As they rounded the corner approaching Oak Hills Drive, Tony said, "Ange, when we get to the house, can you pull up to the side of the front walk way? I'll kinda need you to help me get out the car, and to the front door. Unfortunately, you're going to have to get all the ice out, up the stairs, and into the tub yourself. I feel so bad putting all this on you. I really appreciate you, Angela. What would I do without you," said Tony grabbing Angela's hand resting on the center console?
"Tony, I'll do that. It's no problem. You take care of me all the time when I'm down. It's the least I can do," Angela said blushing and smiling.
"Yeah. I do. But I never had to nurse you back physically. I mean you've never been physically naked," said Tony.
Angela paused for a moment, as she is just realizing the magnitude of the need. But not wanting to look like she can't handle it, she replied, "That is true. But Tony, we'll be discreet. We really don't have another option. You've got to get well. I'll close my eyes, and you can cover your sacred parts with a towel. You know how I am about decency and privacy," teased Angela.
"Ugh, I think I'd prefer that the Connecticut Klutz keep her eyes open as I am already banged up and have no defense for any mishaps. And yes, how can I forget, Claudette … even though it backfired on us," said Tony.
"It did, didn't it," Angela laughed. "Well, it won't tonight. Mother's kismet curse won't win tonight! We'll be decent, and I'll respect your body, the same way you've always respected mine," assured Angela.
"That's not what I'm worried about Angela. I never in a million years, thought you'd be disrespectful to my body. I was more concerned with how uncomfortable you might be. You know, handling me, physically, naked. I mean, we've been close, we've kissed, and we've touched each other, but we haven't physically finessed, caressed, or massaged one another," Tony said.
Angela is pulled into the drive way, put her car in park, and turned off the ignition. Instantly, it became very much a reality, that within the next hour, she was going to see a very naked Tony Micelli. Angela realized that she would be physically caressing, finessing, and massaging muscle rub all over his body, and worse off … nobody is home for the rest of the weekend, but them. And yes, she was nervous as hell!
"Well, we're here," she said with an anxious twitch in her voice. "Tony, I have a son, I've been married to Michael, and I've been naked with other men. I am familiar with the male human anatomy. We'll be fine. Don't worry, we won't violate each other. We'll just do whatever we need to do, to get you well. Besides, you've massaged my feet and calves before. We didn't end up in bed or anything, right! Okay. Now, let's not keep this up. I've got a lot to do, to get you, and the supplies in the house, and up the stairs," Angela said with a slight sigh in her voice.
Tony knew that his last statement really made Angela a bit squeamish and conscious of what was about to take place the rest of the weekend. He recognized her tone of authority, which is her defense mechanism to regain control of a situation. The truth is, as much as Tony was hurting, he was looking forward to Angela nursing him back, physically. I mean, it's the perfect set up for them to spend time together. As there haven't been many moments for this with her starting her own agency, the kids, and then she started dating Geoffrey.
Tony missed having adult fun with Angela. And with the kids are in Brooklyn, and Geoffrey away, this night was perfect. He wishes he wasn't so banged up, but he also knows because he is injured, this is the only way he can get her to commit to being this involved with him. He expects her to be uneasy at first; but he's hoping that she'll loosen up, and have some fun with him. Tony really does need Angela's help, but he also plans on getting pleasure out of having her take care of him over the weekend. When I get done with her, she'll be saying Geoffrey who, he thought.
Angela has got Tony out of the car, and in the house. She begins to help Tony towards the chair at the desk. "No Ange. I don't know if I can get back up. Just lay me up against the stairwell. I'll hold on and rest, while you get all the ice out of the car, upstairs, and into the tub," Tony said.
"Well alright, if you think standing against the stairwell is best", she said. Angela shifted her weight as she changed directions to lead Tony to the bottom of the stairwell.
Tony took hold of the banister before he groaned and said, "I do Ange. I do. I just hate you gotta get all that ice in here alone."
"Nurse Ange, to the rescue! You sure you're alright like this," she asked?
"Yeah, it's better than sitting on any of the furniture. It would be just as hard to get me up, like getting me out of the car," he said.
Angela nodded and went back outside to start unloading the ice. Tony stood and watched her muscle in one large bag of ice in at a time, stacking them up at the bottom of the stairs. Angela only realized that the man gave her 7 bags instead of 6 as she brought them in. She sat the grocery bags from the front seat on the desk.
"Angela, you need to rest before getting those bags upstairs," suggested Tony.
"Awh, now I know you've been banged around too much Tony. I can't rest. I have to get all seven bags upstairs and in the tub. Then I'll have to get you up the stairs, and in the iced tub," Angela sheepishly answered as she locked the front door. "Well! Off I go," she said as she headed up the stairs carrying one of the bags of ice.
Tony really was aching from head to toe. He also felt so bad about Angela doing the heavy lifting. He was grateful and appreciative that she wanted to help and take care of him. She was being a real friend, probably more than a friend, but he didn't want his thoughts to dwell there. He watched her hustle back downstairs and carry another bag of ice back up as he stood helplessly holding the banister watching her. This went on about 10 minutes or so until Angela got all the ice up the stairs.
When Angela came back downstairs, she looked at Tony to make sure he was alright. "Okay Champ. Let's get you up the stairs so we can get started," she said.
"Angela, you are amazing. You got all that ice upstairs and in record time. I'm impressed. I'm going to be more like dead weight. Why don't you sit, and catch a quick breather," asked Tony?
"I'm in shape. I got everything under control. Besides, we can't let that ice melt without you being in it," she said. Let's go Cowboy, lean on me," she teased.
Tony smirked as he obeyed her command. He shifted his weight as much as he could so he wasn't putting as much on Angela, even though it pained him even more. He loved it when she did take control. It wasn't often that she took care of him in the house, because that was his domain and he usually doesn't allow her that opportunity. However, this time, it was more of a necessity. As the two of them finally reached the top of the stairwell landing after struggling up the stairs, Angela began to lead Tony towards her bedroom door.
"Angela, where are we going? The kid's bathroom is to the left, remember," Tony asked in a confused tone?
"Yeah, I know. I put the ice in my bathtub Tony. It's higher up and mounted with stairs. I can handle you better getting in and out than in the kid's bathroom. And I have a jacuzzi, you could benefit from the jets after the ice melts. Don't worry, it's fine. I'm glad to accommodate my prize fighter," Angela said opening her bedroom door to lead Tony in.
Micelli, this could be more than you bargained for, or worst; it could end up being a total disaster. You're gambling here. You know her and Geoffrey aren't exactly one-hundred percent, and you know her doubts too. But you also know it's your fault she's with the guy in the first place. But it's Angela, so I have to be careful not to hurt her and I can't blow this now. Hey what can I say, opportunity has knocked again, and it's leading through the door to her bedroom. Am I a winner or what, he thought!
Rub-A-Dub-Dub Chapter TWO