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The next morning, Andrea felt sluggish and tired. She beat herself up all night for letting Brent and his girlfriend upset her. She was especially mad at herself for crying in front of him. She promised herself after Jamie was gone that no man would do that to her again and yet here she was, depressed because of another one. Old habits are hard to break, she guessed. She lay on the couch after breakfast, not wanting to move. After some time she dragged herself up and changed into shorts and put on her running shoes. She decided she wouldn't let him interfere in what she did for herself. Running was her way of feeling better, of shedding her skin, she always felt renewed afterwards. Today when she ran she ran fast and hard. Within minutes her heart was pounding, air burning her lungs, and sweating like she'd never sweat. By the time she returned home and showered she felt much better. By the time she headed to the fifth floor of the hospital she had a renewed sense of self. If Brent wanted to date that girl, she would certainly not give him the time of day. She was more important than that and would make it perfectly clear to him. When she approached the nurse's station she noticed a few of the nurses standing by a large paper bag sitting on the counter.
"What the hell is that?" She asked, approaching. Beth pushed her towards it.
"Why don't you find out, it has your name on it!" Andrea hesitated but opened it. It was a huge bouquet of flowers. She immediately knew who they were from and she just shook her head. "Read the card Annie." Beth said anxiously. "Who are they from?" Andrea opened the card and all it said was "your secret admirer." She stuck the card inside the flowers. They were beautiful for sure but meaningless. Nothing meant anything when another woman was involved. She went into the bathroom to recoup. She could do this, she told her reflection. You are strong, you don't need any man to make you feel worthwhile. She shook her head at herself and smiled. Ok, so it would be nice to romp but, she took a deep breath, it's not worth losing your self-respect. She left the bathroom and started her day. Today, instead of visiting Brent first she saw him last. He was sitting in a chair by the window reading a book. His I.V. was gone and the swelling was down substantially. When she breezed into the room he stood and approached her.
"Annie, I can't tell you how sorry I am about yesterday." She held up her hand to him.
"It's not necessary." She said busying herself at the computer. "It's not like we were more than what we are." He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her around to face him.
"I want us to be more than what we are. That's what upsets me so much. I can't make excuses for Roberta, she is what she is, a spoiled, overpaid, celebrity but I can say that I have enjoyed my time with you immensely since I've been here and want to get to know you better." She looked into his eyes as he spoke to her, seeking and finding sincerity. She pulled away and turned her back on him.
"I can't move forward with her between us Brent. I've been down that path before and I will not go back." He turned her towards him again.
"She won't be between us. I barely see her anymore anyway. We've gone separate ways lately. I'm busy, she's busy ..." Andrea rolled her eyes. "Please forgive me Annie." He said quietly. She looked off towards the window.
"I guess so." She said, not really meaning it. He bent down and kissed her lightly. She responded to the kiss briefly before breaking away and trying to focus her mind to the task at hand. The day moved along. Andrea tried to stay cool around Brent but his teasing and touching every time she went into his room was heating her up. She imagined he was back to his old self and was glad of it. It was much more fun than the pathetic thing that lay in the bed whimpering when she first met him last Monday. Towards the end of the night she told him that Sunday was her day off. He begged her to come visit him.
"This time come alone." He said raising his eyebrows at her. She pushed him back onto the bed.
"Knock it off Romeo. When you are released from this hospital you can take me out on a proper date and romance me the way a girl wants to be romanced. But until then, no touchey!" He got up and slid his arms around her.
"I can't help myself. You are screaming out to me to be touched." She pushed him away and tried to leave the room.
"I'm not screaming out for anything, Mr. Whatever you think I'm doing is all in your head. Now lay down and go to sleep!" He pulled her towards him.
"Only if you stay with me." She sighed.
"One more day, Brent, one more day."
Sunday afternoon Andrea went up to the hospital to visit with Brent for a while. Geoff, Kelvin, and Curt came in while she was there and the five of them chatted. When Andrea was getting ready to leave, Brent pulled her to him and kissed her. He touched her hair, it was so soft and silky, just like he imagined it was.
"Tomorrow I will be out of here and then we can get to know each other properly." He said. She hugged him.
"Tomorrow ..." She said and left.
When she had gone Brent told them about the Roberta disaster.
"What are you going to do about her?" Kelvin asked. Brent shrugged.
"I'm not so sure I want to do anything!" Geoff shook his head.
"Man, you'd better do something. I wouldn't piss her off if I were you! She's the media, she'll fucking tell the world what an asshole you are." Brent held his hands up in the air.
"Like the world doesn't know that already?" Geoff stood and leaned against the wall.
"No, this is different. Seriously, you'd better make amends."
"I agree with Geoff." Curt said. "This nurse, she's nice and all, and a good lay I'm quite sure, but what you've got going with Roberta is an investment Brent. I'm not asking, I'm telling you to call her!" Brent sighed, got up from the bed and paced.
"Don't tell me what to do!" He snapped. "I'm going to do what I need to do first. Then, if I feel like it, I'll call her. Jesus, why do I have to do all the calling? She's the one who fucked me over!"
