The Hookup Handbook(12)

She turns to leave but I reach for her wrist, my fingers grazing her skin. My eyelids are heavy as she turns back to look at me, her eyes wide.

“My mother. Make sure you text my mother and cancel lunch today. I don’t want her worrying when I miss it.”

“Your mother. Great. First week on the job, and I’m already texting your mom for you.”

“I can do it. I just need to go get my phone.” I start to sit up, but I’m instantly dizzy, making me immediately lie back down.

“No, no, you stay. I can handle it. Jeez, even when you’re loopy from medication, you still can’t take a joke.” She pauses before leaving, pressing her palm to my cheek and giving me one last once-over to make sure I’m okay.

I let my eyelids slowly shut as she leaves, watching her perfect figure exit the room before I drift off to sleep.

? ? ?

I wake a few hours later to my mother’s voice talking in hushed, worried tones. As I open my eyes, groggy from the medication, I realize that Sienna is there too, standing at the foot of my bed across from my mother, listening patiently as Mom rattles off her concerns one by one.

“Are you sure he’s not doubling up on acetaminophen? It’s very easy to get all those chemicals confused.”

“Yes, ma’am, I’m sure. I’ve got him on a strict schedule. It’s all written down right here.”

“And what about water? Is he getting enough electrolytes? Fevers always did a number on his body when he was little . . .”

“I’ve got some tea waiting for him whenever he wakes up, and some coconut water on hand after that.”

“Well, then. I brought him some soup, but it looks like you’ve got everything under control, Miss . . .”

“Johnson. But you can call me Sienna.”

“Sienna Johnson. That’s a pretty name. Now, make sure my son takes as good care of you as you are of him, all right?”

Sienna giggles, and I make sure to clear my throat before my mother says anything else that might undermine my authority in this house.

“Oh, sweetheart, you’re awake! How are you feeling? When Sienna here texted me to cancel lunch, I knew it had to be bad. You’ve never taken a sick day.” My mother rushes to my side, pressing the back of her hand to my cheek and forehead, her warm brown eyes filled with worry.

Even at twenty-nine, there’s nothing better than having your mom nearby when you’re sick, especially when your mom’s the biggest, most loving saint in the world. That said, Sienna has been a pretty good standin.

“I’m fine, Mom, really. Especially after that nap, I’m feeling a lot better.”

“Okay. Well, I guess I’ll go. I was ready to stay and take care of you today, but it looks like Sienna is doing just fine.” She turns and smiles at Sienna, who smiles back, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

Watching the two of them interact is bizarre. I can’t tell if I’m intrigued or wish they’d never met. Either way, the sooner everything goes back to normal, the better. Sore throat, broken dick, and all.

My mother kisses my forehead and leaves, handing Sienna the soup with strict instructions on reheating.

Once my mom is gone, Sienna turns to look at me, a smile spreading across her lips. “I tried to tell her everything was fine, but she insisted on coming.”

“Don’t worry about it. I know how she can be. Besides, now that I’m feeling a little better, I could definitely go for some of that soup. Grab your lunch and join me in the office. I need to make sure you didn’t run this business into the ground in the four hours I was asleep.” I toss the white duvet back and make a move to get up, but Sienna’s hand on my shoulder stops me.

“Oh no, you don’t. You’re staying right here. You can eat your soup from bed.”

Damn, she’s bossy. But who am I kidding? Part of me likes it. “Can I at least get up to take a piss?”

Sienna blushes faintly and nods.

After I finish in the bathroom, I sit on the bed and grab my phone to find a half dozen missed calls and several texts. But when I try to read them, the words blur.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. I guess those will have to wait until later. I just hope there’s nothing urgent.

Sienna returns with a tray of food and sits on the very edge of my bed. There’s a bowl of soup for me, a glass of ice water, and a reclosable container with a salad for her. She started packing her lunch after that first day, and always brings either a salad or a turkey sandwich. She’s very predictable that way.

As we eat, we go over everything she did without me, from paperwork to answering emails to getting one lazy piece of shit off the couch and to his morning date on time.

I have to say, Sienna really pulled it off. I wasn’t worried about her, per se, but I wasn’t sure she’d be up to the task. Honestly, she must have been paying closer attention to what I do than I thought. Guess I need to start giving her more credit.

Once we’re done talking shop, Sienna gives me a quizzical look. “So, does your mom know what you do here?”

“You mean, does my mother know I fuck women for a living?” I can’t help but recall her shocked tone that first day when she passed judgment on what I do for a living.

“Well, I wasn’t going to say it like that.”

I smile, pausing to set my spoon down in the bowl. “Yes, my mother knows what we do here. She’s more open-minded than you’d think.”