After the Fall

throw back a pain pill, for some reason I wasn’t quite ready to go home yet.
    “I could probably stand to grab a few groceries. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
    “Not at all.” He put the truck in reverse and rested his hand across the back of my seat as he backed out of the space. “Any particular grocery store preference?”
    “Nah. I’m easy.”
    Ryan glanced at me, an eyebrow raised in Did you really just say that? fashion.
    I groaned. “You know what I mean.”
    Chuckling, he shifted gears again.
    “Very funny,” I muttered. “So is this all part of your secret plan to keep me from suing you?”
    Ryan grinned. “Is it working?”
    “Well, I wasn’t planning to sue you, but if it means having you chauffeur me around, I could always tell you I’m going to.”
    He laughed. “You would, wouldn’t you?”
    “Maybe.”
    We exchanged playful glances, and he kept driving.

    “Hmm.” I leaned on my crutch and glared at the plastic bags sitting in the truck bed. “This could get . . . complicated.”
    “Nah, it’ll be fine.” Ryan shut the driver’s side door and came around to my side. “Why don’t I help you get up to your apartment, and then I can come downstairs and get the bags?”
    “Are you sure? I don’t want you making a million trips to—”
    “Don’t worry about it. You need help getting to the top, and I can get all of that”—he gestured at the bags—“in one more trip. And yes, I’m sure.”
    I didn’t protest. I thanked him quietly, plastered on a smile, and let him put his arm around my waist, pretending I didn’t get goose bumps just from his hand sliding over the back of my shirt. Okay, so leaning on someone in any way was about as pleasant as jamming bamboo splinters under my toenails, but having an excuse to go hands-on with Ryan took some of the sting out.
    Getting to the top of the stairs was, yet again, an exercise in undignified stumbling and swearing. Eventually, I’d probably have to navigate them myself, but at least for tonight, I had Ryan to help me— oh God, those shoulders —so I didn’t break my neck.
    Once Ryan had helped me to the couch, and I was getting myself situated with pillows and such, he left to get the groceries out of the truck. He returned just as I’d finally gotten myself comfortable.
    “Doing okay?” he asked, toeing the door shut as he balanced the bags on his arms.
    “Yeah, as long as I don’t have to move anytime soon.”
    He laughed. “You’re fine where you are. I’ll put these away for you.”
    “You sure? Brad will be home shortly, so I could have him do it.”
    “Brad?” Ryan stopped in his tracks and raised his eyebrows. “Your . . .?”
    “Roommate,” I said.
    “Oh.”
    I waved a hand. “Not my boyfriend, if that’s what you were thinking. I haven’t had one of those in a while.”
    Ryan laughed. “Neither have I.”
    Aha. So he is gay.
    Right. Because the lingering eye contact over dinner and the excuse to stay out a little longer hadn’t been a goddamned clue.
    “Well. Um. Anyway.” I cleared my throat and gestured toward the kitchen. “Just leave everything on the counter.”
    “Really? It’ll only take a minute.”
    I hesitated, but then shrugged. “It’s up to you. I don’t want to be a slave driver or something.”
    “Don’t worry about it.” He continued toward the kitchen. “I’ll take care of it. Won’t take a minute.”
    In the kitchen, plastic bags rustled. The pantry and refrigerator doors opened and closed. I was almost embarrassingly obsessive about where everything was stored, but I forced myself to take a few deep breaths and not worry about it. Ryan was doing me a massive favor. The Wheat Thins would not be rendered inedible if they ended up on the second pantry shelf instead of the third, and I would not break out in hives if a soup can wasn’t turned label out.
    A few minutes later, he came out of the kitchen. “That should hold you for a little while, I think.”
    “Thanks. I really appreciate it.”
    “Don’t mention it.” He glanced at the clock on the DVD player. “I should really get going, though. It’s an early morning for me.”
    “Oh, shit. I hope I didn’t keep you out too late.”
    “Nah, you’re fine. But I’d better roll out. Do you, um, need anything before I go?” He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. “From the kitchen or anything?”
    “No, I’ll be okay. Brad will be home pretty soon.” I paused. “And, um, thanks again.