"You're the one who sleeps around." Kelvin said. Brent wheeled and turned on him.
"Don't, for one second, tell me she doesn't sleep around! And that's quite profound coming from you!" Kelvin just watched him, interested, he folded his arms over his chest and straightened his legs out in front of him, crossing his feet at the ankles. Brent sat back down on the bed. "This illness has made me realize some things about my life. I've changed. I really like this girl and I'd like to get to know her better." The other three guys looked at each other and laughed out loud at the same time. Brent responded by opening his mouth wide and frowning. "Hey! I'm serious here."
They laughed louder. "Well fuck you then!"
"I'm just telling you to call Roberta. Don't let the relationship end this way. If you say your life has changed and you're going to settle down with a nurse from a dumb little town in Nowhere, USA, fine! Go ahead! But tidy up the messes you are leaving behind, okay?" Curt said seriously. Brent nodded and looked down at his hands in his lap.
"Yeah, okay."
Monday morning, Dr. Matana was in to see Brent at 10:30. Curt was there to hear the news of Brent's release. Dr. Matana explained that Brent would have to introduce his voice to singing slowly. He recommended that he see a speech therapist for at least two weeks to make sure he didn't ruin his throat. "That is, if you want longevity." Dr. Matana added. He also told him he wanted to see him in a week. Brent was thrilled, Curt was not. It would mean another couple of weeks postponing their tour, dragging it out.
"Am I free to go now?" Brent asked. Dr. Matana said he was, as soon as he wrote up the orders. The door had no sooner closed when the doctor and left Brent changed back into his jeans and t-shirt. It was weird but it felt so good to have on real clothes! Curt sat in the chair while Brent paced the room waiting for the nurse to come in and set him free. It was two hours before Karen came back in with care instructions, an order for speech therapy and prescriptions for Brett. She explained them all to him carefully.
"As soon as a wheelchair comes you can go." Patients leaving the hospital had to go in a wheelchair. Brent waved her away.
"Fuck the wheelchair, I'm gone!" He said and left in a hurry, Curt following close behind. They snuck out the kitchen door and headed for Curt's rented car. Curt took Brent to a nearby extended stay hotel in which he was staying.
"I guess we're here another week or two." Curt said flopping down on the couch. Brent looked around. It was great! Just like a temporary apartment. He noticed there were dishes in the sink.
"You been cooking Curt?" He asked. "How many times has the fire department been here?" Brent laughed at his own joke.
"Ha, ha." Curt said, not too enthused. "You know, while you were in that hospital having a good old time I've been bored to fucking death!" Brent walked into the living room and leaned against the wall giving Curt a frown.
"I've been having a 'good old time'? You bastard! I was sicker than a dog!" Curt rubbed his face with his hands. He felt bad for saying that to Brent.
"Hey, I'm sorry man. I didn't mean it that way. I meant that at least you had some entertainment while you were there." Brent sat down beside Curt on the couch.
"I'm sorry too, Curt. If I could've chosen to be sick or not be sick I would choose not! But Annie certainly made it worth being there!" Curt smiled at him.
"She's a hot chick. I hope you get what you want out of this relationship." Brent sighed.
"I'm going to try!" The sat in silence a moment. Curt cleared his throat.
"What about Roberta?" Brent looked over at him.
"What about her?"
"You gonna call her?" Brent sighed.
"I guess so. You say I have to call her then I have to call her!"
"You don't have to do anything I tell you to do, I'm just saying you should."
"Nope, if you tell me to do something, I'm gonna do it. Shit, you're the boss!" Curt got up and went into the kitchen.
"I'm not the fucking boss!" Curt called, opening the fridge.
"Yes you are!" Brent retorted.
"You're an asshole." Curt said cracking open a can of Coke. Brent grinned.
"I know."
When Andrea got to the hospital at 3 she was disappointed to see Brent had gone and his room was empty. She was surprised that he hadn't even left her a note. She tried to take her mind off of him by busying herself with her patients. At 6:00, as she was sitting at the desk at the nurse's station, the elevator door opened and Brent came walking out. She smiled and stood up as he approached her, her heart skipping a beat. He looked so good in normal clothes!
"Hey, baby." He said casually. He had a plastic bag in his hand, set it down on the counter, pulled her into his arms and kissed her with passion. Finally they broke apart. "I missed you." He said still holding her in his arms.
"You did not." She said, teasing. He looked around to see if anyone was looking.
"Hey, I can do this now, can't I?" He squeezed her tightly. Andrea pushed at him.
"Yes, you can but it's still inappropriate! I am working!" He released her begrudgingly.
"You spoil all my fun, you know that?" He teased. "Look," He picked up the the bag he had set down. "I brought some dinner for us. Curt sent me to this excellent Italian restaurant called Rosebud. Hope you like mostaccioli!" Andrea snickered.
"You know, I do! And it was really thoughtful of you to do this."
He waved it away, embarrassed.
"It's nothing. And I have decided that we are going out on a real date come Wednesday!" He frowned. "That is if you don't already have plans." He tilted his head and looked at her suspiciously. She laughed.
