Chapter 8: Oh Boohoo! You’ll Live!

I woke up to banging on the door, and apparently my guest didn’t hear it as he slept away. I looked down to find myself cuddled into Mordecai’s side with his arms around me. My own arms were around his torso, while it seemed my head was resting on his chest.

When I checked the time, it was 14:32.

The next day.

I shook him, only for him to tighten his arms around me. “Kai.”

“BEVERLY!” I heard Alex shout from outside.

Well shit!

I shook him again. “Mordecai!”

“Tell him to go dive off a cliff,” he mumbled.

“Mordecai get up,” I giggled.

“I’m serious though. He’s making too much noise. It’s too early for this,” he sighed.

I bit my lip from laughing out loud. “It’s two in the afternoon.”

Slowly, Mordecai opened his eyes. “What? So we’ve only been asleep for an hour? That makes no sense.”

“That’s because we’ve been asleep for almost twenty four hours,” I informed.

“Well, I can’t remember the last time I slept that long without it being coma or medication induced,” he smiled.

He looked so beautifully innocent at that moment.

“Yeah well I have an angry boyfriend on the other side of that door, and we have to find a way to explain your presence here. I’ve already taken too long to get to the door, so that makes it seem like something happened between us,” I explained.

“Nothing happened,” he pointed out.

“Yeah, but if you walked into a scene like this, wouldn’t you have your suspicions?” I asked.

He shrugged. “Only if I didn’t trust my partner.”

“Well, would you let go so that I can get the door?” I asked.

“Nah! I’m pretty comfortable,” he smirked.

“No you’re not, now let me go,” I giggled.

“Alright fine! Have you thought of your excuse yet?” he asked as I stood up.

“Nope!” I said before heading to the door.

I caught Alex mid knock and he looked furious. I stepped aside, and when he saw Mordecai, the anger on his face intensified. I would’ve been a little terrified if it was just the two of us, though I’m not sure why I felt safer with Mordecai there.

He was basically an invalid.

“What the hell is going on here?” Alex asked.

“Hello Dr Alex Oswald. How are you this afternoon? I’m great thanks!” Mordecai said cheerfully.

I bit my lip from laughing again. Normally such things annoy me, but there was something about the way Mordecai was doing it that made it seem all that much funnier. Or perhaps it was because a small part of me was actually enjoying seeing Alex annoyed.

“Beverly,” Alex said in warning.

“Uhm, we just woke up?” I offered.

Alex’s eyes darkened. “You and who?”

“Yhoo-hoo! I’m the only other person in the room dimwit,” Mordecai said, feigning innocence.

Alex looked ready to pop a vein. “You slept with him?”

“Not in the way that you’re thinking. We fell asleep watching movies,” I replied.

That wasn’t making things any better.

“Man, calm down! Nothing happened. She was just doing her job,” Mordecai just had to go and say.

“What job?” Alex asked.

“She’s my personal nurse now,” Mordecai smirked, despite seeing me tell him not to say anything.

I could’ve face palmed myself at that moment.

Alex turned to me. “WHAT?”

“Dude, don’t raise your voice at her,” Mordecai said, sounding surprisingly angry.

“Don’t tell me how to talk to my girlfriend!” Alex snapped.

“Alright! Everyone take a breather! This really isn’t what it looks like. Yes, I’m now his personal nurse. I took the job yesterday after Nellie begged me to. It turns out Mordecai is her older half brother, and since he needs assistance at home, I’ve been recruited. He just needed to get out of the house yesterday, so we got Burger King and we came here to watch a marathon of his movies. We must’ve fallen asleep and that’s all there is to it,” I explained.

“Can I see you outside?” Alex requested.

“Ok,” I sighed. I followed him out and the moment I closed the door, he looked ready to explode.

“You’re his nurse? You’re watching movies with him? I could’ve sworn you couldn’t stand him just two days ago!” he said incredulously.

“True, but I can’t let him die knowing that I could’ve done something to help him,” I argued.

“Let him get another nurse!” he snapped.

I glared at him. “I’m the best at what I do, and it’s my choice whether or not I want to be his nurse or not. Don’t make the mistake of thinking otherwise.”

“So what? You’re going to live with him then?” he asked.

“I didn’t say anything of a sort,” I shook my head.

“Then move in with me. Prove to me that there’s nothing going on,” he challenged.

“I don’t have to do any bullshit like that. It’s up to you whether or not you trust me. I’m not moving in with you just so that you can place a bloody leash on me,” I said before walking towards the door. He pulled my arm back.

