Eli🎀

"I can't talk a lot right now.."

You mumble out, trying to bite down on the white gauze in your mouth. The jaw surgeon and her nurses had just pulled out two of your impacted wisdom teeth half an hour ago, the numbness from the local anesthesia still making your tongue and cheek feel incredibly weird.

"That's okay, love. Just come and sit on the couch.."

Your boyfriend, Jude tells you, one hand on your waist and one holding up an ice pack to your right cheek. The coldness soothing your sore face.

The morning birds were still chirping outside, as you had scheduled your appointment as early as possible. Wanting to get it over and done with.

"I really want a drink.." You choke out, placing your head on the couch cushion, the soft material more comfortable than the hard chair in the surgeon’s office you had lain on earlier.

"The doctor said you can't drink until the anesthesia has worn off, babe." Jude voices out, his thumb wiping away some bloody spit coming out the corner of your mouth.

Being a professional footballer for years had made him absolutely immune to anything pertaining to blood and wounds. He'd experienced and seen so many injuries to count on his hands, which turned out to be beneficial for you in a moment like this.

He'd gone as far as to postpone his post-season family vacation when he'd heard you planned to spend your post-opp days miserable and alone in your apartment. Wanting to be there for you when you were healing and needed some extra love and support.

"That's so unfair.." You whisper, closing your eyes as you let out a strangled sigh. Still emotional from what happened back at the hospital.

Yes, you were fully numbed, but being conscious and aware of the fact that your gums and jawbone were being cut and drilled into made you squeamish and extra nervous.

"I know, baby.." You hear your boyfriend say, a warm towel coming to wipe your mouth and face.

"Let's change you into your pajamas. It's best if you sleep off the numbness.."

He'd changed and helped you into bed within minutes, planting a sweet and comforting kiss onto your forehead, as he pulled up the comforter to your chest.

"I don't want you to go.." You whisper out when you notice him back away, his hands reaching for the doorknob.

"Hm? You want me to stay?" He cocks a brow, hesitating as he was planning to call his mum to ask if she could make some soup for you. He'd obviously want to make some himself, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to take his chances— of you ending up even more miserable when you tasted his cooking skills, or rather lack thereof..

"Please.."

Jude's heart clenches in his chest as he hears the emotion in your voice, he lets go of the doorknob, making a beeline towards his side of the bed.

He makes quick work of texting his mum, before placing his phone on the nightstand, and coming to wrap his arms around your waist. His warm body and muscular arms providing some much- needed comfort.

"Here, here.. close your eyes, baby, hm? I'll be here when you wake up.."

You make a small noise, before turning in his hold to face him. You look him over, his concerned brown eyes, and plump lips set in a line of worry. Unconsciously, his hand comes up to fix the ice pack underneath your head.

"C'mon, sleep now, yeah?" Jude goes in to kiss your forehead once more, a thumb swiping over your brow bone.

Nodding softly, you close your eyes. Exhaustion taking over you, as a result of your nerves not letting you sleep properly last night.

The last thing you see before nodding off, is Jude's handsome face. And as he promised; the first thing you see when waking up hours later in the afternoon— is his face again.

"Morning, sleepyhead. How are you feelin'?” Jude's gentle voice coaxes you awake, your consciousness slowly getting clearer. You immediately notice the fact that the ice pack underneath your head is frozen solid, noting that Jude must've switched it for a frozen one while you were asleep.

"It hurts.." Your first words make him frown in worry, one hand coming to check the size of your swollen cheek.

"You're a bit swollen, baby.." He comments, his gaze overridden with worry and guilt. Jude can't help but feel relief at the fact that he'd decided to stay home until you’ve recovered, since he couldn't have left you alone in your vulnerable state.

"Here, sit up so I can feed you some of my mum’s soup.." He says, stabilizing your back as you move to sit.

You immediately groan at the change of position, feeling your cheek swell up wasn't for the weak..

"I want medicine.." You comment, frowning in pain. Your hand coming to cling onto Jude's bicep, fingers curling around the bulging muscles.

"Okay, baby.. here— let me..."

Jude makes quick work of grabbing the painkillers on the nightstand, grabbing two for optimal effect.

"Take one at a time, slowly.." He muses, slowly placing one into your mouth. Jude brings up a cup of lukewarm water, helping you wash away the medicine.

"Remember, no rinsing your mouth until tomorrow..." He comments, placing the empty glass back on the nightstand.

"Gross.." You mumble back, the idea of having a crusty-bloody mouth until tomorrow makes you want to grab a bottle of mouthwash and rinse your mouth until you feel and taste only the mintiness of the liquid.

"I won't kiss you until then.." Jude teases, a smirk pulling on his lips, a hint of mocking in his eyes.

"You're so mean.." You mumble out, clinging onto the ice pack for some relief.

"I love you too.." He muses, wrapping an arm around your back to pull you closer.

"Do you want to eat in bed, or would you like to sit at the table?" Jude asks, fingers playing with your hair strands, the feeling making you slightly ticklish.

"Here.." You comment, eyes going to the bowl of soup on his nightstand. No way did you have energy to move to the dinner table.

"I love your mum.." You add, appreciating the fact that she had taken the time out of her busy day to cook for you.

A silent declaration of love.

Jude chuckles at your love for his mother, moving his arm to grab the warm bowl of soup.

"I'll let her know, or— you should tell her yourself when you see her.." He stirs the liquid with a metal spoon, then holds up a spoonful of soup, and blows on it.

He knows it would be better to eat lukewarm and warm foods, as anything very hot could cause you to burn your mouth. He’d rather not add anything to your list of burdens today...

"Here you go, have some.." Jude coaxes, feeding you slowly until you finish the bowl of soup with a sigh.

"That was good.." You mumble, humming when you feel a warm towel on your face.

"Are you still hungry?" Jude asks, wiping away the residual soup from your lips, as licking them was harder with half your jaw stitched shut.

"No, I'm good..."

You move up to his lap, thighs pressing against his, as Jude gets the queue to wrap his arm around you, stabilizing the ice pack on your cheek.

"Hands around me.." He tells you, knowing it was the most comfortable for you to rest your hands, and not to worry about holding the cold, icy plastic to your face.

"Good girl, we'll let the soup settle into your belly, and then I'll prepare a warm bath, 'kay?" Jude whispers, running a soothing hand down your back.

You hum, taking his signature cologne in. Normally, when he would go out— he'd smell like sandalwood and bergamot— like the perfume you'd gifted him on his birthday years ago. Something he would rebuy and apply all the time, just to think of you when you weren't there..

Now, he smelled the definition of clean. A soft, gentle smell of the shampoo in his recently washed hair, and the smell of his sweet cocoa body lotion, something you couldn't help but steal from him..

"I want a smoothie after this.." You mumble, taking in the soothing touches. The taste of a freshly made smoothie was heavenly to you, especially when you were feeling down or under the weather..

"Of course, whatever my princess wants, my princess gets.."