by C Renee
I quickly turned to my right and saw mom cowering in the corner of the room. I saw she had a cut on her forehead.
I couldn’t get to her without pulling Dad off of Damon. I had to end this now!
“Dad get your hands off Damon RIGHT NOW!” I yelled at the top of my lungs and marched over there to pull dad off of Damon. What a mess.
“What the fuck is your problem?” I asked them both but no one would make eye contact with me. Mom had already left the room, now I have to deal with these two hot heads.
“Want to explain why you were at each other's throats?” If neither of them answers me, I should throw my fists at them too.
“It’s because Damon decided to leave early and wouldn’t give me a real answer. Now he’s being arrogant and I’ve had enough of his attitude. Especially coming from an adult. He should know better.” Dad answered me without looking at Damon nor me.
“He started it, he kept on about moving back home but I wouldn’t have it. Yes I am an adult but I am choosing to return to my home. This is not my home. I will be leaving tonight.” Damon walked off to the staircase and that left me with dad.
“Well aren’t you going to apologize for your behavior? If I remember correctly, you are the parent and you should know better.” I looked at him before I continued on my way.
“Whatever dad, you need to make peace with Damon before he leaves.”
Dad never went to apologize and I know that when I go back to my parent’s house later and find Damon there it will be awkward as fuck. I’m really not looking forward to a Thanksgiving repeat.
In Damon’s eyes, I am the golden child and mom hates having me around because Damon and I look so much alike.
Damon and I are the same height; we have the same dark brown hair and our intense green eyes are the same but he has put on weight where as I go to the gym more frequent We have two completely different personalities. I love having a sibling but he isn’t my brother, we haven’t been close in years for him to earn the right to get called my brother. Reece took on that role long ago. Reece and Damon never got along; I guess Damon was jealous of Reece and me being best of friends.
“Ah, I see. Did you want me to come over and give you moral support? Be the referee?” Reece chuckles, what a dick.
“Na man, Damon hates the bond we have. It will only make it worse.” I take a huge sip of my beer. Before I know it, it’s already gone. Great, I’ll need to order another one.
“Well I better get going, I have to be in the ambulance ready to save lives in about two hours. I have to let this beer get out of my system before I turn up on the job, or they’ll have my ass.” Reece gets up to leave and he’s already ordered me another beer.
“To next time brother.” I give him cheers and watch him leave the bar.
This is going to be a nightmare, I can’t go see Louise, and I don’t want to go to my parent’s house.
I have to decide quickly on what I’m going to do, I can’t just sit around the bar all day. I have responsibility I need to grow some balls and get on with my life.
I decided to go home and get some shuteye before I tackle any of those problems, I rang mom to let her know I’ll be over sometime tomorrow to talk with the family. I don’t have the strength to face what my father has, I’m not ready to let go of him.
I woke up fresh to take on the world but I’m just sitting in bed thinking about the day ahead. I still can’t decide on which problem to tackle first. I look down at my phone that’s on the table next to me and mom is calling me. She has been calling me on and off for the past twenty minutes, I just haven’t had the courage to answer it. I ignore the call and it goes straight to voicemail.
The phone starts ringing again; I’m ready to turn the damn thing off when I see Steph’s number on the screen.
I pick up the phone and mentally count to three. I’m not ready to deal with more drama.
One… Two… Three…
“Hello, this is Alex.” I answer with my name out of habit.
“Hey Alex, it’s Steph. I am just ringing to see when you will be seeing Louise again, she can’t stop talking about you and I can see now that you make her happy and the fact that you've saved her twice. Look the reason I’m ringing now is that Louise has taken a turn and I know you make her happy. I want you to just call in and see if her mood changes.” She sounds really concerned for Louise.
“What do you mean she has taken a turn? Is she depressed or is she playing on it?” I don’t know Louise that well to judge on that. I’m hoping Steph can help with that.
“She’s never been depressed in her life, even after she ran away from Matt the first time. Will you just visit her? Even if you visit her at my house, that would be really great.” She doesn’t give me time to answer her when she hangs up the phone.
Well looks like my mind is made up on which direction I’m going to tackle first.
I get up from the bed, quickly get changed to tackle today with a bounce in my step.
The first thing on my to-do list is to cheer up Louise.
I need to be there for my girl.
Chapter Five
Louise
I DON’T FEEL LIKE myself today, I don’t even know if I want to go home today or stay in the hospital for a few more days. After the news I received I don’t want to live another day. I won’t be able to have children of my own.
It hurts.
It hurts a lot.
I’ve always been the type of person to want to start a family and have children of my own and now that doesn’t seem like a possibility.
Steph has been in and out of the hospital for the last two days trying to cheer me up but I don’t want to. I just want to be left alone.
Steph brought in a huge pile of trashy magazines to read but I’m just staring at the pictures, not paying any attention to what’s written on the pages. My mind keeps circling around the fact that I won’t be able to hold my bundle of joy in my arms, to smell the amazing baby smell on top of the baby’s head or to feel the baby’s tiny fingers curl around mine.
