I stretched back on the couch and placed the bag of ice onto my knee. The relief was almost immediate as the ice chilled the pain. I sat back and watched Madison play with some of her toys on the living room floor. She was making a growling noise as she batted a ball around. She was too cute for words sometimes. I closed my eyes and tried to relax. My mind drifted for a bit, and then I began to think of places where I could hide Zack’s body. I was definitely going to kill him when he got home.
Two months ago moving in with Zack sounded like a dream come true. I couldn’t wait to get the fuck out of the hospital. When I first moved in everything was wonderful. Sure I had some problems moving around and I was still pretty heavily bandaged up, but I was with Zack and that made everything better.
It only took a few weeks before the rose colored glasses were ripped from my eyes. Zack was a slob. That explains why I was sprawled out on the couch. I tripped over a wet towel he had left in the hallway. Yes that’s right. He dropped it in the fucking hallway. I could understand if he left it on the bathroom floor, or even the bedroom floor. Today is the fifth time I’ve fallen over some misplaced object.
Zack had a maid service that used to come in twice a week. He might have been a neat freak at some point in his life, but having someone clean up after him definitely made him lazy. I say he had a maid service because I cancelled it. He wasn’t going to be happy when he found out, but Zack would just have to deal with it. I just was not comfortable with someone else going through my things or picking up after me.
I understood Zack’s point that he could afford it, but just because you can afford it doesn’t mean you have to do it. I shifted the bag of ice on my knee and sighed. There were other problems besides Zack being a slob. Zack hadn’t made a move on me since Ariel tried to kill me. I tried to get him riled up and horny a few times, but he always brushed me off. I figured I would just give him some time, and hopefully he would come around.
I had a bad feeling that moving in with Zack may have been a mistake. Maybe we weren’t ready for this big of a step yet. A tiny voice in the back of my head thought that maybe we could never be ready for this. I quickly tried to push that thought aside, but as the days went on I was having trouble not believing it. Things seemed to be getting worse instead of getting better.
My thoughts were interrupted as Madison suddenly sat up and looked down the hallway. She looked at me and barked once before running down the hall. Zack was home. This had become her normal routine. She would run ahead to greet him at the door and then stay close to his heels until she was given a treat. Zack entered the living room and grinned at me as he threw his suit jacket and tie over the back of a chair. I held back the sigh that threatened to hiss from my lips.
“How’s my baby today?” Zack asked me as he leaned down to kiss my forehead. He looked at the ice on my leg. “What happened to you?”
“I tripped over a towel that some mysterious person left in the middle of the hallway.” I said with a grimace as I shifted the bag of ice again.
“You’re getting really clumsy, Cam, are you sure you don’t need glasses?” Zack said with a grin.
I knew he was teasing. Sure I did. That certainly didn’t stop the anger that began to bubble up inside of me though. The fact that he didn’t even try to apologize for it pissed me off. If I were normally a clumsy person I wouldn’t be upset, but I’m not. And what was with the kiss on the forehead? I grinned back at Zack and crossed my arms.
“I don’t think I need glasses, honey, but maybe I should get you a map. That way you could find the laundry basket. Which, by the way, is not located in the middle of the hallway.”
Zack was still smiling, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“I’m going to have to call the service. The maid should have had all of that taken care of before you even got out of bed. I didn’t leave until 7:45 and they are supposed to be here at 8 a.m.” Zack said as he reached for the phone.
“Don’t bother calling them. I called a few days ago and cancelled the service.” I said before he could dial the number. “I told you I wasn’t comfortable with strangers picking up after me.”
“You what??” Zack growled at me.
“I’m sorry. I must have mumbled or stuttered.” I shot back sarcastically. “I…cancelled…the…maid…service.”
As I repeated myself I moved my hands as I spoke and used sign language to drive the point home. Zack’s neck bulged a bit and started to turn red. I knew the move would piss him off, but I didn’t care.
“You are such a fucking child.” Zack said as he stood up from the couch. He shot me an evil look and headed towards the kitchen.
“I might be, Zack, but at least a child cleans up after himself.” I threw over my shoulder at him. “You spoiled fucking brat.”
I heard his footsteps pause at my words, but it was only for a second. He knew that I was trying to get a rise out of him. That’s why he didn’t respond to me. Ever since I woke up in the hospital things had been a little different between us. I knew that Zack loved me. I could see it in his eyes. He was pulling away from me though, and I didn’t know how to get through to him.
As I took the bag of ice off of my leg I could hear him slamming cupboard doors in the kitchen. He calls me a child, but he’s the one slamming shit around. I grabbed my cigarettes off the table and lit one up. Madison came bounding over to me with a tennis ball clutched in her mouth. I took it from her and threw it down the hallway. The sounds of her paws scampering after it echoed throughout the apartment.
“You’re really not supposed to be moving your shoulder around like that for a few more weeks.” Zack said quietly.
“The bullet only grazed my shoulder, Zack.” I said as my hand rubbed gently against my wrapped up shoulder. “I started physical therapy last week. I’m supposed to be moving it around more now.”
“I thought you didn’t start therapy until next week.” Zack replied.
“It’s on the calendar in the kitchen.” I said as I rolled my eyes. “I wrote it down on there just the way you asked me to.”
“I guess I’m just used to you telling me day to day what’s on the schedule.” Zack said with a small grin.
His attempt at being charming wasn’t working on me this time.
“You’re right.” I said as I took a drag off of my cigarette. “You are used to me advising you of the schedule, BUT since you won’t let me come back to work just yet it looks like you’re on your own. Honestly, Zack, if you can’t even read the calendar on the fridge how the fuck are you managing your business calendar?”
Zack didn’t respond to me. I glanced over my shoulder at him and he quickly looked away.
“What aren’t you telling me, Zack? You know I can tell when you’re lying.” I said to him. “So just fess up!”
“I’m not handling my calendar at work.” Zack mumbled.
