well clearly not with me." I said, and flopped back onto my pillow. "I was just excited for Wendy to finally find a nice guy."
"Her time will come. Everyone finds their someone eventually."

***

"What's up?" I asked, after Tom had been engrossed in something on his computer for awhile.
"Just looking at the numbers for the film."
"And?"
"It's done almost thirty million so far!"
"Tom, that's incredible." I rolled over to nuzzle in close for a hug.
"Thank you, darling."
He sounded less excited than one would think, and I had to wonder why.
"Is something bothering you?"
"It's a bittersweet feeling I have, love. Don't worry about it."
"Don't worry? Do you know me at all?"
"This is my most successful movie yet, revenue-wise. I just feel a little off, not being with the cast."
Oh man. That hit me hard.
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?"
"Because I'm the reason you're not there."
"Hey. Don't do that to yourself. I made the choice to be here."
"But you're missing--"
"Shhh. It is what it is. I'm here because I love you, and if anything worse had happened, and I wasn't here...I could never forgive myself."
I nodded, and leaned in for a kiss.
"Do you suppose you'll feel up to coming to the premiere next week?" He gave me his best puppy dog eyes.
Damn that man, he could make me do anything he asked with one look.
"Of course I will...that is, if my doctor says it's alright. I can't make promises, but maybe I'll come to LA next week, too."
That lit him up.
"You will?"
"IF the doctor says it's ok."
"Fantastic. That would be absolutely fantastic."
That meant I was going to have to send Wendy off for a dress or two. Having her as my assistant made life easier in more ways than one. There were so many decisions I was happy to defer to her, and she had no problem with taking control.
"Go call Luke, make plans for Wendy, my sister and me to join you next week, and I'm going to nap." I ordered, as I cocooned myself in the land of pillows, also known as my bed. Tom leaned down and kissed me lovingly, patted my head and just before I drifted off to sleep I heard him whisper,

"I love you with so much of my heart, that none is left to protest."