Wheels of Steel, Book 1 (17 page)

“Yeah, I know-”

“Well, obviously you know.” He snickered dryly. “We couldn’t get anyone to cover your shift last night at such a late notice.” He paused, providing her with the opportunity to apologize or beg for mercy.

“Well, that’s what I want to talk to you about, finding someone to cover me…permanently.” There was silence and Robin closed her eyes and wished that this part was over.

“You’re quitting?” He seemed stunned.

“I think it would be for the best. The message that was left for me last night kind of told me to make a choice.” So there, it’s made.

“So you’re saying that you’re not even going to give us a few days in order to replace you?” Robin chewed her lip without responding. “Can you at least come in tonight?” He pleaded. She suddenly realized that Mike had not anticipated losing her as an employee. He got off on giving people shit, but the restaurant couldn’t really afford to lose a valuable employee like her. And now his tone was completely different.

Somehow that made her feel…powerful. She stopped fidgeting. “Mike. I’ll come in tonight and as long as my final check is ready and waiting for me for the hours that I did work, as well as the shift that I’m going to work tonight, then I’ll go ahead and work. But Mike, I want you to understand this; I overslept and missed my shift and for that I apologize. But I never call off, I’m never late and I fill in at the drop of a dime. I think that under the circumstances the message that was left for me could have been a bit more understanding. Maybe some employees screw people—but I don’t.” She was amazed that her voice didn’t quiver although the rest of her did. She’d never said anything like that to an employer. Then she thought, what the hell?! It’s just Mike. He needed her, she didn’t need him.

And he seemed to know it as he replied with stilted words. “Ok. I’ll have your check ready. You’ll have to leave your uniform, and bring in the spare.”

“Fine. I’ll be there tonight.” She hung up. Then she smiled. That hadn’t been so bad after all.

Jason had been listening quietly. Robin had been working two jobs? He felt even worse about yelling at her now that he understood the reason she’d fallen asleep. Did that mean she was hurting for money…? Duh. And he’d let her treat for lunch and not even offered to pay it back. Then the food had fallen on the ground and gotten trampled. She probably thought he was such an ass. He was an ass, so why did she keep this job and not the other?

“Sorry about that.” She said when she was done with her conversation. “I would have stepped outside…but…”

“It’s fine. Look, Robin, I’m sorry that…um, well that I dropped lunch. And I meant to tell you thanks for paying.”

Robin suddenly looked embarrassed. “Don’t worry about it, you always pay for my lunch at school...And it’s not like I can’t afford to skip a meal or two.”

He didn’t know what to say, nothing seemed safe on that topic, especially since he thought her rounded form was…nice so he closed his eyes and relaxed again.

Robin watched him. Cerebral Palsy was a disorder that had so many different faces. Over the last week she’d seen him in uncontrolled muscle movements, she’d seen him stuttering with spit flying, she’d seen him laughing…and now this; relaxed. Each emotion created a different face, but this one, where his eyes were closed and he seemed calm was her favorite. So she sat and watched him, marveling at the number of freckles that covered his light skin. There was not an inch of skin that wasn’t dotted with brown spots. But it was his ginger colored lashes that took up most of her attention. Their length actually seemed to leave shadows on his cheek.

Jason had the thick stocky build of a wrestler, but there wasn’t an ounce of fat on him. If he hadn’t been born with this disorder then he probably would have been a football player or something. He was definitely over six feet tall.

The whole package appealed to her, including the crooked tilt of his mouth which was evidence of his Cerebral Palsy, for it did not repel her, it was just a different way for him to move.

She looked away guiltily when two people entered the room and headed for the sauna. Then reality like a splash of cold water hit her because she had been having ‘thoughts’ about a nineteen year old disabled boy who also happened to be her client! It was totally inappropriate. She didn’t have to be a real doctor or nurse to know that.

Jason pulled himself out of the Jacuzzi a few minutes later. Robin folded a towel in his chair as he instructed and after he was seated in it she handed him a second towel and he quickly dried himself. She helped him situate his legs. He obviously had very limited ability to move his legs and feet; which was obvious by their diminished size. She glanced up and saw that he was watching the way she stared at them and she ducked her head down. She then followed him to the physical therapist office, stopping short of entering.

“I need to…” she pointed in the direction of the ladies room.

He nodded in amusement. Her bladder must be the size of a nut. “Come in when you’re done.” He wheeled himself into the room where his physical therapist was watching Robin with open curiosity.

“So who’s the cute girl; new assistant?” Raymond was not just his physical therapist, but also a good friend. He was big, muscular, with ebony skin and a shaved head. He had been working with Jason since he was sixteen—after his Mom had fired the woman that had given him the hand jobs. She figured Raymond would be a safer option as a therapist…and though the older black man had not ever given him a hand job, Raymond wasn’t the most innocuous of people. Still, he was another that Jason would characterize as a ‘diamond in the rough.’

Jason’s lip twisted as he sneered playfully. “Don’t go there, Ray. You’re old enough to be her father.”

“How old do you think I am, Jason?”

“Forties?”

Raymond’s laughter rumbled from the pit of his stomach. “Damn. I’m thirty-two.” He worked his thumbs into Jason’s instep. “You should put in a good word for me. I haven’t been on a date in weeks.”

“Well…I think she has a boyfriend,” he lied and wasn’t sure why. He liked Raymond but a guy that good looking shouldn’t have any trouble pulling in his own dates.

“Damn, well she’s a cutie. Nice big body the way I like ‘em.”

Jason cleared his throat. “So how’s my feet looking?”

