No Strings Attached

Chapter 14: Breakfast To Go

While my parents fixed breakfast downstairs, I had James hand me his hospital gown and take a shower.

In the meantime, Aria is retrieving Dad's old clothes from the family bedroom for James to wear until further notice.

The sound of crispy bacon tackles when Mom called: "Hey, Nadine! Do you want some bacon?"

"Yeah!" I shouted back, folding James' hospital gown.

Looking at the ugly blue fabric, I became desperate to toss it out.

But the only good hiding places I could think of, are the dirty hamper and under my bed, which Mom could spot in a mile away.

For now, I kept the itchy cloth in my hands until I can find some use for it.

As the sounds of running water increased behind the bathroom door, I then waited for James to finish taking his shower.

My fingertips rubbed against the hospital gown, feeling the grains of sand against my two thumbs.

It seems callous—like the hardened skin of someone's foot. And the smell of honeysuckle and James' sweat flowed inside my nostrils.

Studying the gown for a second, I peeked inside its neck hole and found two gray bird feathers sticking on the fabric.

Returning from the family bedroom, Aria came with a small, gray tank top and bright yellow board shorts.

"Hey Nadine, " she beamed. "I have brought some clothes for James."

Smiling, I thank Aria, took the clothes from her gentle hands, then rap my knuckles against the bathroom door.

"Hey James, " I say in a delightful tone. "Aria has brought you some clothes."

In an instant, the running water stopped.

Footsteps thunder behind the door, as James twisted the knob, and peeked his head through the crack.

His hair was dampened from the shower; a gray towel wrapped around his private parts, and his aquamarine eyes gazed at mine.

Droplets of warm water rushed down James' lanky, yet built body, creating a small puddle underneath his feet.

And as James run his fingers through his red locks, I notice his small nipples, firm arms, and tough skin scarred in sunburns.

Unaware of me drooling, James asked in embarrassment: "Hey, you brought some clothes?"

I blush a little. "Well, technically—"

"Nadine brought them over to you, " Aria smiled, interrupted me.

James gives me a surprised look. "Really?"

Shooting Aria a fierce glare, I said to James, "no, Aria brought them for you."

Slowly, I offered them to James, who took the bundle of clothes, said "thanks, " then disappears into the bathroom.