Pinch of Salt

“Alright, don’t get all mushy on me, babe.” Asher teased though a smile did play on his lips, it meant a lot to him. At least he could see now that his work was actually being appreciated. “Alright, I’ll pick you up a good sandwich or something, okay?”

“Hey this is my second time this year being in a hospital  bed. Let me have this mushy moment.” She smiled slighly and shook her head. “Perfect, you’re the best.”

“Really though, I mean it. You can see all the hard work you’ve been doing...and I’m really proud of you.” She lifted his hand to kiss the back of it gently before giving it a squeeze. “Anything. I’m so hungry but I won’t eat this stuff.” She wrinkled her nose at the thought

“You think so?” Asher asked as he looked over at Kaelyn slightly. He smiled at her and nodded his head, “I’ll take your advice.” After all, Kaelyn’s opinion was still something quite important to him. “It’s still a working progress but you know - working on it. Thanks, babe.” He smiled more, “Do you know how long you’ll be stuck in here for? Maybe I should treat you to some good food when you’re out.”

“You always should. I’m amazing after all” she murmured with a slight smile. “It’s amazing. Even if it is a work in progress. It’s really great Asher.” She nodded. She could see all the work he was putting into this, and she couldn’t wait to see him put it into action and see it be as successful as she knew it would be. “Just another day or so, but I would love that. This food is awful. I’m considering a hunger strike”

    Evan wasn’t at all the type of guy to come with for problems. He had a habit of comparing them to his daily life and the horrors he saw each day, and disregarded them. The male cleared his throat and said. “Well Miss Flanagan if you need anything else I can help with, just give me a call. Or inform one of the nurses to page me.”

Narrowing her eyes at him when he called her Miss Flanagan again she cocked her head to the said. “Hold on...you live in Queens apartments don’t you?” She said as the realization hit her. “I swear to God if you call me Miss Flanagan there I will fight you.” she warned and reached up to run her fingers through her hair before wincing. “Any chance I can get some pain meds again...it’s been hours.”

    “Well then they’re assholes. Sue them and quit.” Evan answered curtly to her with a shrug. The male tended to favor a black and white view on things. “That would be concerning–if I was shitting you I mean. It’s medically impossible. But I am serious.”

“I’m pretty sure suing them will end up costing me an arm an a leg. Not that I have one to spare” She said dryly. “Ha. Hilarious” She deadpanned before groaning a little. “Well fuck me.” She stared up at the ceiling. “Just when you think things have stopped going downhill...”

“I’ve been distracting myself from all the stupid mom business - I guess I lost track of things, I’m sorry.” Asher chuckled, moving up on her bed as he pulled out phone to show Kaelyn the pictures. Once he had clicked the camera roll, Asher turned his phone around to show he decor that he had been deciding on. “I’m still trying to decide on round tables or rectangle - I’m leaning more towards the rectangle? I’m not sure what works better. I want it to be a fancy joint, though.”

“No it’s okay” She smiled slightly with a shake of her head, careful not to move too much. Shifting a little to give him more room to sit while he showed the pictures she looked over his shoulder and smiled proudly. “It all looks amazing Ash.” She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. “I’d go with rectangle” She nodded in agreement. “Most fancy restaurants go with circle, you want to stand out.” She added. “I’m proud of you”

“Just being honest, babe.” Asher teased before shooting her a playful wink. At the sharp breath though, Asher frowned, watching as she gently fell back against the pillows. “Sure.” He answered with a small smile, not wanting to argue with her, even if it was just a game, if she was in any sort of pain. “Oh yeah? I should have shown you it already, I’m sorry - but I can show you some pictures if you want?” He asked. 

