Yes Please || c.g. {complete}

Sponge Bath

37

.Carl.

Layla's dad was strangely nice to me when we ran out to get some non-hospital food. He thanked me for taking care of Layla while she was hurt. If I didn't know better, I would've thought he liked me.

Layla was discharged that afternoon, with strict orders of bedrest and continued antibiotics to prevent infection in her leg.

Her parents drove us back to her apartment in their super-high-end Tesla, which stuck out like a gold-plated sore thumb in our neighborhood. They came up with us and helped her get situated. Debbie was there with Liam and our dogs, who were beyond thrilled to see us. I had to restrain them since they didn't understand not to touch Layla's leg.

I stuck the dogs in the bedroom for a few minutes and then hugged and thanked Debbie for taking care of them. I introduced her and Liam to my parents as we all doted on Layla until she couldn't stand it.

"Okay, I'm good!" she laughed. "Jesus. I love all of you, seriously, but I'll be fine."

Her parents smiled at each other and hugged and kissed her goodbye. Her mom hugged me and thanked me, and her dad shook my hand before they left.

I let the dogs out and Debs and I watched to make sure they wouldn't kiss or jump on Layla's leg. When it was clear they were calm enough, I relaxed a little.

"Carl, go take a shower or a nap or something," Debbie said. "I'll hang with Layla."

I gladly obliged, feeling gross after being in the same clothes for more than 24 hours.

When I emerged from the bathroom, Layla was asleep.

"She had one of her pain pills and she's out," Debbie informed me as she stood up from the couch.

I sighed. "Thanks so much, Debs. I owe you."

She smiled and hugged me. "Anytime. I like this one, Carl."

I smiled as she released me. I turned to Liam and bent down to give him a hug and thank him for helping to watch the dogs. He grinned and nodded; he was a kid of few words.

Debbie took Liam home, and I took her spot on the couch, soon falling asleep sitting up.

.....

.Layla.

When I awoke from my nap around sunset, I realized that being on bedrest would cause me to miss the first couple weeks of the semester. I had to email my professors and beg them to let me make my assignments up.

Carl was asleep at my feet, sitting straight up. Poor guy; I didn't want to wake him up. Luckily my laptop was on the coffee table, within reach. I pleaded my case to my professors, hoping for a little compassion. You never knew with college professors; some of them could be real assholes.

I closed my laptop and reached to put it back on the table. Lenny came up and began kissing my face, making me giggle as I reached out to scratch under his ears. He grumbled happily, nuzzling into me.

"Aw, did you miss Mama?" I cooed.

Sunny came up and joined us. She was really getting big. She was now at eye level with me when I was lying on the couch, and she began to give me kisses too.

"Oh my goodness," I smiled. "I missed you too, I missed you too." I pet each of them as their tails thumped against the coffee table.

"Aww," I heard Carl say.

I tilted my head to look at him. "Oh I'm sorry, babe, I didn't mean to wake you."

He shook his head. "I'm good. How about you? Do you need anything?"