“I’m sorry. I over stepped. Forget I…”
Cassidy looked up. “If Grady is on board with it…I will do it.”
Weston grabbed Cassidy and hugged her. “Oh, thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
“Grady hasn’t agreed, yet.”
“He will. Trust me, he will.”
Cassidy texted Jess while she waited for Weston to come back with Grady.
Cassidy: “You won’t believe this.”
Jess: “What? Did he kiss you?”
Cassidy rolled her eyes.
Cassidy: “NO!”
Jess: “Then what?”
Cassidy: “Weston asked me to move in and stay with Grady until his family returns next month.”
Jess: “OMG!”
Cassidy: “Yes. I’m a wreck.”
Jess: “Why?”
Cassidy: “When the time comes how will I handle leaving him?”
Jess: “Maybe you won’t.”
Cassidy: “What is that supposed to mean?”
Jess: “You never know…Grady could fall in love with you.”
Cassidy: “He won’t be blind forever.”
Jess: “Oh, Cass, stop it. You’re a beautiful woman.”
Cassidy: “Jess, now would be the ninety percent of the time that you are wrong.”
Jess: “Blah, blah, blah!”
Cassidy: “I have to go. I hear them coming down the hall.”
Jess: “Call me later.”
“You two talk. I’m going to pack.”
Grady nodded to Weston. “West told me that he badgered you into staying with me for a while.”
Cassidy looked up at Grady. He towered over her. Today he was wearing green sweats and as usual a tight fitted T-shirt. “I wouldn’t say badgered.”
Grady extended his hand. “Whatever it was, thank you.”
Cassidy closed the distance and shook Grady’s hand. “Don’t thank me yet, you haven’t tasted my cooking.”
“I bet you cook better than I do.”
“Don’t be too sure. I once burned a pot so badly that I had to throw it away.”
“Got me, I’ve never had to do that.”
“Don’t worry I won’t let you starve.”
“I’m not worried, Doc.”
Cassidy smiled when Grady called her Doc. He had called her Dr. Scott up until just now. She liked that he had a special name for her. “Good, because there isn’t any reason that you should be. I want you to feel comfortable with me.”
“I am.”
“On that note, why don’t you have a seat and we can get started on today’s session.”
Grady stepped back, felt for the seat, and sat. “I didn’t sleep last night.”
“Why not?”
“It was storming, and the thunder was so loud.”
“Thunder can be loud and unnerving. Especially that first clap when you’re not expecting it.”
“It reminded me of the accident.”
“How so?”
“I kept hearing the crash in my head.”
“Describe it to me.”
“It was loud. I’ve never heard anything like it before.”
“Were there any other noises?”
“Screams and moans.” Grady dropped his face into his hands.
“It’s ok.”
“I don’t want to hear it anymore. I want it to stop.”
“It may never stop completely but I can promise you that it will get better.”
“How?”
“Why don’t we start by you telling me what happened after the crash?”
Grady sat silent for a moment before he spoke. “It was dark.”
“Had you already lost your sight?”
“No. I could see my feet and I only had on one shoe.”
“What else could you see, Grady?”
Grady started to shake his head. “No! No! I can’t.”
Cassidy could see him begin to rock in his seat. She got up and embraced him. “You’re ok. I’m here. Calm down.”
“I don’t want to feel this way anymore.”
“I know you don’t but the more you talk about the crash the sooner you can put it behind you and move on.”
“Right now, I don’t feel like that will ever happen.”
“I know, but it will.”
Weston opened the door and Rylan was standing there. “What are you doing here?”
“Step aside and let me in.”
“Grady doesn’t want to see you.”
“Funny since he can’t see anyone.”
Weston attempted to slam the door, but Rylan stuck her foot inside the door. “Nice try.”
“Look, Rylan, what do you want?”
“Grady bought us concert tickets, I’m sure he doesn’t plan to attend; so, there is no sense for both of us to miss it because he is a loser.”
Weston stepped into Rylan’s path. “You want the tickets, then you stay here, and I will go get them. I don’t need you upsetting Grady.”
“Fine, but hurry. I have a friend waiting in the car.”
Weston shook his head as he ran up the stairs to find Grady and retrieve the tickets.
“Who was at the door?”
“Rylan.”
Grady sat up. “Rylan is here to see me?”
“No. She came here looking for some concert tickets you two bought.”
“Oh. I should have known.”
“Do you want me to tell her that you lost the tickets?”
“No. They’re in my desk, top drawer in a blue envelope.”
“Weston, what is taking you so long?” Rylan came flying into the room.
“Didn’t I tell you to wait by the door.”
“Weston was just going to get the tickets.”
Weston ran down the hall to grab the tickets. Rylan looked over Grady. “I see you still haven’t shaved.”
“Enjoy the concert.” Grady got up and walked to the bathroom, slamming the door behind him.
