“I don’t mind, I like being here with you.” I said it to make her not so weary of me, but once the words came out I realized that I actually meant them. “Besides, what kind of gentleman would I be if I left you here all by yourself? Just sit back and let doctor Devin take care of you.”

She giggled finally and then stopped suddenly as she gripped her leg in pain.

“Do you want me to get your another one of your pain pills? Enough time has passed…you can take another one if you want.”

“No, I’m OK. I don’t usually take pain medicine and I still feel kind of groggy from the dose I took earlier. Thanks anyway.”

“You’re crazy. If you’re in pain you should take it. I still can’t believe you let him stitch you up without of numbing you first. You’re a tattoo artist’s dream. Most girls would have cried.”

“I don’t cry,” she said blandly.

“What do you mean you don’t cry? Like ever? You never cry?”

That was the craziest thing I’d ever heard, women cry—that’s what they do. It’s, like, programmed in their DNA to be whiney and emotional. I don’t think I’ve ever met a woman that didn’t whine and cry about something or another. Even my little sister Jenny, who was a total hard ass, still cried occasionally about something.

“Never,” she sounded raspy.

“Not even when you were a kid?”

“The last time I cried I was fifteen. It’s been years since I’ve shed a tear and I don’t plan on starting again anytime soon,” she smiled tightly.

I didn’t say anything else on the subject. Something seriously traumatic must have happened to her. Her little confession changed something. There was a brief moment that I saw a broken Lilly. I know broken when I see it. But just as quickly as it slipped off, her giggle girl mask was firmly placed back on.

She was hiding something…a darkness that only another broken person could see. Suddenly, I felt a manly streak of protection run through me. It took everything I had not to growl and paw at the ground. It was a demented situation. Here I was… the delivery man of hurt and yet I wanted to beat the shit out of anyone who even considered bringing this girl pain.

I was shocked by how protective I felt towards her. It was a strange feeling considering the only female in my life that I’ve ever been defensive over is my sister. She’s the only female in my world that I give a shit about.

We watched a few sitcoms before she asked me to help her to her bed. Her room was exactly as I pictured it. Very Lilly… that was the only way I could explain it. First of all, there was no pink, which I silently gave thanks for. Her room was a neutral color with palm trees everywhere. It was like being stuck on an abandoned island. There was a huge king size bed that looked like fluffy clouds and beside the bed there was a night stand covered in books.

She limped into the bathroom and was in there for a while before coming out with her hair piled on top her head and a pair of sleep pants covered in cherries on. It was fitting since she naturally smelled like vanilla and cherries. I shouldn’t know that...I shouldn’t care to know that. I mentally punched myself in the balls.

I helped her into her bed, gave her the TV remote, and then got prepared to leave. Her huge room suddenly felt very small.

“I’ll call you tomorrow… if that’s OK?” I said, as I started to leave the room. “I’ll make sure the door is locked and if you need anything before Shannon gets back just call my cell.”

“Devin,” she whispered.

“Yeah,” I stopped and turned to face her.

“I really hate to ask this, but could you stay until I fall asleep? I don’t wanna seem like a big baby, but I don’t really want to be alone right now.”

The room began to shrink again. I shook my head yes and started back towards the bed. My words were literally stuck in throat. The last time I was alone like this with Lilly we almost had sex. I swore I’d never get into this position again. Yet here I was, climbing into bed with her.

I slipped onto the bed and sat up again the headboard. She snuggled up under the covers with her eyes closed while I flipped through channels trying to find something to watch.

I don’t remember falling asleep. I just know that I slept better than I had in many years. I don’t know if it was her plush, expensive mattress or the fact that she snuggled up to me all night long. All I know is when I woke up the next morning I felt a warm body pressed up against me in all the right places.

Half asleep I pulled that body closer to me and pressed my hard on against the soft warmth. I heard a little moan, which in my mind was a bright green go sign, so I kept pressing myself against her.