I wipe away a tear that escaped the corner of my eye, I reach for the box of tissues that is next to me but a tissue is already in my line of sight when I get one handed to me.
I take the tissue and look up to see who gave it to me.
It’s Alex.
He looks amazing, with his dark brown hair gelled neatly back, his green eyes sparkle when he’s looking at me and that full mouthy smile he only wears when he is happy. He is wearing a white shirt that’s without a crease and black jeans. He looks delicious.
“Whaa… what are you… what are you doing here?” I blow my nose on the tissue while I wait for his response.
“Well… I went looking for you at your apartment thinking you were discharged only to find Steph there and she told me you were too stubborn to go home. Why aren’t you home Louise?” Alex stands there with his arms crossed over his chest. He doesn’t look too happy about my decision.
“I don’t feel like going back there, I want to stay here. I feel safe here.” I don’t want him to pity me, or hire someone to look after me.
“Why don’t you feel safe Louise? I’m worried about you.” His voice is full of emotion.
“Oh you know, the fact that one of Matt’s ex-boys came to the apartment and they were following Jax. Matt hasn’t been found nor his boys. So there is that factor. The other part is that I’m so down because I can’t have any children. I know I’m not dating anyone, to have the thought of wanting to have children right but it’s a huge deal. After the fact that I’ve already lost a child, it hurts.” I don’t know why I just told Alex all that. I feel so stupid. I turn away from his lingering gaze. I want to be a bitch and tell him to get out but his presence makes me feel better. After everything that has happened, my feelings for him are still there. Maybe even be heightened since he saved me from my ex but Alex is still here with me.
I hear shuffling and I feel the bed dip to my left.
I slow
ly turn to look at him and he’s sitting on the bed. He’s just watching me, I can tell he has something to say but he’s struggling to get it out.
“Just say it Alex. I can handle it.” I’m short with him; I can see the rejection all over his face.
“Come stay with me.” My mouth hangs open, what did he just say? Did he just say to stay with him? Just like that? Oh. My. God. Here I thought he wanted to break things off with me even though there was nothing to break off but this is a whole 360. I’m just sitting with my mouth still hanging open catching all the flies.
I get my bearings and try to think of something to say before this silence turns awkward.
“What did you say?”
“I said, come stay with me. I keep my apartment clean and there’s a spare room for you to stay in.” He looks really excited about this, like a kid waking up on Christmas day.
Do I want to stay with him? It will only be for a little while, until I feel comfortable to stay with Steph again. I have to talk with her first.
“Yes, okay.”
Where on earth did that come from, I can’t believe I just said yes, right now.
Holy shit.
What the fuck am I doing?
“Really? I don’t want to pressure you or anything but I think it’s a good idea.” He is starting to ramble but he looks adorable doing it. I look down at my intertwined fingers and they start to sweat. I have butterflies in my stomach and I feel my face burning up. Wow, I’m blushing.
This is a sudden turn; I need to answer him before he gets the wrong idea.
“Yes, but only for a little while and I need to talk to Steph before I pack any of my bags.” He jumps off the bed and does a little dance. He is so sexy and silly all at once.
He does the running man for FIVE minutes straight before he stops and turns towards me.
“First things first. Get discharged because I’m taking you out for lunch. Before you answer, yes it’s a date and no I won’t try anything… yet, roomie. Secondly, talk to Steph and then we can swing by her apartment to pack some of your bags.” He gives me a wink before he leaves the room.
What the hell just happened, I can’t believe I’ll be going to stay with him. Someone I hardly know yet I’m oddly excited about it. I have no idea how Steph will handle it, but in a way I don’t care what she will say. It’s better than staying at my parent’s house and I don’t exactly feel the safest at Steph’s.
Not when Jax found me there, who knows who is still watching the apartment. I don’t want another run in with Matt’s boys. I won’t go back, not until we can find more information on where Matt and his boys are. I will try and persuade Steph to change apartments, I don’t want Matt using Steph to get to me.
I check my phone but there aren’t any missed calls or messages since the last time I checked it FIVE minutes ago. It’s 11 o’clock and the nurse should have given me the discharge papers already.
I can’t; just sit and wait any longer so I get out of bed and stumble towards the chair across the room. I lose my balance; I fumble into a small table on wheels and it gets knocked off balance and it comes down on me.
There was a loud bang and crash.
I’m on the ground holding my hip, it hurts so much. I don’t think I’m ready to walk just yet.
“Louise, are you alright?” I hear Alex running into the room and in no time he is kneeling down on the ground next to me. He reaches up and smooth’s my hair out of my face.
I look up into his amazing green eyes; they are full of concern and worry.
His face is so close to mine, I’ve seen this look on him before, and those eyes haunted my dreams.
Oh my god.
No, this can’t be.
“Aaa… Alex, were you there? The… the night of my car accident?” I’m shaking, I can’t breathe. Flashes from the crash flood back, moments before I blacked out I saw green eyes.
They were Alex’s eyes.
“Lou, let me explain. Please?” His voice has turned soft and loving. Why hasn’t he told me this before? When was he going to tell me that we sort of met way before the Fundraiser Event?
