Chapter 8
Later on that night, I sat out on my balcony again, but I was fidgety, I wanted to know if Matt had been feeling any better, but I didn't have the guts to go over and ask. Finally I drove myself so crazy; I made up an excuse to go over. I hunted around my suitcase and found some Ben-gay ointment and decided to take it over, just in case he needed more than ice. I knocked lightly on the door around 1:00am or so. I knew they were still up because I heard their muffled talking through the walls.
"Oh, hey Maria, is everything okay?" Jeff asked in concern when he opened the door.
"Hi, no, I'm fine, I just thought Matt could use this on his shoulder, I found some while I was going through my suitcase." I replied, blushing big time, and holding up the tube of ointment.
"Thanks, Maria; I'm sure he'll appreciate this." Jeff laughed slightly, as he took the tube from me.
"How is he feeling anyway?" I asked, after a pause of silence.
"Ah, kind of cranky, but okay, he's out on the balcony if you want to go see him." Jeff sensed that I wanted to see him.
"Really, don't you think I'll just add to his crankiness?" I asked, trying to peer over Jeff's shoulder to see Matt.
"Nah, go ahead, it will give him some company." Jeff smiled.
"Plus, I'm tired of sitting up, I'm going to head to bed, you two can talk alone." Jeff continued, with a mischievous gleam in his eye.
"Okay." I replied.
I then followed Jeff through the living room out onto the balcony where Matt had his back to us. He was sitting in a patio chair with his bad shoulder propped up on the glass table, which was sitting next to him. His chest was bare, and his shoulder had a huge bag of ice on it, ace bandaged diagonally around his upper body to keep it in place. He also had his bare feet resting on the railing of the balcony. He didn't even turn around to see who had come through the sliding glass doors.
"Matt, you have a visitor." Jeff said, patting Matt on his other shoulder.
Jeff then pulled a chair up to the other side of the table for me to sit at.
"Hey Matt, how are you feeling?" I asked, sitting down in the wrought iron chair.
"I was fine until you showed up." Matt said quietly, looking out over the city, not even glancing in my direction.
"Well, too bad, I'm staying. I brought you over some pain reliever cream if you need it." I said, swallowing hard.
"Thank you." He replied with his soft, husky southern drawl.
"Welcome." I whispered back.
We then sat there in an uncomfortable silence.
"Maria, do you think you could help me put some of that cream on? This ice isn't helping." He suddenly asked.
He turned and looked at me with bright eyes.
"Sure, I guess." I replied, sort of confused.
I picked up the tube of ointment, which Jeff had left on the glass table. Matt sat up from his comfortable position, removing the ice sling from his bare upper body.
"Here, turn the chair backwards and straddle it. I'll sit behind you and massage the cream into your shoulder, okay." I said, motioning for him to reseat himself.
He did as I told him. I drug the other chair over and sat behind him. Before I started, I just looked at his muscular back and smiled to myself at his massiveness.
"Ready?" He asked, waiting.
"Oh, yeah, just swing your pony tail over to the other side; I don't want to get anything in your hair." I told him, quickly recovering from my trance.
"Yup." He said, bringing his hand back and taking his hair away.
I sighed to myself, opened the tube, and squeezed a blob of the thick cream onto the palm of my hands. I hesitated to touch him, but forced myself to. His skin was cold from the ice and my hands were sweating, so the cream was almost melting.
"Oh, that's cold." He said at first, jumping as my fingertips gently touched his sore shoulder.
"Sorry." I replied with a slight laugh.
He laughed too, which I thought was unusual but nice, since we were always arguing, it was nice to laugh together for a change. After a few minutes I became more comfortable and deeply massaged his shoulder. I even massaged the rest of his back, trying to make his aches feel better as well.
He moaned lowly, "oh that feels so good don't stop."
I smiled at that, "I do that, and we'll be here all night." I laughed.
"Fine by me." He said, his spirits lifting.
"Listen, Maria, I'm sorry that I was rude to you when you first came over." Matt said, suddenly turning his head to look into my eyes.
"Oh, it's okay." I replied, shocked at his apology.
I went back to massaging. He leaned forward resting his head on the back part of the chair, and closed his eyes. I could tell he was becoming sleepy, but I continued on, rubbing my hands over his soft skin. I didn't even mind, in fact I like being close to him, I guess I felt safe knowing that he was around. A little while later, when I knew that Matt was dosing, I leaned in and stole a kiss, placing it on his back breathing in the scent of his skin and Tommy Hilfiger cologne. He stirred a little and I wrapped up my massage session. He then sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Matt, I'm going to go now, okay?" I whispered, walking around to the front of the chair and stooping to his level.
"Thank you so much, Maria, I owe ya one." He replied looking at me with sweet eyes.
"Sure, anytime." I replied with a smile.
I then stood to my feet.
"Night, Matt sleep well." I said, quickly tousling my fingers through his hair, before heading back through the sliding glass doors to exit their room and go back to my own.
"Maria, hold up, I'll walk you out." Matt said, quickly following me to the door.
He opened the door for me and we stood lingering, looking at each other.
"Well, I guess this is good night Maria, sleep well, and I'll see you tomorrow." Matt whispered, nervously.
"Yup, sweet dreams, night Matthew." I replied heading slowly out the door.
"Maria?" Matt said, suddenly. I turned around in question with raised eyebrows.
He came towards me and I watched him intently, waiting for something to happen. He looked down at his feet, like a nervous child.
"Matt are you okay?" I questioned, trying to peer into his eyes that were still looking downwards.
"Yeah, um, never mind, goodnight, I'll see you tomorrow, and thanks again.." He said dryly.
"Your welcome, bye." My eyebrows were scrunched, in confusion.
I walked out the door and closed it, heading back to my own room. I couldn't help but wonder what on earth he was going to say.
Chapter 9
Chapter 7