by Delisa Lynn
“Whoa, you would do that for me? I tried to get you in trouble and take your money.”
“I really wanted to claw your eyeballs out, but after what you just told me, I can’t hate you. I’ve done bad things that I’m not proud of. As long as you promise to get help, I’ll help you as much as I can.”
“I don’t deserve this,” she cries. A part of me wants to hug her, but I won’t.
“Okay, I better get back out here. I’ll call my lawyer and fill him in on what’s going on.
***
Heath
I can’t believe all this shit I just heard. This has to be the craziest shit I’ve ever dealt with. Alyssa is still in there with Jessika. She even offered to help her. A part of me wants to say hell no, you aren’t helping her.
I watch Alyssa walk out. I grab her and hug her.
“Can you get a search warrant for Theresa?” she asks Meek as she clings to me. “I think we will get our answers there.”
“We sure can,” Meek says.
“What do you think is going on, Lys?”
“This woman obviously has something against you. Heath, I feel so bad for Jessika. We have to help her.” I knew she would say that. I’m not sure I can help her after all that she has done to me, but if that’s what Alyssa wants to do, then I’ll do it.
“Okay, if that’s what you want.”
“My partner has picked Theresa up already. He’s on his way back now. Do you want to see her?” Meek asks,
“Hell yes, I do. I want to know what all this is about. It can’t just be because I have a little cash.”
“People are greedy. It is very possible.”
“You do have a point.”
“They’re here. I just received his text. Keep your cool, okay?”
“I’ll try,” I say as I see an officer walking through the door with Theresa. Alyssa can sense that I’m going to blow. She wraps her arms around my waist and I instantly relax.
“Keep calm. I’ll take care of this,” she says as she tightens her grip on me.
“Not sure I can do that.” After hearing what I just heard about Theresa, I can barely stand to look at her. My stomach is in knots. They not only lied about my dead girlfriend, but they dragged my current one into this mess.
“Theresa, so you fabricated all this because Heath wouldn’t go out with you? Is that what all this was about?” That’s my girl.
“Fuck you all, I’m not saying shit. I don’t know what that whore told you, but I do know that you all will be sorry for dragging Sledge and me into this.”
“Well, sweetie, no one said anything about Sledge, now did we?” Alyssa smirks as she crosses her arms.
“This is all your fault. Had you not walked your way into his life, we would have already had the money. Yes, I did all of this. I stole videos of you and Josie having sex. I paid someone to call Jessika and tell her she was Josie.
“Heath, they don’t deserve you. You’re too good for all of them because you belong with someone that will take care of you. I would have done that, but you turned me down.” She laughs. “So I decided I would ruin you. My brother got involved. We knew Jess back when she would drop to her knees for her next fix, so we turned her into a junkie again. She failed miserably at what we told to her to do. She’ll pay for that with her life.”
“You’re sick and twisted,” Alyssa says before she punches her.
“Did you see that? She assaulted me?” Theresa yells as the officer pushes her into a cell.
“I can’t believe they did all of this.” I run my hand through my hair. “Alyssa, I’m so sorry. I need to apologize to Jessika.”
“Come on, I’ll go with you.”
We walk into the room Alyssa interrogated Jess in. Jessika is still sitting at the table, crying. I feel so bad that she got involved in this. I did love her at one time, but every ounce of the love I felt for her died the day I saw her with another man.
“I owe you an apology. Theresa just admitted to everything,” I say, trying not to look into her eyes. “She made all that up about Josie, just so you know.”
“All I cared about was the drugs, and I didn’t even stop to think about what they were doing. Did they catch Sledge?”
“Not yet. They will, though.”
“What about me?” she whispers.
“Don’t you worry about that. My attorney is on his way here from New York. I texted him a while ago. We will get you help,” Lys says.
“Thank you, Alyssa. I’m sorry for all the mean things I said to you.”
“No worries. Just make sure you stay clean, got it?”