Weston knocked on the bathroom door. “Grady, she’s gone.”
Grady opened the door. “How could I have loved such a horrible person?”
“I thought that many times.” Weston let out a laugh.
“Thanks, West.”
“She wasn’t so horrible when you were a superstar.”
“Which leads me to the next question of how I could have been so stupid as to not see through her. She only wanted to use me.”
“Be grateful you found out before she talked you into marrying her or worse, she got pregnant.”
“Yeah, I guess I dodged a bullet.”
“Why don’t we go out for a beer before I hit the road?”
“I don’t want to go out like this, but a beer sounds good.”
“I think I’ll order us some wings and a pizza.”
“Only if I’m buying.”
“If you’re buying then I’m ordering cheese fries too.” Weston laughed.
Grady exhaled. “I’m going to miss you being here, West.”
“I’m going to miss you too.”
9
One week later…
“HELP! HELP! SOMEBODY HELP ME!”
Cassidy sprung from her bed when she heard Grady yelling. “GRADY, I’M COMING!”
Cassidy pushed open Grady’s door and ran to his bedside. Grady was thrashing and yelling in his sleep. Cassidy had to throw herself across his body to stop him from thrashing. “Grady, it’s me, Doc, I’m here to help you! Wake up, Grady!” After repeating herself a few more times Grady finally opened his eyes.
After a few moments his breathing slowed, and he reached his hand up toward Cassidy’s face. Cassidy turned so his hand ended up in her hair. “Doc?”
Cassidy grabbed onto his hand. “Yes, it’s me.”
“Will you stay with me?”
“I am staying with you.” Cassidy smirked.
“No, stay here in the bed with me?”
“Oh, umm.”
“Please! I don’t wa
nt to be alone.”
Against her better judgement, Cassidy climbed into the bed and wrapped her arms around Grady. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Maybe later.”
Grady drifted back off to sleep. Cassidy could feel the weight of his big strong body relax against hers. She closed her eyes and imagined what it would be like to go to sleep with Grady in her arms every night…not that it would ever happen.
Grady woke up in Cassidy’s arms. He didn’t remember much from the night before.
“Good afternoon.”
Grady rubbed his face. “Afternoon?”
“Twelve-thirty.”
“You stayed with me this whole time?”
“I told you I would.”
“I owe you combat pay.”
“It’s not like I worked. I slept with you. Uhhh, I mean…I have to use the bathroom, excuse me.” Cassidy flew up from the bed.
Grady hadn’t felt so safe and rested since the accident.
Cassidy grabbed her phone before she ran into the bathroom.
“Hey, Cass.”
“Jess, I slept in Grady’s bed and…”
“Oh my God! You had sex with Grady O’Malley!”
“No! Jess, I only slept in his bed but Jess, he was in my arms and now…Jess, I’m falling for him…hard.”
“Oh, Cass. I wish I could do or say something to help.”
“It’s ok. I knew what I was getting myself into when I agreed to do this.”
“Cass, did you ever think that maybe…”
“No, don’t even go there.”
“Why not?”
“You know why.”
“Yup, because you’re afraid.”
“I have to go.” Cassidy ended the call before Jess had time to respond.
Grady was finding his way to the kitchen when Cassidy met him in the hallway. “Doc?”
“Your hearing certainly hasn’t suffered.”
“Sometimes I think I can hear music from the cars that drive by.”
“Funny how your senses heighten when one is out of commission.”
“I would give that up to see again.”
“Coffee?”
“Please.”
Cassidy popped in a pod, turned around and Grady was right behind her. “I want you to know how much it means to me that you took care of me last night.”
“Grady…”
“I don’t think I’ve felt that safe since I was a child at home in my own bed.” Grady reached his arms out and pulled Cassidy into a hug.
Cassidy inhaled. Grady smelled so good. She didn’t want to, but she knew that she needed to pull away. “Eggs or a sandwich?”
Grady stepped back. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No.”
“You sound different.”
“I’m not used to patient contact. You caught me off guard is all.”
“Is that not allowed?”
“Staying here, sleeping in your bed, hugging…well none of it is professional.”
“I don’t want to get you into any trouble, Doc.”
“You won’t.”
“Ok, then I’ll try some eggs.”
“Last time I made them they weren’t half bad. Maybe this time they will be decent.”
“Practice makes perfect.”
Grady was in the living room in sweats, his feet up, his hair a mess and listening to music. After a while he drifted off to sleep.
Charlene the nurse the hospital sent over was sitting across from him texting her friends until Grady started to yell out in his sleep. Instead of waking him up she recorded Grady crying out for help and she uploaded it to her social media.
Grady woke, jumped up, fell over the coffee table, and smacked his face onto the floor.
Charlene laughed at first but then when she saw blood she ran to his side. “Are you ok?”
Grady moved away from her. “Call Dr. Scott.”