“Pretty good. I can tell you’ve been walking; though.” He and Raymond had an understanding. Like Vegas; what happened in Physical Therapy stayed in Physical Therapy. He knew that Raymond wouldn’t tell his Mom about his walking, or the bruises. Once, Raymond had found him black and blue because he’d had a seizure while in the tub. He’d cracked his head pretty hard but evidently not too hard; he hadn’t knocked himself out or anything. Raymond had never mentioned it to his mother.

The big man rubbed and flexed his feet, rolling his ankle joints, listening for them to pop. Then there was a brief knock on the door and Robin poked her head in.

“Hey…is it okay if I come in?” She asked shyly.

“Come on in. Pull up a chair and make yourself at home.” Raymond spoke. His face broke into a broad grin just as Jason’s mouth pulled down into a sour grimace. Raymond nudged him. “Are you going to introduce us? Damn Jay, where’s your manners?”

Robin sat down in an empty chair. The guy rubbing Jason’s feet seemed nice and he was that handsome which always made her nervous; as if she shouldn’t even bother to speak because a guy like that would have no interest in what she’d have to say.

Jason sounded bored when he said. “Robin, Raymond. Raymond Robin.”

“Robin. What a pretty name…for a pretty lady.”

“Oh my god.” Jason said. “You didn’t actually say that did you?”

“Hush.” Raymond said. “Don’t mess up my game.”

Robin looked from one to the other, not sure if there was flirting or if the two of them were pulling her leg. “Um, nice to meet you...and thank you.”

“Game…” Jason mocked. Grrr, he hated the way girls always acted flustered around guys like Raymond!

Raymond reached for the baby oil and Jason noted the way her eyes followed his every movement. He began rubbing Jason’s calves.

“Robin, you should never thank a man for honesty. But forgive me, I’m flirting mercilessly. I wouldn’t want your boyfriend to be offended.”

Don’t fall for it Robin
. Jason thought.
Don’t fall for the obvious line
.

“I don’t have a boyfriend.” She spoke shyly.

Oh Robin!
Jason felt like giving her a lesson in ‘Pick up lines 101.’ Or a book entitled Pick Up Lines For Dummies!

Raymond just gave her a surprised look and then he glanced at Jason. His expression brightened as he offered the younger man a hidden wink.

“So Robin. Have you had to give a massage yet to any of your patients?”

“No.” She shook her head.

“Hmmm.”

“Well I haven’t had many patients. I’m kinda new to this.”

“Well you’ll probably have to at some point. Come here, bring your chair over.” Robin and Jason both gave him a surprised look.

“Well…” She hesitated. “I don’t know-”

“Come on, it’s ok. I mean, unless…you know…you’re not comfortable with it…”

Jason blushed. “Raymond, she doesn’t want to…”

Oh gosh, they thought she didn’t want to touch him. “No, I don’t mind. I mean, if Jason doesn’t mind…?”

Jason didn’t respond but Raymond jumped up and brought her chair over to the massage table. “Okay, I’m going to do one leg and you do the other, and I’ll tell you what I’m doing, ok?”

She nodded as she sat down. She glanced at Jason who didn’t seem all that keen on this. Raymond picked up his oil slickened leg and began to stroke the calf muscle. Robin took hold of his other leg.

“Get some oil first.”

“Oh, right.” She grabbed some baby oil and rubbed it into her palm then she gently began rubbing his calf; mimicking the movements that Raymond made.

“That’s good. You can be a bit firmer. The key with Jason is to stimulate his muscles. You and I, this might hurt, but it doesn’t hurt him.”

She looked up at him for affirmation. He nodded once. So she did as Raymond instructed, kneading his muscles firmly.

“Good Robin. Now flex his foot; gentle. Never pull or tug. You’ll feel the tightness and you knead it in order to release it.” She felt how stiff his muscles were when she gently pulled back on his foot while working his calves.

“Wow, you’re tight.” Jason’s face remained expressionless and he did very little moving. Robin turned to Raymond. “How long does it take to loosen him up?”

“In Jason’s case? He has no concept of how to loosen up.” Raymond chuckled at his joke.

“Shut up.” Jason mumbled.

“See?” Robin smiled. She liked Raymond. He was easy going and his attitude put her at ease. He continued to rub and knead his calves. He loaded up more baby oil on his hands and ran his thumb firmly along the top of Jason’s upper thighs, his large hands gripping his leg almost completely.

Robin reached for the baby oil and rubbed her hands together again. She placed them around his other thigh, cupping him firmly and then ran her thumbs into his muscles. Jason jumped and grunted. She froze.

“Too hard?” His face was beet red. Raymond looked at him a question. Jason’s eyes flitted to Raymond; a silent appeal there. Raymond glanced down, and then his eyes grew big, a smile tugging at his lips.

“Hey Robin, why don’t you go to the ladies room and wash the oil off your hands. I don’t want it to ruin your pretty blouse, and I’ll finish up here. Okay?”

“Oh ok. Thanks Raymond, for showing me how to do this. I really appreciate it.” Raymond was already out of his chair and showing her to the door.

“My pleasure.” He grinned in a friendly way. “You’re a good student.” She backed out of the door smiling and he closed it softly. He turned slowly back to Jason and burst out laughing.

“Oh my freaking god!” He laughed. “You got a hard-on?!”

“Shut up before someone hears!” Jason’s hands were buried in his lap shielding it.

Raymond calmed down, but only some. “I’m jealous, Red. You never got one of those for me.” Then he burst out in laughter again.

Jason was just shaking his head. “You are so wrong for that.” He adjusted himself. “But thank you.” Then he grinned. “It was cool until…you know…”

“Until shorty appeared?”