He glared at me. “I came to take you out for lunch.”

“I’m a little busy!” I said before I freed my arm and walked into my apartment. I banged the door behind me.

“Everything ok?” Mordecai asked after a while.

I glared at him. “I’m mad at you, so don’t even start with me.”

“Me? What did I do?” he asked with a baby voice, the pout accompanying it.

I fought a smile. “Don’t pout at me damnit!”

“Ah, my weapon still works,” he smirked.

“Screw you Mordecai!” I huffed, heading to my kitchenette.

“I’m sorry Bev, but he had it coming. I’m surprised you find me to be such an asshole, and yet you’re dating the Mayor of Assholesville,” he chuckled.

I rolled my eyes. “How mature of you.”

“But on a serious note! The guy is a douche,” he pointed out.

“He asked me to move in with him,” I told him.

“Let me guess. He doesn’t want you moving in with me, so he wants you with him so that he can keep an eye out for you. I bet you’d have a curfew and all,” he scoffed.

“I doubt it would be that bad,” I giggled.

“You’re right! It would probably be worse,” he smirked.

I stuck my tongue out at him. “You suck at life!”

“And you’re quick to call me immature?” he feigned shock with a hand over his chest.

I shrugged. “Whatever!”

“But seriously! I’d rather have you live in this dingy place than with him,” he said.

“Is that your twisted way of saying you care?” I feigned surprise.

“I guess it is,” he chuckled.

“Well, you’ll be happy to know that I’m staying in this dingy apartment. I refuse to be put on a leash because someone has trust issues,” I smiled.

“Speaking of trust issues; we’re not having any food here. I don’t trust what might come out of your cupboards, let alone your fridge,” he taunted.

I stuck my tongue out at him. “Oh screw you!”

But only because he was probably right.

“Can I ask you for a favour?” he said.

“Depends on whether I can fulfil it,” I replied.

“I know you said that you’re not moving in, but can you at least stay this week? I’m seriously going through hell and I’m pretty sure having you there will make things better,” he requested.

I raised an eyebrow. “Is that me as a nurse or just me in general?”

“Both,” he smiled.

I felt a strange flutter in my stomach.

I shrugged. “Alex is going to be so pissed off, but what the hell.”

“Seriously?” he asked disbelievingly.

“Yes,” I giggled.

“I thought I was going to have to do some major begging,” he chuckled.

“Yeah, well I don’t find you repulsive anymore,” I smirked.

“Ouch! Repulsive? That’s deep Bev,” he sighed.

“It’s also true!” I shrugged.

“Whatever! Go get your stuff so that we can get out of here. You’re not allowed to shower since it’s only fair that we stink together,” he chuckled.

“You’re so weird,” I laughed as I headed to my room.

I packed a bag with enough things for two weeks. It’s not that I was planning on staying there that long. I’m just one of those people who always ends up packing extra clothes anyway. When I was satisfied with everything, I grabbed the two bags and headed out.

Mordecai scowled at the sight of my bags. “I did say one week right?”

I shrugged. “I’m one of those people who pack excessively.”

“I don’t want to even know what you’re going to pack when we go on our honeymoon,” he mumbled as he turned back to the TV. I don’t think he meant for me to hear.

And I still blushed like hell.

“Are you ready to go?” I asked him.

“Yeah,” he replied as he managed to get up by himself.

I switched off the TV and grabbed my bags, while Mordecai grabbed his crutches and got out of the apartment. I grabbed some last minute things before leaving as well. I locked my apartment and we left via the elevator again.

Once I’d helped him into the car, we headed out. Again, he wanted to eat lunch out, so we went by the McDonald’s drive-thru and picked up some food before heading to the house. I’d forgotten about having to face Nellie, until her car came into view as I drove into the yard.

“Damnit!” I mumbled.

“You don’t have to talk to her if you don’t want to,” Mordecai commented.

“You don’t know your sister then,” I sighed.

“I’ll just tell her to leave you alone for a while,” he offered.

“And if that doesn’t work, I’ll tell her myself,” I smiled. He returned the smile as I parked the car.

I helped him out of the car and we stood outside for a while, letting him catch his breath. We both knew what was coming, and we were both visibly dreading it. He even commented that he was going to call an elevator company to come and install one in the house.

It would help us both.

“WHERE THE HELL HAVE YO- Bev?” Nellie froze mid-speech when I came into view as well.

“She’s not here for you Nellie, and I’d appreciate it if you not upset her,” Mordecai told her. Her face dropped.

“I wasn’t going to upset her,” she said lowly.

