Notification

Ashley

The doctor glanced at me.

“If there’s any change, inform the nursing staff immediately. Don’t attempt any medical procedures yourself. They’ll guide you on the aspects of his personal care you’re expected to assist with.”

“Okay. Thank you, Doctor.”

He nodded and left with the others.

One of the nurses remained behind to brief me.

“You’ll assist with his personal hygiene at eleven in the morning and five in the evening. We’ll help you with the routine, and you should call us if you encounter any difficulty. His medication and medical care are our responsibility.”

I nodded.

“Understood.”

She showed me where the supplies were kept and explained what I would need before leaving me to familiarise myself with the room.

I checked the time.

Ten forty-five.

Oh, great.

My first official assignment was approaching, and I suddenly wished I’d paid more attention during the briefing.

I headed into the bathroom to look at the supplies.

Everything had been arranged neatly: clean towels, washcloths, gloves, and the products needed for his personal care.

I washed my hands, gathered what I needed, and took a deep breath.

Okay, Ashley. You can do this.

It was personal care. Nothing more.

I returned to the bedside and followed the instructions the nurse had given me, making sure Skyler was covered as much as possible and exposing only the area I needed to clean. I worked carefully, using the washcloth and fresh water as instructed.

At first, I concentrated so hard on remembering every step that I barely had time to feel awkward.

Then I reached the more intimate part of his personal care.

I froze.

Oh, my goodness.

I looked at his face, then immediately looked away.

I had never seen a man’s entire naked body in broad daylight before.

With Josh, the lights were usually off whenever things got intimate. I’d never really questioned it, but standing beside Skyler’s hospital bed, I was beginning to think the darkness had been doing me a massive favour.

Because now, with the blanket pulled back and my eyes unfortunately functional, I could see the V-shaped lines of his abdomen narrowing towards his lower body.

Oh.

Oh, wow.

I looked away so quickly I nearly gave myself whiplash.

Ashley, please. You are here to do a job, not audition for the role of a woman who has never seen a man before.

Still, I needed a moment.

“Mr. Tylan,” I muttered, staring very intently at the wall, “I hope you appreciate the sacrifices I’m making for your family.”

I adjusted the towel to preserve his privacy and continued as carefully as I could. For a moment, I was so determined not to look at him that I nearly lost track of what I was doing.

Ashley, please. Concentrate.

I forced myself to look at the task properly and finish cleaning him safely instead of rushing through it out of embarrassment.

When I was done, I helped cover him again, disposed of the used supplies appropriately, and washed my hands.

Then I stood beside the bed and let out a long breath.

“Wow, Mr Tylan. You are indeed a handful.”

He remained gloriously silent.

“Not that you have much of a choice in the matter.”

I shook my head, gathered the remaining supplies, and returned everything to its place.

The rest of the afternoon passed slowly. I spent time beside his bed, occasionally talking to him whenever the silence became too uncomfortable. I also took breaks when the nurses said it was appropriate and checked in with them when I needed guidance.

By the time five o’clock arrived, I was considerably more comfortable with the routine.

Not entirely comfortable, mind you.

But comfortable enough.

I assisted with his second personal-care session under the nurses’ guidance, made sure he was settled afterwards, and checked that everything was in order.

At six, I collected my bag and headed for the door.

My first day was officially over.

And I had survived.

I stepped out of the hospital and reached for my phone to check the time.

A notification appeared at the top of my screen.