“Yes, I will. I’m done.” She sighs. “How long will I be here?”
“You have to stay until the cops know for sure what’s going on. You’re safe here, considering they haven’t brought the others in yet. Just get some rest, okay?” I place my hand on her shoulder.
“Thank you,” she says with tears rolling down her cheeks.
Chapter Seventeen
Alyssa
It’s been two days and they still haven’t found Sledge. Heath and I are going to South Carolina to visit his dad and stepmom for the weekend. This is going to be a little odd because I haven’t seen either of them since Seth’s funeral. I’ve spoken to Libby on the phone and she seems nice.
Heath is taking a nap. He showed three houses this morning. I’m packing our things and going to say bye to my sister and my cat before leaving. It feels so weird, not having Softie with me. We’ve tried bringing him home with us, but poor Heath has to eat Benadryl like it’s candy when he even enters the same room as Softie.
While opening Heath’s dresser to grab him some socks, I see a small brown box. I know I shouldn’t open it, so I sit it back in there. I turn around and start packing the other clothes, but there is something about the box that is drawing me back to it. I open the drawer again and pull the box out.
After opening it, I gasp at the pictures of Seth. Some are of him and Heath and there is even a few of Seth and me. Then I see the pictures of Heath and Josie. I wonder how he got the ones of Seth and me. They were taken right before the accident.
I put all the pictures back the way I found them and gently close the drawer. I run into the bathroom and close the door, tears welling in my eyes.
As I slide onto the floor with my back against the wall, I realize I’m holding one of the pictures. It’s Seth with his arm around me. He was wearing a leather jacket and a button down shirt. It was from an eighties party we attended.
I clutch the picture and cry. Even after all of these years, I’m still so angry at him for going to that party. He would’ve still been alive had he not climbed on that motorcycle and drove that route.
I’m not sure how long I laid on the cold tile. I feel strong arms wrap around me. I open my red, swollen eyes and see his gray eyes, his light brown hair. “Shh, angel, it’s okay. I have you. Just sleep,” he says.
“Seth, why? Why did you leave me?”
“Lys, baby, it’s me, Heath.”
I blink a few times. His top lip twitches. “Heath?”
“Yes, baby. You’ve been asleep on the floor for a few hours.”
“Put me down,” I yell. “Why did you call me that?”
“I always call you baby.”
“No, you called me angel. You said angel,” I yell louder.
“Baby, calm down. I know that’s what he called you. I would never call you that.”
“I heard you…” I say as I try to recall exactly what he said. “I’m sorry.” I bury my head in a pillow.
“Look at me. What’s wrong? I see you found the pictures.”
I realize I’m still clinging to the picture. “Go away. Just let me sleep.”
“I’m not going anywhere. What is wrong?”
“Everything. I knew I was broken. I told you, I’m a complete mess.”
“Move the pillow, now,” he says, a bit of authority in his voice.
“The pictures brought back memories that
I don’t want to forget, and being with you reminds me too much of him.”
“Lys, stop this right now. I’m sorry you found them, but you’re not pushing me away.”
“He loved me…He left me. Who’s to say you won’t leave me too?”
“Baby, I’m not going anywhere. I can’t promise you what tomorrow holds, but I can promise you that, for as long as there is air in my body, I’ll be yours.”
“Why? Why do you love me?”
“I love you because you are you. You are strong, beautiful, and successful. And because you love me too.”
“This has all moved too fast. I’m scared. I can’t lose anyone else. Seth’s death scarred me. Then Evan broke my heart. I just can’t handle another scar.”
Placing his hands on either side of my face, he says, “I want to be your healing ointment for all of your scars.”
He kisses me. When his lips touch mine, I groan in spite of the lump that’s already forming in my throat.
