Ice Cold

53

Wren Ridley

I watched Landon closely as he got dressed for bed, like I was afraid he would topple over if I took my eyes off him for even a second. His friend Chris had given me the rundown on what the doctor had said to him and then left the two of us alone. Landon needed to rest for forty-eight hours, and I was going to make sure he got as much rest as he needed. He could take pain relievers every four to six hours if he needed them and he could use cold compress for the bruising on his face if that was bothering him.

The relief I felt at seeing him without more serious injuries was so overwhelming I felt like I could barely keep myself standing. The dark bruising on his face which made me clench my fists thinking about how it got there. I had half a mind to go back to his parents' house and deck his father again. The only reason I wouldn't was because Landon needed me here with him now, and that was more important to me.

While Landon changed for bed, I reluctantly took my eyes off him to make sure he would be comfortable. I fluffed his pillows and straightened out his comforter, moving some clothes he had left on the bed over to his desk. The blanket my parents gave him for Christmas was underneath the comforter.

Landon placed a hand on my shoulder as I fussed with his blanket.

"Wren," he said quietly, causing me to turn my head to face him.

"Ready for bed?" I asked, a weak smile on my face.

"In a minute," Landon replied. "I want to talk."

I shook my head at him and started moving him toward the bed.

"You need rest. We can talk about everything when you're feeling better," I assured him.

"Wren, I—"

"Landon," I stopped him, placing my hands on his shoulders and looking him right in the eye. "You need rest. All of your energy needs to be used for your recovery. I'm sorry and I promise you we can talk about everything in a few days after you're well rested."

I kissed his forehead and gestured for him to get in bed. He obliged, begrudgingly. Landon got into bed and lied down right next to the wall, looking at me expectantly.

"Do you need anything?" I asked him. "Do you want ice for your face?"

He ignored my questions. "Aren't you going to get in bed?"

My chest ached a little at his question. He looked so tired and sad and he moved all the way over so I would fit. I wanted to give him all the affection in the world, but I couldn't get in bed with him.

"I don't want to injure you any more," I told him softly.

"You don't move around when you sleep, it'll be fine," he argued.

I leaned forward on the bed, moving Landon's hair off his forehead. My hand traveled from his hair to his cheek to caress it.

"Please just get some rest," I urged him. "Please." I had never said please so much in my life, but I was desperate.

"Fine," he grumbled, moving toward the middle of the bed and shooting me a glare.

I backed away from him and turned the light off before going to sit at his desk chair, facing the bed. Landon's eyes were closed, but I could tell that he was awake with his mind wandering, which was the exact opposite of what it should have been doing. There wasn't much we could do about that though.

It wasn't like I could force him to stop thinking. I couldn't even do that for myself. I was awake more than half the night, worried something would happen if I wasn't keeping an eye on him. By the time he woke up in the morning, I was already awake and watching him, having barely slept at all.