Train Wreck

twenty seven

Remington POV

"Thanks," Liss smiled as I passed her a stack of plates from the living room after gathering dishes from our impromptu pizza party.  Jesse got a call to help the volunteer fire department while Doc was caught in surgery so we had the teenagers to entertain.

This is something I would need to get used to.

It was crystal clear that Daisy was around to stay.  She and Benji had an easy chemistry and a friendship that was going to be fun to encourage.  After our whirlwind morning of appointments then time downtown we came back to the house to relax.  Dad and I spoke on the phone awhile but he encouraged me to stay put and relax.  

I was not about to argue with the chance to cuddle closer to Lissy during a movie marathon.

Alice suggested a "Harry Potter" marathon and we were barely halfway through Goblet of Fire when Daisy fell asleep.   Benji noticed and decided he may as well do the same, snoring softly while Liss and I eventually shut off the movie and started clean up.

I was glad Doc already trusted Alice so implicitly.

Of course I understood why as I watched her tuck a blanket around Daisy, making sure she stayed warm.  Alice even made sure Daisy's cell phone was charging properly and put a lid on her reusable water bottle before doing the same proactive steps next to Benji.

Always taking care and paying attention.

Will I learn to be the same way?  I've spent my entire life just... living.

"So, what now?" She raised her eyebrows and grinned, staring straight at me from the center of the kitchen.

I chuckled, "What do you mean?" My mind raced to every possible scenario that was not at all appropriate but I reined in my hormones and let out a sigh.

The fact is that everything needs to wait.

She hasn't even had a first date yet so I need to be careful.

Alice snorted, smacking me on the chest, "Okay, Cowboy, hold your horses. This filly isn't ready for any Yeehaw time yet."

Her blunt comment paired with a deadpan expression left me speechless. Liss cracked up laughing then grabbed a bottle of liquor off the counter.

"Whiskey?"  She asked rhetorically, smirking at the blank look on my face.

I nodded, following as she grabbed two small tumblers then filled them with ice before heading out to the deck. Liss set the bottle and glasses down, moving to flip on strands of warm fairy lights that were hung around the roof.  She took a seat, one leg twisted under her body somehow, then opened the bottle and poured enough so the ice in each glass was covered.

She scooted one glass toward me as I took a seat, groaning at the strain in my ribs with each movement.

Alice searched my face carefully before asking, "You sure you're okay?" The question was so honest that I felt a catch in my throat when I met her eyes.

"I don't really know," I sighed, shaking my head.  Alice smiled at me while taking a sip of whiskey and not even flinching. I grinned at the fact that she could shoot whiskey straight and continued, "What I do know is that I'm glad the appointments today are over. I'm glad Benji and I can both take it easy for another two weeks and then see how it goes. At least we have the luxury of relaxing and not needing to get back to work or something."

I took a sip of the whiskey and let the deep flavor roll over my tongue before swallowing. "What kind is this?" I grabbed the bottle, realizing it was a brand I hadn't tried.