“It’s different with Kent. He’s more than your boss.”
Neither said anything else as they made their way toward his building. Lana smiled at the men on the reception desk before heading toward the elevator. No one stopped her on her way up to Kent’s room. She’d stood laughing and joking with several of the employees in the building one day when they stopped her. Kent had to give her picture to security in order for her to get inside his building.
At his door she pulled out the key to get inside. Closing the door behind her she spotted Kent immediately.
“What have you done?” Lana asked him. Kent was lying down on the sofa looking deathly pale. Perspiration dotted his brow, and he shivered even though the heating was on inside the room. He’d given her a key the other month. She hadn’t used the key because Kent always went to her. She threw the key on the coffee table. Used tissues, a dirty plate, and medicine were on the table. Her hands were itching to clean up the mess.
Kent usually picked her up and visited her at her apartment. This was the first time he’d called her asking for help. The sight of him was freaking her out.
“I’ve done nothing. I’m dying, Lana.” He grumbled out the words.
Pressing her palm to his forehead she felt his temperature was high.
“We need to get you cleaned up. This air is not going to be good for you.” Keeping her coat on, she walked over to the windows and blasted the room with cold air.
Throwing an extra blanket over him, she cleaned away the mess on the coffee table. Lana placed the plate in to soak as she grabbed a hot cloth and started wiping down the surface.
“Why did I know you’d clean my shit first?” he asked.
“If everything is dirty you won’t get any better. Don’t worry. I’ll be scrubbing you down next,” she said.
“Promises.” He started coughing.
Lana worked cleaning the space he’d been camped in. She turned the television off. Once everything was cleaned and the air felt fresh, she closed the window and turned the heating up.
“Come on. Shower for you,” she said, peeling the blankets away from him.
“You’ve always wanted me naked.”
She chuckled as she helped him toward his bathroom.
Filling his tub with warm water, she blushed when he got na**d for her. His c**k was flaccid but long. Lana couldn’t help but admire his form even though he was poorly.
“Will you stay here? I’ve got to clean your sheets and put some fresh sheets on your bed.”
“I’m not going anywhere, baby. I’m staying right here.”
Lana turned away from the scene and went to his bedroom. She kept her mind occupied with cleaning away his bedding.
“What are you doing in there? Cleaning every surface?” he asked.
Rolling her eyes, she finished stripping his bed and changing his sheets.
His c**k is huge!
Lana stumbled as her thoughts took on more illicit images.
Stop. Kent is all that matters now. Think of him and nothing else.
She found his washing machine and placed the sheets inside.
After gaining control of her emotions and her hormones she walked back into the bathroom. The bubbles covered his abdomen. She let out a sigh of relief and knelt down at the edge of the bath.
“I suddenly think it’s a great idea being friends,” Kent said.
Lana chuckled.
****
Even though he was sick Kent still saw her reaction to his body. Lana liked what she saw, and knowing it made him smile. He was supposed to be at work, but when he’d woken up this morning and could barely move, he knew there was no choice for him to stay at home. Lana was the only person he wanted around.
He’d not even phoned his parents.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
“You’re here, baby. Everything is going to be okay.”
“So that’s why you’ve befriended me. You need a nursemaid.”
“Absolutely, what other uses do you have?” Kent asked, teasing her.
“I have to wonder that myself some days.” She grabbed the soap and the sponge. He watched as she lathered the sponge. The conflict on her face made him curious.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
“Don’t lie to me. I know you, Lana. You’re hiding something.” He frowned at her. She wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“Nothing’s the matter. I’m fine.”
Staring at her, Kent let her soap his arm and chest. Her hands shook a little. He continued to stare at her face.
“Did the diner allow you to take time off?” he asked.
She nibbled her lip. “No.”
“What’s going on?”
“I lost my job at the diner when I went with you to your family’s house for Christmas,” she said.
The words blurted out of her mouth. Kent saw she hadn’t meant for them to come out. Her cheeks were bright red.
“But you need that job.”
“I know. However, I wanted to come away with you at Christmas. My boss said I either had to work or go. I left.”
She shrugged, but he saw the hurt in her eyes.
“How bad is the damage?” he asked.
“What?”
“Lana, I know you only just get by. The bonus you were given wouldn’t last forever. How are you getting your bills paid and the rent?”
She began nibbling her lip again.
“Just tell me.”
“I’ve got to start looking for a new place to live. I can’t afford my apartment. The bills have gone up, and so has the rent. I can’t make ends meet on the one job. I wouldn’t have been able to with both jobs.”
Kent cursed at the unfairness of it all. He rubbed his temple. Lana loved her apartment. The pride she took in her space meant the world to her.
“I’m going to pay for your apartment,” Kent said.
“What? No, you can’t. I won’t accept that.”
“And I won’t accept my woman on the streets or in some shitty apartment where you’re not happy.” He growled the words out. His head was thumping from his illness. Exhaustion swept over him.
“I’m not your woman, Kent.”
“You’re my friend. I take care of what’s mine. I’ll sort out the payments for your apartment. Don’t argue with me, Lana.” He lifted a hand to stop her. “We’ll figure something out. Until then, stop arguing with me and just accept what I’m saying.”
After some time she whispered a thank you.