“Just don’t talk to her for a while. Let her be the one to come to you,” he suggested.

“Is that what you want?” she asked me. I nodded.

“Alright fine!” she said before storming off.

What the hell is she angry for?

“Told you,” Mordecai smirked.

I rolled my eyes. “Oh whatever.”

“And here comes the fun part,” he sighed as we stood at the bottom of the stairs.

“Maybe if you use the railing it might help. You can take your own time,” I suggested.

“I could try that. Please take the crutches to my floor then,” he replied.

“Got it!” I nodded.

I went to his floor and set the crutches upright against the railings so that he could easily get them there. When I went back down, he was already done with the first set of stairs, but he was breathless.

“You ok?” I asked.

“I’ll be fine. Get your stuff and you can take any of the rooms on my floor,” he said.

I went downstairs and got our food first. I took it up to his room, passing by him on my way up and back down. I went to the car to get my bags before realizing that he has seven cars. Who needs that many cars?

“You’re staying?” a voice said once I entered the house again. It was Judith.

“Only for a week,” I replied.

She glared. “He won’t be healed in a week’s time.”

Uhm what?

“I know that much. We have an arrangement. I didn’t say I was only nursing him for a week. I said I was staying here for a week,” I corrected.

“Oh! Well get my client back to top shape as soon as possible,” she snapped.

What in the actual hell?

“What exactly is your problem with me?” I bothered to ask.

“You’re not a professional, and yet you’ve been entrusted with my most prized asset. Just make sure that you do your job well because if you don’t, I will sue you,” she said before walking out.

“What a bitch!” I mumbled before taking my stuff upstairs.

I was surprised to find that Mordecai was already in his room, though no music was playing from there this time. I chose the room closest to him, and took the time to actually admire it. It was a bright room in comparison to his room, and it was almost as big as my apartment.

I found that the room is en-suite, with a closet as big as my bathroom and bedroom combined. The bathroom is as big as my lounge and kitchenette combined, so in essential, the whole room is as big as my apartment, or maybe even bigger.

That sucks!

“Took you long enough,” Mordecai said when I walked into his room. He was sitting on his bed with his legs spread onto the bed.

“I was setting my stuff down. Wait a minute! Are those my fries?” I raised an eyebrow when I realized that there was already an empty box of fries next to him.

He shrugged. “You can’t leave me with food and expect me not to eat it.”

“Eat your burger!” I said incredulously as I grabbed my fries from him. He just laughed.

“Did you happen to see Judith downstairs?” he asked.

“Uhm, no!” I lied.

“Oh! She said she was coming to talk to me about something,” he said, looking very confused.

“She’ll probably come in later. Is she always here?” I asked curiously.

“She’s here a lot, but not always. She comes through once every other day to make sure I’m behaving,” he replied.

I scowled. “Do you need the constant babysitting?”

“Probably, though I don’t know anymore,” he sighed.

“What do you mean?” I asked as I finished my fries. He was already halfway with his burger.

“I mean that I want to change. I just don’t think it’s going to be easy,” he replied.

“Why?” I asked.

“Because of the happiness I find in my behaviour and addictions,” he mumbled.

“No, I meant why do you want to change?” I asked.

“I don’t want to die Bev, and my addictions will very quickly lead me there. I don’t want Nellie, my mom or my brother to lose me,” he sighed.

“Your brother?” I asked.

“Zebedee. He’s the eldest of us,” he replied. I nodded in understanding.

“So, plans for today?” I asked, changing the subject.

He pouted. “I don’t have plans for the next three months.”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh boohoo! You’ll live.”

“I’ll live if you’re around,” he smirked.

“I might as well abandon ship,” I taunted.

He glared at me. “Don’t even joke like that Beverly.”

“I’m not joking,” I giggled.

“You are very mean you know? You just don’t come across that way because you look adorable and shit, but under all of that is a mean little woman!” he huffed, making me laugh harder.

It was better than blushing.

“Don’t worry! I’m not going anywhere for as long as you don’t chase me away,” I smiled.

“What about the hospital?” he asked.

“My dad said he’d handle it,” I replied absentmindedly.

“Your dad?” he scowled.

“Dr Dickson,” I replied.

“He’s your dad? I met the guy and you look nothing like him,” he commented.

“That’s because he’s sort of my adoptive dad,” I explained.

He raised an eyebrow. “Sort of?”

“I mean that he and his family took me in, but not legally,” I replied.

“Oh! Well I guess that makes sense,” he replied.

