Mom was furious on Eddie's behalf too, but she's a lot better about compartmentalizing stuff, so she gave me a list of things to check for, told me to make sure Eddie ate, and to come home before nine.

"Bruises aren't life threatening in and of themselves, but if he took any hits to the kidneys or spine, there may be injuries under the surface," she told me over the wall phone. "Also get him hydrated—more water means more circulation which promotes healing. God . . . why, Fi? He's a good kid!"

I told her the probably chain of events, and she gave a groan hearing Coach Lewis' name.

"Figures! Fat-Ass Ned Lewis feels like he has to be GOD of the GYM at all times. I've got a good mind to read him the riot act!"

"No," I broke in quickly. "You can't, Mom. I don't want to start another chain of events."

She sighed. "True. Okay, check on those points I mentioned and if any of them are positive, bring him over and I'll get him seen, off the record."

"He may not agree."

"Tell him that if he disagrees with a registered nurse, I can have him pulled out of class," and Mom's voice was firm. "I'll do it, too."

"Okay," I agreed, and hung up.

Since Eddie was sleeping, I went ahead and did the dishes, figuring out where to put things in the process. It wasn't a huge place, so I did my homework, keeping alert.

Eventually I heard him get up and go use the bathroom before coming back out to the table in the nook. He smiled at me. "Feel a shit-ton better," he assured me, although he still looked a little rough as he pulled his shirt on.

I checked my watch. "I have to be home before nine, but I want to make sure you get some food in you before I go. Oh, and Mom gave me a list of questions to ask you."

"Questions?" he yawned, shaking out his hair, and it was cute.

"Yep. First one, have you urinated blood?"

"A little, yesterday," Eddie admitted. "Tiny, hardly noticeable."

"Mmm, could be a kidney bruise," I told him. "Any ringing in the ears? Blurred vision? Loose teeth?"

He stopped and took a moment to consider himself. "Nope, nope, nope."

"Do you have any trouble walking?"

Eddie took a few steps, moving closer to me, smirking. "Don't think so."

"Any vomiting?"

He wrinkled his nose. "No, not this time."

"This time. I really hate the sound of that."

"I'm not crazy about it either," he admitted. "Fi . . . thanks. You didn't have to do . . . he waved a vague hand, looking shy. I caught it, and gave hit a light squeeze, feeling the calluses on his fingertips.

"I wanted to," I told him. "Although if I knew you were going to pig out on cookies, I might have gotten you something else."

"I break ALL the rules," he teased in a low voice, moving closer. He shifted his grip, so he was holding my hand, loosely. "Fi . . ."

"Oh, shut up," I whispered, and kissed him.

Godddddddd! Now I hadn't done a lot of kissing, but Eddie . . . Eddie had the softest mouth, warm and gentle. I think he was shocked—well, we both were if I'm being honest—but once our lips touched, we just hung on, and went for it, kissing hard and deep and I was frantic for more, slipping my arms around him and drinking him in, loading up all my senses because hell YEAH, this man could KISS-

A strong flash of light slid over us and the far wall just as the sound of "On the Road Again" blared out amid tires crunching on gravel. Eddie pulled away reluctantly, pupils wide.

"My uncle's home," he rasped, licking his bottom lip. "Damn it."

I felt the same way, but I just nodded. "You got food?"

"TV dinners. We're stocked up," he replied as the trailer door opened.

A lean, leathery man came in, reeking of cigarettes. He pulled up short, seeing me and I nodded to him.

"Hey. Ah, this is Fi," Eddie managed. "The one I was telling you about. Her mom's the nurse."

"Angela's daughter," He replied with a cautious nod. "Good woman, Angela."

"Yeah, I think so too," I agreed. I looked at Eddie, feeling restless and wild and yet full of energy too. "So . . . see you in class tomorrow, k?"

"Wait—" He came out with me, walking gingerly in his bare feet as he escorted me to the car. I'd parked close, though, so we were in the glare of the streetlight of Randolph Road.

I climbed in quickly, before temptation made me do any more stupid things. Eddie looked as disappointed as I felt, but I tried to smile at him.

"Fi . . ." he started, and then leaned through the open window. "Babe . . ."

"Yeah, I know, sorry about that," I sighed. "Kind of a surge of hormones there, plus the worry and all."

"I'm not sorry," Eddie reached out and stroked my hair. "Pffft, for a kiss like that, I'd let Carver use me for a speed bag any damned day of the week."

That made me giggle, and he grinned at me, fingers shifting to touch my nose like a button. "beep!"

"Get inside," I told him through a grin. "And drink some water!"

He pulled away from the window, and I could see him in the rear-view mirror as I drove off, watching me.

At home, mom wanted his vitals while I tried not to think about the kissing, which was hard. I wasn't quite ready to tell her about THAT part, so I focused on what I remembered.

"No black eyes, but a lot of bruises on his ribs, both front and back," I reported, "he said there was only a little blood in his urine and that he didn't have a headache or blurred vision."

"Hmmm," Mom considered all of that. "Well, analgesics and muscle rub are probably his best options, but I'm pissed we can't report this. Did you mention the paella?"

"Yeah, and he was VERY interested in that," I snickered.

"Quickest way to a man's heart. I'll shop for the ingredients, and we'll pick a day."

-oo00oo—

French class was torture.

Eddie sat across from me, smirking, and I couldn't look at him without feeling that everyone on the planet could tell I'd kissed him the night before. I know I was blushing, and the only saving grace was that Mrs. Leydecker had given us vocabulary worksheets, so we weren't supposed to talk.

That didn't stop Munson, who passed me a note.

Good morning Nurse Myers. I have been a good patient. Want to play Doctor later?

I flipped the note over and scribbled on it.

I've got a game at four, so no house calls today.

Reading it, Eddie made a sad little face and then wrote something else and nudged it across the desk.

You will kick Grove Hollow's ass, babe.

I looked up, surprised that he even knew who we were playing. That he even cared.

He winked at me, and I blushed, again.