I pull away, breathless, and look into his deep eyes. “I can’t, I just can’t. I’ll go stay with Abby until I figure all this out. I’m sorry to have led you on. I don’t love you. You should be with someone you love,” I lie. That’s the first time in years that I’ve lied like this. I hate myself for it.
Grabbing the bag I’d packed for myself to take to his parents, I run down the stairs and out the front door. I can’t breathe. I feel like all the air in my lungs has escaped. My body’s weak. Who the fuck am I kidding? I am weak. I’m so goddamn weak.
When I make it to Brett and Abby’s front door, I feel Heath’s arms around my waist. He whips me around so that I’m facing him. There are tears in his eyes as well as fear. I can’t speak. All I can do is cry. I shake my head and try to escape his embrace.
“You’re not doing this. I don’t care what it takes. Don’t stand here and tell me you don’t fucking love me. You know damn well that’s a lie. Tell me, Lys. Tell me you don’t feel the same way I do,” he screams.
“I…I can’t. I don’t lo—No!” I scream.
“Tell me. Fucking tell me right now. I’ll walk away from you, but you have to tell me that you don’t want me,” he yells, running his hand down his face.
“What in the hell?” Abby says. “Whoa, I’ll be inside if you need me.” She closes the door back.
“You see this? This is your ring. I was going to propose to you this weekend. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, Alyssa Sommers. I want you in our bed every night, and I want to drink coffee with you every morning. I even want your cat that makes my eyes and throat swell up to be there with us. I can’t…I won’t live this life unless you’re in it with me. Please, baby. Please marry me,” he cries as he falls to his knees.
The ring is beautiful, and it’s huge too. How can I be so blind? How can I say no? God, do I love this man. I love him more than anything. I’m so scared. Why am I so fucked up?
“Heath,” I say
“Don’t tell me no. I can’t accept that. I won’t fucking accept that.”
“Just give me time. I’m so scared,” I cry.
“Okay, I’ll go call my parents and let them know we aren’t coming, but I’ll be back because we aren’t finished.” He kisses my cheek.
As he walks across the street, all I can hear are tires. Then what I see is something I’ll never forget. A blue Mustang speeds away as Heath lies on the ground. In a state of panic, I freeze. I just lost the only other man that has ever loved me.
Abby runs out of her house, but it looks like she’s moving and talking in slow motion. I’m so out of it.
“Alyssa, what in the world? Oh my God! Brett, call nine-one-one. Heath, oh, God. Alyssa, go grab some towels.”
“The ambulance is on the way. What happened?” Brett screams. “Alyssa, fucking answer me,” he says, shaking me. My body is numb. I see Abby in the street, working on Heath. My mind is blank. I’ve lost him too. He is gone, and there’s only one other person who would take him away from me…
“Sledge.”
***
Heath
I’m giving her ten minutes. Then I’m going back to Abby’s house and I’m not leaving until she says yes. I understand she is scared, but I also know she loves me.
I kiss her cheek and turn to walk away. As I step onto the hot pavement, I hear a car. I look up just in time to see a blue Mustang gunning toward me and that the driver is Sledge. I try moving, but he’s driving too fast. I feel pain in my legs, then my arms.
I hear Abby yelling. She places a towel over me. She’s crying. I look around for Alyssa. I can’t see her. I need to see her beautiful face. I hear sirens and see Brett standing above me, holding Abby.
“Heath, my name is Jennifer. I’m going to get you to the hospital. Everything will be okay,” she says. I feel a sharp pain in my hand. Warmth shoots through my veins.
“Lys, where’s Lys?” I mumble. Then I hear her shaky voice.
“I’m here, sweetie. I’m not going anywhere,” she cries.
“Sledge…” I whisper.
“I know. The cops are looking for him now. The neighbor wrote down his plate number.”
“Ring?”
“Shh, don’t you worry about it. It’s right here on my finger, where it belongs.”
“We’re taking you to Cable University Hospital. We will be there soon. Stay with us, okay?” I hear the lady say.