“Yeah! So I’ll be fine for the next three months. I’ll still have a job when I get back,” I smiled.

“Well good! Wouldn’t want my wife to be unemployed,” he smirked.

I frowned. “That’s the second time you make a reference to me being your wife.”

He shrugged. “Only because it’s going to happen.”

“Uh, don’t I have a say in this?” I laughed a little.

“Oh, you’ll be all for it when it does happen,” he smirked.

I rolled my eyes. “Aren’t you a cocky little thing?”

“Mark my words Bev,” he winked.

We stayed in his room for the next two hours, just talking about light subjects. I learned that Mordecai’s actually a very intellectual person. The image he hides behind was a suggestion from Judith, which didn’t surprise me at all.

I don’t trust the woman for some reason.

“I need a shower now,” I sighed as I lay back on the bed, my head landing on his lap.

He wiggled his eyebrows. “Then join me.”

“I’m not doing anything of the sort,” I refused.

He pouted. “But I need help anyway.”

“Get Geronimo to help you,” I smirked.

“Geronimo is not my nurse, and I’m not taking a shower with another man,” he said, deadpan.

I knew he had a point about needing my help, but I was just so afraid of what would happen. I already admitted that I don’t trust my feelings around Mordecai. They’re too complicated for my liking. Showering with him will only mess with me further.

“Please?” he pleaded.

“Can’t I get someone else to help you?” I groaned.

“Why are you so afraid Beverly?” he asked, his one hand caressing my cheek, while the other massaged my scalp. I found myself closing my eyes.

“I don’t know,” I sighed.

“I’ll keep my jocks on,” he smiled as I opened my eyes.

“Fine,” I gave in.

I got undressed with him watching me, and while I was a little self conscious, the look in his eyes told me that I had no reason to be. There was so much intensity there that I was actually getting turned on, which surprised me.

He hadn’t even touched me and I was feeling like this.

Without any words shared, I helped him get up. I was in my underwear as I helped him out of his jacket and t-shirt. When I was met by his bare chest, I couldn’t help but zone in on the scars he had. There were tiny scars, but the two biggest scars were on his chest, on the left. I found myself tracing them without realizing that he was holding his breath in.

“What happened?” I whispered.

“It’s a story for another day,” he whispered, taking hold of my hand. I didn’t expect the electrical feeling that pulsed through me, and from his hitch in breath, I knew that neither did he.

“My pants,” he said lowly. He didn’t mean it sexually, but the moment was already so charged.

I helped him with his pants and had to bite my lip at the sight of his Calvin Klein briefs. I have a weakness for them, and apparently he has a weakness for me. I didn’t comment on his erection to save us both from the situation. We silently headed to his bathroom and I gasped when we entered.

He wasn’t kidding about the size of the bathroom.

“I told you,” he chuckled.

“I didn’t think you were serious honestly,” I admitted.

“I figured,” he smirked.

His bathroom is beautiful, despite its insane size. It even has a water feature in it, with the Zen thing going on as well, and I was surprised to find that the one side of the bathroom has a view of the sea. It’s probably the most calming place for Mordecai.

“Ok, I get why you would want to stay in here,” I admitted.

“I won’t be mad if you use this bathroom from now on,” he teased.

“I might just take you up on that offer,” I smirked. His eyes darkened a little and I knew exactly what that meant.

“Sit down,” I instructed before he could say anything.

“Why?” he scowled.

“Just sit,” I said before walking out of the bathroom.

I headed to my room and grabbed the cast cover that I’d packed. I still had a couple since Jackson had broken his leg about a year ago. I made it back to the bathroom and put the cover on his cast, much to his shock.

“You got me one of these?” he asked.

I shrugged. “I had extras from someone else’s injury.”

“Well thanks,” he smiled.

I returned the smile. “You’re welcome.”

The atmosphere in the room charged once more when we both realized what had to happen next. I headed to the shower and got the water started. I set the temperature before testing it. The shower is big enough to fit four people honestly. When the water was ready, I turned to Mordecai.

The heated look in his eyes was back, and biting my lip was inevitable. He walked closer, and getting away from him, I ended up right under the water. He was under the water soon enough as well. Despite the water, I could still see the heated look.

“You are so beautiful Beverly,” he said lowly, caressing my cheek.

“Kai...” I trailed off breathlessly.

“I’m not going to do anything. I respect you too much for that, and I know you don’t want to betray Alex’s trust. I hate the guy, but I won’t do that to you,” he replied.

And that’s when I realized that my feelings for Mordecai weren’t complicated at all.

They were just scary.