"I'm all yours!" He smiled.
"Great! Except ..." He hesitated sheepishly. "You'll have to pick the place since I don't know any places around here!" They sat and chatted a while and then Andrea and Brent took their dinner into the breakroom and ate. He left her again at 8 and she could hardly get through the rest of the night, her mind constantly wandering back to Brent.
Wednesday night Brent pulled into the driveway of Andrea's house at 5:00. He rang the doorbell and when she opened the door to greet him he nearly toppled backwards. She was radiant in a pale pink, sleeveless, crushed velvet turtleneck top and a denim short skirt. Her hair was pulled back and hanging in a loose braid down her back. She was gorgeous. He felt a stirring in his belly and all that would come out of his mouth was "Wow!" She pulled him inside where Rory was watching like a nosy parent.
"Hey, nice place." He said looking around. "Did you decide where we're going?" He sauntered over to Rory and tried to pet him but Rory pulled back and sniffed Brent's hand instead. After deciding he was okay, let Brent scratch his ears.
Andrea grabbed her purse off the counter and went to the door.
"Yep. How's Mexican sound to you?"
"Great," he said following her out the door. "Just don't let me have any beans!"
They went to a fabulous Mexican place in the outskirts of Naperville. And after several Sangrias and then dinner, they returned to Andrea's house. Brent flopped down on the couch and held his stomach.
"Too much food." He said in agony. "I am not used to eating after being in that damn hospital!" Andrea busied herself in the kitchen making coffee for them. She brought the cups of coffee, sugar, and creamer in on a tray and set it down on the table in front of him. He hesitated having any, he just wanted Andrea to sit down next to him. He had other plans for them ... She went to go back into the kitchen for something and he grabbed her hand pulling her down on the couch next to him.
"Sit." He ordered. She sat down hard on the couch and stared at him, wide-eyed.
"What?" She asked. "I was just going to get ..." He slipped his arms around her and pressed his mouth against hers, silencing her. She responded by putting her arms around his waist and returning the kiss. He slid his tongue along her lips and then entered her mouth, seeking her tongue and finding it anxiously waiting for him. He pulled away and looked at her.
"No talking now Annie, just doing." He whispered and pulled her close again. He kissed her mouth and then moved down to her neck where and sucked and bit gently. He pulled down the neck of her top and bit the little indentation where her neck met her shoulder then sat back. "This is going to have to come off." He tugged at her shirt. Feeling nervous but anxious to resume the action, Andrea pulled it over her head and tossed it aside. He eyed her sitting there in her bra and smiled a devilish smile. "Much better ..." He kissed her shoulder and then her chest. He unsnapped her bra and pulled it off, throwing it on top of her shirt on the floor. He pushed her backwards on the couch and touched her breasts with both hands. He held them gently while he kissed them, licking her nipples and gently biting. They responded instantly by tightening up. He could tell she was enjoying it as her breathing was getting heavier. As he licked and sucked her nipples, his hands moved down to her skirt. He unsnapped it and slid it down her hips then hooked his fingers into her panties and slid them down too. She gasped. He placed his hands on her hips and then kissed downward from her breasts, to her belly and then the soft spot between her legs. He pulled her thighs apart and kissed each thigh tantalizingly.
"Oh God, Brent." She sighed. Her heart was pounding and her chest was heaving. He pulled her lips apart and licked inside them gently. He wanted to please her and would do his best to do so. It wasn't long before she felt heat pooling up inside her thighs and belly. She reached down and touched the top of his head. He stopped a moment and asked her if it felt okay. "Yes," she whispered. "Don't stop!" He didn't stop until he felt her spasms then he moved up and hovered over her. He kissed her gently seeing the blush in her cheeks. He pulled his shirt over his head and then kicked off his jeans. Andrea was getting antsy and pulled his boxers off for him. He was quite obviously ready for her! She pushed him down onto the floor and straddled him. She guided his erection to her wet and waiting hole then slid down onto him. He gasped loudly.
"Oh that's good," He breathed. He could hardly contain himself as she moved up and down on him, her breasts bouncing with the rhythm. She leaned down and kissed him once or twice. He felt himself about to come and began to pant. He grabbed her around the waist and held her down onto him as he felt himself spurt inside her. He moaned. "Oh Annie ..."
Afterward they lay together in her bed, naked and caressing each other.
She had pulled her hair out of the braid and he was running his fingers through it. He kissed her forehead.
"You are absolutely amazing." he sighed. She touched his cheek.
"I should say the same about you." He smiled at her, feeling a little sleepy.
"You could." He yawned. "I won't stop you." They lay there quietly and moments later she heard Brent's breathing becoming regular and heavy. He was falling asleep. She waited until he was breathing deeper before she crawled out of bed to lock up the house and shut off the lights. She brought their clothes into the bedroom and set them on a chair before climbing back into bed with him. She clicked off the light and lay watching him in the light of the moon. He is beautiful, she thought, I am a lucky girl. She smiled as she felt herself drifting away into slumber ...