“Hurt…Legs hurt,” I mumble.
Then the lights go out and all I can see is Seth. He’s lying in his bed, throwing a football up in the air. His feet are propped up against the wall.
“Dude, Mom will shit if you scuff the wall,” I say as I enter the room.
“She’ll be okay. I’m pretty pissed at her right now. I can’t believe they’re separating us. She promised me that I could go to South Carolina with you and Dad.”
“I know, it sucks. I wish I wasn’t going either, but we will see each other next month.”
“Yeah, but it’s not the same.”
“Come on. Let’s go have some fun before I have to leave,” I say, smacking his leg.
“Heath, can you hear me? I’m Dr. Chief. You’ve been banged up pretty bad. We’re going to take you into surgery.”
“Seth…”
“No, sir. I’m not Seth. Your family is in the waiting area. Your wife is standing outside the door. Would you like to see her before we go into the operating room?”
“Wife?”
“Hang on, I’ll grab her. She can only stay a few minutes.”
A couple seconds later, Alyssa enters the room. “Baby, I’m here. They have to repair some ligaments that are torn in your legs. I’ll be waiting for you.”
“So, my wife, huh?” I try to laugh.
“I will be.” She winks before kissing my forehead. “I love you, Heath Mason, times infinity.”
“Lov-love you too.”
Chapter Eighteen
Alyssa
Heath has been in surgery for three hours now. The way the car hit him, it damaged both of his legs. We were here for about an hour when Meek called and said they’d caught Sledge. Apparently, he thought if he killed Heath, everything would be over. I feel somewhat responsible. Had I not ran out and argued with Heath, we would have been on our way to his parents’ house. Now we’re all sitting here in this hospital. I don’t like hospitals. I spent the week in a hospital when Seth was on life support.
The smell of the cleaner mixed with all the smells of the illnesses and the medicines is enough to make you puke. I’m so glad I didn’t follow in my father’s footsteps. No way could I spend half my days and most of my nights here. Trying to think positively, I pull out my phone and look at pictures of Heath and me.
I notice one picture that I’d never seen before. He must have taken it. We’re lying in the hammock and my head is on his shoulder. I’m looking down, laughing. His smile is huge. His white teeth are shining. The gleam in his gray eyes is the brightest I’ve seen.
“Mrs. Mason?” a guy
calls from behind us. I look at Heath’s family and smile.
“Yes, that’s me,” I reply. They know I’d said I was his wife.
“You can go in one at a time. He is out of surgery and he will be just fine. He will need a lot of physical therapy. Other than that, he’s good to go home in the next few days. He is a lucky man.”
“Thank you so much, sir,” I say as I wipe tears from my face. His room is at the end of the hall. I can see his bed even before I enter. I brace myself because I know he is awake.
“I was hoping you would be the first to see me,” he says.
“I’m sorry. This is all my fault.”
“No, don’t ever think that.”
“I thought you were dead. All I saw was you lying there, lifeless. I froze. Abby and Brett are the ones that knew what to do for you,” I say as I place my hand on his.
“Don’t cry, baby. It’s okay. I’m okay. Did they catch him?”
“Yes, they did. Now he and his sleaze of a sister are behind bars.”
“I can’t wait to get out of here and hold you in my arms.”
“Is that so? Well, since I’m your wife, I do get to stay here with you.” I wink.
“Yes, I can’t wait to make you mine officially. You sure about all of this?”
“Absolutely. I was scared, but seeing what happened scared me even more. I realized I can’t live without you.” I rub his hand. A smile spreads across his face.
“I think you’re the only one that can make me feel this good, even when I’m in this much pain.” He laughs.
“Trust me, once I get you home, you’ll feel wonderful.”
“Hey, stop that. They have a damn tube shoved in my dick.”
“Oh, damn. I forgot. Get some rest. I’m going to let everyone know you’re okay.”
He kisses me. “Hurry back. I miss you already.”
