"Yes, without a doubt that's an option" the physio is saying to us. I notice his open, easy grin, the way he looks at me, Jay and then bump briefly. He glances at Ross and back to us.
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"Feeling and everything is present in his legs and therefore it's just about building up that strength again" he adds and I nod.
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We're discussing when Ross can be discharged from hospital. I have suggested strongly that he stays in because of possible infection. Ross has taken charge and very much declared that he would be better off at home. He's getting restless being here, and I do understand that.
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I can feel Matthew's eyes on me, and I've so far tried to not be aware of the pull we have towards each other. Jay has ignored his existence entirely, looking through him as if he is not there. I'm sure they have spoken to each other, and decided that they are not going to be friends for the time being. That's my fault, stupid selfish Taylor I think to myself.
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"We would need to discuss, with the doctors about the possibility of discharging and switching to home visits" the physio says to Jay, clearly deciding that he is the one in charge. Jay nods at me stroking my back.
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After reassuring Ross that he is doing well and that there are major leaps and bounds happening with his recovery the physio leaves the room.
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"Hungry" Jay asks me as Ross drifts off to sleep. The pain medication is still high and so in my mind, there's no way he can be at home. Even with Matthew there to help out.
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"I'll go grab something" I whisper and he stands up protesting.
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"I'll go grab something" he says eyeing Matty, it's the first time he's so much as glanced in his direction.
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"Orange juice and cheese" I smile taping into my cravings.
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"Baby wants it not me" I laugh.
Jay makes a show of kissing me and I let him, reciprocating his kisses before he leaves.
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"Taylor you okay" Matty says just as Jay is leaving and I know it's going to set everything off. A bomb has been waiting to go off for the past hour, in the form of two very annoyed males at my wrongdoing.
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Jay swoops over, quickly pinning him against a wall before he even reaches me. I wince damning Matty for interrupting.
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"Do not so much as touch her" Jay says and his voice is low. He has him by his clothes pinned.
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"Jay fucking hell I'm not going to do shit" Matthew says shoving him.
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Jay swings, Matthew pulls his head back and headbutts him straight in the head. Jay having recoiled from the blow, take a swing at him and before I know it I have a full blown scuffle on my hands. With no Ross to be able to help me break it off.
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"Stop it" I say like a little mouse trying to break off a lion and a bear.
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Jay swings and connects with Matthew's jaw, and just as Matthew is lining up his next punch the doctor bursts through the door and shouts at them. Olivia just behind them in the doorway looking on horrified.
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Jay puts his hands in the air smirking slightly at the blood on Matty's lip.
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"Nothing to see here we're through aren't we Matthew" he says softly.
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"Yeah all good" Matthew says under his breath wiping his lips.
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"You, get that seen too" Olivia says to Matty and he scoffs embarrassed.
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"You, go get some air calm down" the doctor says to Jay.
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Jay approaches me, Matthew's blood on his wrist. He kisses me softly and tenderly. I am angry that they fought one another like imbeciles, I sigh and look away.
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"Orange juice and cheese yeah ?" Jay says winking at me.
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"Please and no more right hooks" I say admonishing him. He smirks and then leaves the room.
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The door clicks shut and I notice Ross is snoring. Even thought the commotion of the guys fighting.
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"Taylor are you okay ?" Matthew asks from the opposite leather sofa.
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"I'm sorry, Matthew" I say looking up at him and his expression softens.
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"He needed to know" I reply and he nods. Just one simple nod with an expression of sadness on his face.
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"Are you okay" I ask him.
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"Taylor, this is my fault. Not yours. I'm sorry I came onto you, and that's on me. I just.." he begins and then he puts his head in his hands. I sit there yearning to hug him and comfort him, but I mustn't.
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"I just miss you" he finishes looking up at me through his dark lashes.
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I stand and assess the blood on his lip. Grabbing a tissue from my purse and handing it to him.
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"It's nothing, I knew we'd end up hitting each other" he laughs.
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"I miss you" I whisper to him and then I take a seat back on my own sofa. The door cracks open and a doctor with a bigger clipboard than Olivia's comes in. He appraises Ross, and upon noticing his resting state he comes to stand by us.
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I watch him ditch his clipboard on the side and take a seat in the leather armchair by us. He appraises both of us before speaking, I would place his age at around fifty. He has smile lines and salt and pepper grey hair. He makes me feel at ease.
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"Afternoon, my name is Dr Hart. I just wanted to let you both know that Ross needs to remain in hospital for a couple more weeks. With his injuries we feel his recovery would be faster here, and that he would be less prone to infection. I know this is disheartening for all of you but we really do feel that it is in his best interests" he explains.
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"I couldn't agree more Dr Hart, it's just that he feels cooped up. And we're trying to help with that but he's not ever been in hospital this long before" I say softly and he appraises me.
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"I think it's important that we emphasise to him that the outcome for his personal day to day life will be better should he stay. It's important that he rests and at home he may be more inclined to over exert himself in daily activities and end up back in hospital again" he explains nodding his head.
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"This is a success story, the chances of survival of an accident such as this one are usually low. Not only has Ross managed this he is beginning to respond to physio and so walking and returning to an almost normal life are within reach. It's important that he doesn't become complacent" he says measuring every word he utters.