“Honest my arse” She rolled her eyes a little and tried to find a comfortable postion. “You’re telling me that you have it all planned out and you haven’t even shown me? How rude!” She feigned offence before nodding a little. “I’d love to see them”

    He cradled her folder in his arms, an action he sometimes did unconsciously. “I’m sure your work can understand, it wasn’t like you were asking for this accident to happen.” Evan bit his lip momentarily before replying. “Depends on how you heal. But four to six months I’d say is the estimate. You’ll have to come in monthly so I can check on your arm.”

“Well it’s the second time in the past few months I’ve been on a medical leave for injury. I think they’re a little less understanding than you’re giving them credit for” She sighed and shook her head before gaping at him a little. “You’re shitting me right? You can’t be serious.”

    He listened to her mutter and decided to not comment about it. Evan wasn’t the greatest at advice or anything that wasn’t related to medicine. At her question the doctor gave a small sigh, knowing she wasn’t going to like his answer. “Until tomorrow at least. I just want to make sure, you don’t have a permanent head injury that may later be dangerous.”

“Great” She said monotonously. “Well it’s not as if I can work or anything with my arm like this anyways.” She frowned deeply at the cast. “How long will I have to have this thing on my arm?”

“Has it?” Asher countered before bursting out laughing, “Gonna have to put a stop to that, I can’t have you thinking you have something over me.” He teased, briefly looking over their hands before looking back up at Kaelyn again, “I’m not going to leave you… I promised you that… Besides, if I leave then who am I going to visit in hospital, eh?” He teased, though shook his head - what a poor joke. “And I have a restaurant to run.”

“Don’t be an arse” She laughed a little too before taking in a sharp breath at the slight pain that ran through her. “Good....if you do don’t think for a second I won’t hunt you down and drag you right back here with me” She smiled a little and let her head rest back against her pillows. “You do. I’m expecting to see a lay out or something soon as well. The menu already is promising”

“Yeah, I’m sorry… What happened to you?”

“Car accident” She murmured with a slight shrug. 

“Telling me what to do has never gotten you so far.” Asher pointed out with a playful wink. He sighed softly then and shook his head, “I don’t know what you can do, babe… It just - I don’t see this ending well.”

It’s gotten me far enough!” She protested with a small smile as she continued to trace her thumb back and forth over his knuckles. “Well regardless....anything I can do I will do...just don’t leave me alright?”

“How’s your day going?”

“My arms in a cast and I’ve had a headache since last week....been better”

Asher let out a laugh and shrugged his shoulders, “You can’t tell me what to do, babe.” He teased, childishly. He let out a sigh then and shook his head, “I know she can’t… But - something tells me this is only going to get worse.”

“I can and I will” She said back, bumping him with her knee. Letting out a soft sigh, Kaelyn squeezed his hand again. “Well you know I’ll be here....if you need anything...I mean it. Anything at all.”

    Evan took a deep calming breath, sass talk he could handle, being coped up in the hospital made people a bit more grumpy. But ungrateful patients were his kryptonite. “I’ve seen my share of car accidents, count yourself lucky Miss Flanagan.” He muttered to her as pocketed the flashlight and took the folder in his hands. 

“Yeah well I’m sure I could’ve been one of the unlucky ones and only have two people who gave a shite.” She muttered under her breath and looked out the small window next to her bed. “How long till I’m out of here?”

“But you don’t need to deal with that right now, I mean.” Asher said before rolling his eyes playfully. He couldn’t help but smile at Kaelyn, her priorities right now just amused him. At least he could see that she was still herself now, that nothing had affected her in that way at the very least. His smile fell though and he shook his head slowly, “I dunno…” The young man said quietly, “She said she wanted to see me… That I’m her son and that’s all she needed…” He paused, furrowing his brows at that, “She’s been trying to call me too - not that I’ve answered any of my calls.”

“Don’t you roll your eyes at me Asher” She made a face at him and attempted to cross her arms over her chest unsuccessfully. Reaching over she took his hand in hers again and gave a small squeeze. “Yeah well....she can’t really pick and chooses when she decides to pull the mother card.” Kaelyn murmured and traced her thumb along his knuckles gently.