Maybe Baby Lite by Andrea Smith Read Free Book Online

started to smile,
enjoying our exchange. “First of all, Charlotte is not my girlfriend.
That's really the first time we've been out; she asked me to be her
date at some function at her club so I accepted.
Secondly—”
    Just then, the door to my
hospital room opened and a smiling Ray and Denise walked in. My
spirits immediately lifted.
    “ Hey there, girl, how are
you doing?” Denise gushed as she entered. Ray came to my bedside
and gave me a peck on the forehead then started talking to Trey;
they retreated over to the window, lowering their voices. I
strained to hear them, but my attention shifted back to Denise as
she recoiled at my hair.
    “ My oh my, girl. Don’t
they allow you to shower here?” she asked, her lip curled up in
disgust. “Why your gorgeous hair looks like it’s had pure lard
combed through it!”
    I saw Trey momentarily
stop his conversation, glancing over at me. I blushed with
embarrassment.
    Trey spoke up, “She just
really came around fully today, Denise. There was no way anyone was
going to be able to get her into the shower. She can’t have
anything more than sponge baths until they remove her catheter,
anyway.”
    Catheter? But that’s
for…
    I slowly lifted up my
covers and pulled up my hospital gown in front to get a
peek.
    Sweet Jesus!
    I peered down at the side
of my hospital bed; naturally it was on the side that faces the
window where he and Ray were standing in plain sight. I felt my
face warming. My eyes flew up and met his amused gaze. He'd
thoroughly enjoyed watching me figure it all out.
    Damn, how much had he seen
over the past several days? Trey and Ray resumed talking. I was
relieved that his attention was diverted away from the pee bag and
my nasty hair. Denise was futilely trying to run a comb through my
hair when I heard Trey’s voice rise in response to something that
Ray had told him.
    “ How many days since he
last ate?” Trey questioned.
    “ Three.”
    Trey looked irritated. He
absently raked a hand through his hair, taking a moment to think
before speaking again.
    “ Okay, Ray, have Clint mix
up some of that special oat grain and barley meal. Tell Clint to
let Derringer free feed until I tell him differently, got
it?”
    “ Sure thing,” Ray
answered.
    “ What’s going on with
Derringer?” I demanded, interrupting their conversation.
    “ Derringer's going to be
fine, Tylar,” Trey said, sensing that I was becoming upset. “Just a
little hunger strike going on that’s all. It’s temporary, I’m sure.
He’s probably missing someone that’s taken to spoiling him,” he
said pleasantly.
    I frowned, worried about
the Lipizzaner. Denise spoke up.
    “ Tylar,” she said
congenially, “I don’t want to be pushy, hon, but if you want me to,
I can ask at the nurse’s station if they will let me help you into
the shower. I can shampoo and condition your hair for you if you
want.”
    “ Denise, I'll love you
forever if you can swing that,” I answered eagerly. “Can you let
them know that I'm able to use the bathroom now so I can get this
catheter removed?”
    “ Sure thing, hon, you just
sit tight. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
    Ray came over and sat down
on the edge of my bed. “We sure miss you, Ty,” he smiled, his eyes
crinkling. “I can tell you this Trey reamed the whole bunch of them
real good, especially Jenna and Clint.”
    “ No,” I exclaimed,
glancing at Trey who stared absently out the window. “Clint had no
hand in this at all, Ray. I know that for a fact. Now Jenna, yeah,
I wouldn’t put anything past her, but still, I can’t think she
would do something to purposely hurt me.”
    “ What do you mean ‘Clint
had no hand in this?’” Trey interrupted, his eyes blazing directly
at me.
    Maybe he hadn't been
distracted at the window after all.
    “ Clint knows goddamn well
that you're not old enough to legally consume alcohol! What the
hell was he thinking? Never mind, you and I both know what he was
thinking.” Trey turned on