Charlene dialed as quickly as she could.
“Dr. Scott.”
“It’s Charlene. Grady asked me to call you.”
“Is everything alright?”
“He fell and he’s bleeding.”
“Fell? Fell where? What’s bleeding?”
“His nose or his mouth I don’t know. He told me to call you.”
“Put him on the phone.”
Charlene put the phone into Grady’s hand. “She wants to talk to you.”
Grady lifted the phone to his ear.
“Grady! Grady, are you there?”
“Can you come home. I need you.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
Charlene didn’t realize that Cassidy had entered the house until she heard her yell.
“WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING!”
“Dr. Scott.”
“TAKING PICTURES OF A PATIENT! YOU’RE FIRED!”
“It was his fault. I didn’t push him.”
Cassidy could see how upset Grady looked. She lowered her voice. “You need to get out of my sight right now.”
“But he…”
“I will be notifying the review board.”
Charlene stomped off.
Cassidy knelt next to Grady who was still on the floor but sitting up. “I’m here Grady.”
“Don’t leave me again.” Grady grabbed her hand.
“Can you stand?”
“I think so.”
“Ok, then let’s get you up and into the bathroom so I can clean you up and see what’s going on here.”
Grady stood up and Cassidy led him to the bathroom.
Grady sat on the edge of the tub while he waited for Cassidy to come back with some sterile gauze to wipe the blood from his face.
“Ok, this might feel cold.” Cassidy wiped Grady’s face. “I think it may just be a busted lip. I don’t think you need any stitches though.”
“I had another one of those nightmares.”
“But how did you end up on the floor?”
“I jumped up and fell.”
“I’m going to cancel all my patients. If they want to video chat they can, but I’m not leaving you again.”
Grady silently sat there. Cassidy finished cleaning him up, washed her hands and then reached for his hand.
“I heard what you said before.”
“Before when?”
“That Charlene was taking pictures of me.”
“She was or at least it looked that way.”
Grady grabbed his knees and started to rock. “I’m a freak.”
“Grady, you need to relax. Stress isn’t going to help your condition.”
“How can I relax when my whole world has gone to shit!”
“Before the accident what would you do to relax?”
“Why, what difference does it matter now?”
“Just answer the question?”
“I’d have sex but unless you’re willing that isn’t an option.” Grady raked his hands through his hair.
Cassidy was at a loss for words for a moment. “You’re my patient, Grady.”
“I’m sorry, that was out of line.”
“Do you have a second option?”
“I’d swim to relax when Ry…”
“Ok, then let’s go swimming.”
“How am I going to swim like this?”
“Go get changed.”
“But…”
“Just go!”
Cassidy put on a T-shirt and a pair of shorts and waited outside Grady’s room. He finally opened the door. Cassidy’s mouth dropped open. Grady had on a tight navy swimsuit. She didn’t need a pool to feel wet after looking him over.
“I still don’t know how I can swim if I can’t see?”
“I will blow a whistle when you are two arm lengths away from the wall.”
“Maybe.”
“No, don’t maybe. You can, and you will.”
Cassidy led them to the first floor of the house where Grady had an indoor pool. Grady smiled a half smile. “Is that a smile?�
��
“I’ve missed the smell of the pool.”
“I will go down the ladder first and then I will guide you down.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever used the ladder. I always dive in.”
Cassidy got into the pool and then helped Grady down. As his ass passed by Cassidy’s face, she had all she could do to not bite it. “Ok, so I am pointing you toward the deep end of the pool. I will blow the whistle when you are two arm lengths away so that you will know the wall is coming up.”
“Will you swim alongside me?”
“I can’t swim.”
“You can’t swim?”
“No. I never learned how.”
“When I get better, I’m going to teach you, Doc.”
“Come on, go.” Cassidy gave Grady a shove.
Grady swam down, Cassidy blew the whistle and then Grady swam back. He was so excited that he was able to swim that he reached for Cassidy and when he found her, he picked her up and spun her around. “Thank you, so much.”
Cassidy melted as Grady’s eight-pack pressed against her body. “You're welcome.”
Grady could feel Cassidy’s breath on his lips when she spoke. He leaned in and kissed her.
Cassidy whispered against his lips. “Grady.”
Grady pulled away. “I’m sorry. I got caught up in the moment.”
“Why don’t you swim a few more laps.”
Grady nodded and released Cassidy.
Cassidy could feel her heart pounding in her throat as she slid down Grady’s body and back into the water.
10
Grady made his way out to the terrace. It was nice to get some fresh air for a change. Just as he sat his phone rang.
“Hello.”
“Greedy Grady!”
“Wild West!”
“How’s it going, Buddy?”
“Doc took me swimming today.”
“That’s great news.”
“Yeah, she is.”
Weston looked down at the phone and smiled. “She is?”
“Swimming is…was.”
Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology Page 275
