Chapter 24: Home Cooked Meal
Two days later...
We were all back in the comfort of our own homes.
The guys had decided that we'd stay in Tonopah an extra night so that I could rest, and to make sure I was okay, despite being a little over two and a half hours away from Vegas.
We had arrived back around lunch time yesterday, having dropped me off at home first, and Cheryl was nearly in tears of relief when she saw me.
Cheryl knew the details of our lockdown because Aaron had called her shortly after we had been settled back in the motel after leaving the hospital. She had freaked out with worry despite Aaron's assurances that I had had a good doctor.
Now, she had been looking after me like a nurse ever since.
In the meantime, while I was taking it easy at home, the guys had begun going over all the video and audio from our investigation.
Today, Zak and Aaron were coming over with some of the more important evidence to show me, since I was eager to see it, despite being scared at reliving my part at the same time.
Cheryl wanted to see it too, even though I had told her most of the details that I knew. The guys knew she could be trusted to watch the footage and not go blabbing to the media, so they didn't mind her watching it.
Cheryl had offered to cook dinner for the four of us.
Zak and Aaron, reacting like five-year-olds in a candy store, had eagerly agreed to a home cooked meal that wasn't of their own making.
We had invited Billy, Jay and Ashley to come over as well, but they didn't want to impose since I still wasn't feeling the best, even though I insisted I didn't mind. Billy and Jay also said they still had some more footage they wanted to go over.
I figured it was just as well, I wasn't sure how I was going to react to watching the footage for the first time. I knew I'd be more comfortable watching it with just Zak and Aaron, since they had gone through the experience with me.
~*~*~*~*~
I could smell the food Cheryl was cooking as I finished drying my hair.
I had just gotten out of what felt like the best shower I had had in a long time. It helped me feel better physically and mentally - not to mention it had felt great to finally be able to take the bandage off my temple.
The wound didn't look nearly as bad as I had imagined.
Not worried about dressing up for the guys, I left my hair down, and put on a pair of grey, loose fitting yoga pants with a dark grey baby doll t-shirt that had an image of "Darth Vadar" from "Star Wars", holding a sign that said "Free Throat Hugs".
I figured the guys would get a kick out of it.
I walked downstairs just as Cheryl was walking out of the kitchen.
"There you are, I was just coming to check on you," Cheryl said.
"I'm okay mommy," I teased in a high pitched voice.
She laughed, then jokingly rolled her eyes at my shirt.
"You and 'Star Wars'" she teased.
"Oh shush you," I said, reaching up and gently pulling on one of her curls.
"Hey! It took me forever to do my hair, don't touch!" She replied, jokingly smacking my hand away.
I laughed.
"Yeah yeah," I shot back.
Cheryl had her shoulder length curls done to perfection and she was wearing a pair of ripped, denim shorts, with a white, embroidered mesh top.
She looked cute as always.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
"Can you get that? I gotta check on the steaks," Cheryl asked, taking off to the patio door and stepping outside to check on the barbecue.
"No problem," I replied and walked over to the front door.
I glanced out the window beside the door to see Aaron and Zak.
I smiled as I opened the door.
"Hey guys, come on in," I said, stepping aside to let them in.
"How you feeling Shorty?" Aaron asked, walking inside. "Hey! Nice shirt!" Aaron added with a laugh.
I smiled.
"Not bad, and thought you might like it," I replied.
"Hey doll," Zak said as he walked inside.
I smiled as I turned to look at him, then my expression changed to shock.
He was holding a small bouquet of a dozen pink and white calla lilies.
"You didn't have to get me those," I said softly, but smiled.
Before Zak could say a word, Aaron spoke up.
"He didn't, they're for me," Aaron said, pretending to make a grab for the flowers. "Oh thank you Zachary!" He added in a high pitched voice.
I couldn't help but laugh.
Zak pulled the flowers back out of Aaron's reach, using his free hand to shove him in the shoulder.
"Way to ruin a moment bro!" Zak said, but had started laughing too.
"Hey guys!" Cheryl suddenly chimed from near the stairs, having come back inside.
Aaron was immediately distracted as he turned to talk to her, setting down a laptop bag.
"Big ole goof," Zak mumbled as he stepped further into the house.
I giggled quietly as I shut the door behind him and then turned back to him.
He was smiling.
"You feeling any better?" Zak asked, as he handed me the flowers.
"A little bit," I replied, taking the flowers and smelling them - their beautiful scent causing me to smile. "Thank you, they're beautiful," I added.
Zak smiled and leaned down and gently kissed my cheek.
"You're welcome doll," Zak replied softly.
I smiled, feeling my face flush slightly as he watched me intently.
"Let me go put these in some water," I said.
Zak smiled and nodded.
"Come on in guys," Cheryl said as she stepped into the kitchen.
Most of the first floor of our house was one, big, open space.
The kitchen, dining area, and living room were all open - although there was a small island between the kitchen and living room area.
"Can I get either of you something to drink?" Cheryl asked.
"Have any beer in?" Aaron asked.
"Sure do," Cheryl replied with a smile.
"I'll just have water," Zak said.
"One beer and one water coming up," Cheryl said, walking over to the fridge.
I walked into the kitchen as Cheryl got drinks for all of us and gently set the flowers down on the counter.
I opened one of the top cupboards where we kept some containers and vases. I could see a perfectly sized glass vase, but it was out of my reach.
Before I could turn to go and get a chair, I suddenly felt strong arms wrap around my thighs and a muscular shoulder under my butt.
Zak carefully lifted me up - moving slowly so as not to cause a dizzy turn from my concussion - so I could reach the vase.
As with most physical contact with Zak, I found myself blushing as I grabbed the vase and held onto it as Zak slowly lowered me back down.
Cheryl was laughing.
"You could of just grabbed it for her, Hulk," Cheryl teased, as she took out two bottles of beer, and two bottles of water from the fridge.
Zak laughed.
"That was more fun," he said with a smirk on his face.
I was still blushing as I filled the vase with water, then started removing the plastic wrap from around the flowers.
"Is there anything you don't blush at?" Aaron joked.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Not really," I jokingly mumbled as I set the flowers into the vase.
"Don't tease her, it's cute," Zak said, smiling at me.
I blushed again, giving Zak a look that said "quit it", but he just smiled at me.
Aaron laughed.
"There she goes again. Maybe I should start calling you Lil' Strawberry or something, since your face is always red," Aaron joked.
Zak and Cheryl laughed, and I couldn't help but laugh myself.
"Oh shut up, all of you," I said, pretending to be mad as I carried the vase of flowers over to the dining room table – which was already set for dinner - and set them down in the middle.
All four of us laughed.
Cheryl opened the two beers, handing one to Aaron and keeping one for herself. She then opened the two bottles of water and poured them each into a separate glass.
She handed one glass to Zak, and handed the second glass to me as I came back to the kitchen.
"Thanks," Zak and I both said at the same time, then smiled at each other.
"So what's for dinner? It smells scrumptious!" Aaron said.
Cheryl and I laughed at his word choice, while Zak gave him a "seriously?" look.
"Roasted potatoes with some veggies and barbecued steak," Cheryl announced proudly as she took a sip of her beer.
"Meat!" Zak said, acting as if he was a little boy who had just been told he could have candy.
"Meat!" Aaron mocked, in a deeper voice.
Cheryl and I just laughed.