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"I understand we will have a word with him" I say to the Dr. He smiles at me as he stands up, brushing his suit down retrieving the clipboard and heading toward the door.
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Having wished us a good day he leaves the room and I'm left with Matty again. I look over at him and he smirks at me. We're never uncomfortable with one another for long. I wipe my eyes crying happy tears, because Ross is very well and truly on the mend.
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"He's going to be just fine" he says half laughing.
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"Matty" I say slowly.
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"Mhmm" he responds keeping himself glued to the opposite sofa.
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"Thank you for telling me that everything will be okay all the time" I say.
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"No problem, Taylor I'll always be here" he says and I look down into my lap.
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We're quiet for a few seconds, the distance is a stark contrast from always being in each other's personal space.
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"Jay will calm down" he whispers, and I look up at him briefly my eyes full of tears.
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"I know him, he will calm down. He won't always be on high alert around us. I just need to let him know that he has won again. And then he will back off" he whispers.
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"Everything will be okay" he laughs and I chuckle along with him wiping my eyes.
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"I know Jay, Taylor. Leave it all to me." He says defiantly.
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"I want to hug you so badly" he says slowly.
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"Me too" I whisper but I remain seated.
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"I'm going to Italy" I blurt out. He looks at me shocked and I realise I haven't explained myself properly. He most likely believes I'm leaving indefinitely. Panic crosses his expression before I speak again.
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"We're going away for a bit. I wanted to tell you before everybody else knows" I tell him a small smile crosses my lips and he watches me.
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The door cracks again and I wipe my eyes as Jay enters with Rachel. I hide my face briefly, sorting myself out.
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"I found this one, talking to the barista" Jay laughs walking in and I glance at Rachel wearing a sly grin.
I stand instantly and inspect Jays forehead, he recently suffered a bottling to the head when we were assaulted by his crazy ex girlfriend, Jane. And I had already been worried about potential long term effects.
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"I'm fine" he whispers holding onto me.
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"I'm sorry" he says quietly and then guides me back to the sofa.
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"Christopher" I say to Rachel and she winks.
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"You know his name too" Jay laughs, mock shock on his face. He sets the food down in front of me, pulls his jacket off and sits next to me on the sofa. I lean into him and thank him.
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"I got you some bread with your cheese" he laughs.
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"I couldn't just buy a block of cheese" he says laughing again and I kiss him.
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"Thank you for my bread and cheese" I laugh and he kisses me slowly.
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"Here Matty" Jay says softly and he pushes a sub across the table to Matthew. I hold my breath watching Jay. He smiles down at me, and I stroke his face with my hands.
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Matty looks abashed for a few seconds, but then proceeds to thank him. I smile looking down at my cheese and bread, only finding the cheese to be appetising.
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"So tell me all about Christopher" I say tucking myself into Jay's side.
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"Christopher is wonderful" Rachel smirks sipping her coffee.
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"He's just graduated and he's working a job. He's got gorgeous eyes. And biceps. That's very important to me" she laughs.
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"Right" I laugh eating my cheese.
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"So I'm just entertaining the idea that I might use his number after all" she explains.
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"What's happening with Nate" I ask softly.
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"Honestly I just had to think, if I'm more excited being around somebody for ten minutes than talking to my guy for the whole day. Then shit isn't working for us" she utters flippantly and I pull Jay into me. He smiles down at me. I need to make him feel reassured, over and over again.
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Matty looks at me, and I avoid his stare. Instead I focus on eating.
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"He's kicking all the more" I mutter, feeling my tummy.
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Jay smirks and places his hands on bump.
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"Oh the doctor said no to Ross leaving for a few weeks" I say as Jay rubs me.
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"Which is good actually" I say taking charge of the conversation and planning in my head. Jay looks at me and nods, clearly we're on the same wavelength.
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"By the time we're back, he may be coming out and I can help out with looking after him" I say softly, I meet Matty's eyes just briefly.
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"We're leaving for the Amalfi coast" Jay clarifies, seeing Rachel's dumbstruck expression.
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"That's amazing, I'm jealous" Rachel laughs.
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"Lucky bitch" she smirks looking at me.
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"We need to finish our honeymoon" Jay smiles looking at me and I smirk at him.
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"Hey you do have Christopher" I laugh back at her.
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"Yeah" she sighs smiling.
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"God he is beautiful, you think it's too good to be true?" She says laughing.
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"What if he's secretly one of those weirdos that lures in his prey and then kills them. I don't want to end up a victim on one of those crime docs" she laughs and I question her sanity. What a wild imagination.
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"He has kind eyes, I don't think there's anything wrong with him" I say to her and she smiles.
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"I think I need to break things off with Nate" she says slowly.
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"You sure?" I ask her, she's been with him for a long time. It is true that they have had their ups and downs however she always managed to get back with him.
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"I think so" she says and Jay pulls out his phone. I notice him pulling up some booking sites and flights.
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"I'm here" I say to her and she smiles, knowing exactly what I mean. I give her a meaningful glance as she looks from Jay to Matty and rolls her eyes. World War Two she mouths at me as Matthew is tucking into his sub and Jay is booking a villa. I roll my eyes at her remembering our conversation regarding me telling Jay about Matty and our behaviour over the past few days. I stifle a laugh and she chuckles sitting back and switching the TV over from the game to America's next top model.
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