“Fine. You better start talking, but can you help me up and pass me my bag.” He stands up and reaches down to grab hold of my hands. I pull on his hands to help me stand back up. Once I’m stable and on my feet, I begin to start walking slowly towards my bag but Alex doesn’t let go of me. He’s afraid I’ll fall over again. I guess I’m grateful to have him still be looking after me.
I reach my bag that’s lying on the chair; I push aside the half way curtain that’s hiding the mini sink and toilet. I don’t want Alex seeing me naked just yet.
He better start talking or I think this awkward silence will kill me quicker than Matt tried to do.
I hear Alex clear his throat when I take off my hospital gown and I stand there in the nude. I’m completely covered in bruises and I try to not look at the yucky gauze that’s covering most of my stomach from the bullet wound.
My legs are starting to wobble and I feel myself falling to the ground but I can’t reach out to the sink in time.
I feel huge manly hands grab me by the waist to steady me.
“Sorry Louise, I saw your figure through the curtain and saw you were about to fall again. I wasn’t going to let you.” He takes a deep breath before he says his next words.
“Louise, I’ll always be here to catch you when you fall.” My heart stopped beating and butterflies swarmed my stomach.
“Oooh okay. Thanks Alex.” I try to pull away from him when he holds on tighter. The warmth coming through his shirt against my naked back is doing things to me in places I wish didn’t exist in this moment.
I just want to hold onto this feeling forever.
For once in my life, I feel safe.
It’s all thanks to Alex.
“I should probably get dressed, I’m pretty hungry.” I reach down to touch his hands that are still resting on my waist and that’s when I feel the electrical current run through my veins. It’s setting my skin on fire.
I wonder what kind of feeling I’d get if we touched with more skin on skin contact?
“Louise, I won’t take no for an answer. Let me help you get dressed. I’ll just stand here with my eyes closed.” He gives my waist a squeeze before he lets go. He doesn’t move away from me nor does he step closer. He just waits for my answer.
“Do you promise? Pinky promise me.” I reach my hand out to the right of me and stick my pinky out. He grabs my pinky with his and we shake on it.
“I promise Lou. Turn around, use my shoulders and if you get unsteady I’ll hold you. Always.” I peep around to see if his eyes are closed and they are.
I turn around and use his shoulders to put my underwear on; I can’t help but sneak glances up at him. He hasn’t opened his eyes since he promised.
I finish putting my clothes on and instead of telling him I’m done, I keep looking at him. Studying his facial structure, the way he’s standing, to the clothes he’s wearing, I move that little bit closer to smell him and he smells amazing.
He smells like heaven.
I take the step back and pack up my bag before I’m ready to face Alex again.
“Alright, I’m ready. You can open your eyes.” I take another step back and I feel my back hit the sink. I don’t feel trapped but I know this sexual tension in the air came on pretty quickly. It’s the way Alex is looking at me.
His eyes have become darker, he is breathing harder now and I look down towards his hands and I can see that they are slightly shaking.
He’s looking at me with pure devotion and adoration. I think I like this look on him.
He doesn’t say anything when he takes a small step closer to me. I can feel the heat radiating off of him. He bites the inside of his lip and I can tell he wants to say something.
But instead he takes another step closer.
We are now only inches apart.
My heartbeat has sped up, my palms are getting clamm
y and I can feel his breath on my face.
I watch as Alex opens his mouth to speak but instead of words coming out, I feel both of his hands cup my face and he’s slowly lowering his face to mine.
He licks his lips just before they touch mine.
My breath hitches from the contact.
I close my eyes when our lips meet and I let my other senses take over.
This feels amazing.
The burning fire I felt just by touching his hand has heightened by a thousand just from this feathery kiss.
He kisses the corner of my lips and pulls back to give me a kiss on the forehead. Then he rests his head against mine.
My hands are on his chest and I can feel his heart beating in time with mine.
His breathing is intertwined with mine and I’m tingling all over.
“Wow.” I whisper, I can’t believe he just kissed me.
It wasn’t a proper kiss but it was magical.
“Yeah wow.” Alex whispers back.
“Ah we should probably hit the road if we ever want to get food. I’m starving.” I move away from Alex and towards the door, I pause to turn back and check the room before I leave.
Just as I was about to turn the door handle it opens.
Around the door is the nurse; she is holding a few pieces of paper.
“Oh good, you’re up and ready. I just need to run through a few things and get you to sign before you can leave.” She hands me the discharge form to sign. I wrote my name as fast as I could. I don’t want to keep Alex waiting anymore than he already has.
I give back the forms and she gives me instructions on changing the gauze and the proper care for it. She starts reading it, I zone out and I go back to the last FIVE minutes. When Alex just had his lips on mine, I reach up and outline my lips.
Alex kissed me.
“Louise were you even listening to me?” The nurse seems pissed off. I look down at her and her face is scrunched up with annoyance.
“Yes sorry, continue.” I look over my shoulder at Alex and he’s sitting on the chair chuckling.
