“Just don’t overthink it.”
I let out a burst of laughter which makes Emma smile. “Yeah, I need to stop that bad habit.”
Zac
The day after the fall out with Chloe, I go into the office and sitting at my desk, I wait for Aiden to finish the call he’s on, then ask, “How are things at home? Is Laurie sleepin’ through the night yet?”
“Yeah, thank God. She sleeps through from eleven to five.” He smiles proudly.
“That’s good to hear.” I clear my throat, then ask, “You wanna go for coffee before I hit the road again?”
“Sure.”
We walk to the coffee shop across from the precinct, and I choose a table in the back corner. Once we’re both seated with a beverage, Aiden tilts his head. “What’s up? You look worried.”
“It’s Chloe,” I begin. Leaning forward, I rest my forearms on the table. “We’ve grown closer since she moved in, and yesterday we kissed. It just happened.”
“And you’re afraid it might ruin your friendship?” he asks.
I shake my head, a light frown settling on my forehead. “That doesn’t bother me so much.”
“Are you worried what the family might say if you started datin’?” He asks. “’Cause I can tell you now they’d all be happy for you.”
“I know,” I nod, smiling at Aiden. “That’s the last thing I’m worried about. I know y’all will support me.”
“Then?”
“I’m not sure how to get through to Chloe,” I admit. “With Laurie, it was love at first sight. She knocked me off my feet, and things were just so easy between us.”
“But with Chloe?”
“She’s from a different world. The way she thinks. Just everythin’ about her. The attraction was there from the start –”
“I knew it,” Aiden chuckles, interrupting me for a moment.
“Yeah-yeah. You get to tell me I told you so.” I take a sip of my drink before I continue. “Since she moved in, I’ve gotten to know the real person. She’s so damn carin’. She has compassion for her patients, not just sympathy.”
“There’s a difference?” Aiden asks, raising an eyebrow.
“A huge difference. Sympathy is when you understand what someone is going through, and compassion is feelin’ for the person and wantin’ to help.”
“Ahh… never too old to learn somethin’ new,” he replies. Leaning back in his chair, he smiles at me. “You still haven’t told me what you’re worried about.”
“I know she cares about me, but something’s holdin’ her back. It’s like she’s afraid of commitment.”
“Oh…” Aiden takes a deep breath. “It would be better for you to talk to her about it. I only know the basics.”
“Know what?” I ask when Aiden pauses for too long.
“We told you her mom died, right?” Aiden says. I nod, my full attention on him. “Chloe believes her mom died from heartache because it happened after they walked in on her dad cheatin’.”
I sit frozen as the words sink in.
“Like I said, I don’t know the whole story, only what Em told me.” Aiden leans forward. “If you want my advice, sit down and talk to Chloe. Find out how she really feels. I did that with Em and only then could we move onto a relationship.”
Thinking of how she made a run for it last night, I get a feeling I’m going to have to lock her in a room to have that conversation. Which is something I seriously don’t want to do.
“I’ll have to think of a way to get her to open up to me.”
“Take her to Ocean’s Isle. That’s where I got Em to open up to me the first time. It makes it harder for them to run.” Aiden lets out a chuckle. “Not like that stopped Em from tryin’.”
CHAPTER 18
Chloe
When I finish my shift early on Saturday morning, I’m tired to the bone. Heading out of the clinic, I’m surprised to see Stella sitting on the side of the road.
I walk closer to her and ask, “Hey, why are you sitting out here? You should’ve come inside.”
“Oh, hey,” she says, and getting up she gives me a nervous look. “I was hoping to catch you. Would you mind if we talked?”
“Not at all. We can talk on the way home. Where do you live?”
Stella points to her left. “Down that way.”
Slowly, we begin to make our way down the street, and I wait for Stella to start the conversation. I’m glad she feels comfortable enough to open up to me.
“You mentioned before I’ll be safe at the shelter,” she starts, then gives me a hopeful look. “I got myself mixed up with a bad crowd. I’m scared they’ll come lookin’ for me at the shelter.”
“The security is good, and should they come we’ll phone the police. You’ll be safe there,” I assure her.
“If I…” she takes a deep breath, and I see the anxiety in her eyes when she glances at me. “If I decide to leave the place I’m stayin’ at…” she stops again, and I see the panic flashing over her face.
“Take your time.” I want to hug her so badly but refrain from crossing the line.
“How would I do it? Do I just leave my stuff behind?”
“Is there no way for you to pack your things without your boyfriend knowing?” I ask.
We turn right into a street and after a couple of minutes we near a trailer park. With the sun rising, at least it’s not dark, or I’d have some issues walking into the trailer park.
“There’s another guy livin’ with us, so it won’t be easy.” She stops walking and gives me a worried look. “Maybe I should just go with you now?”
I gesture in the direction we just came from. “That’s up to you. I’ll walk you back right now and help you get settled,” I reply, not wanting to miss the chance of getting Stella to safety.
“But..,” Stella looks toward where her trailer must be, “he’ll trash my stuff. I don’t want to leave it behind.”
“I can get a policeman to escort us back to the trailer to get your belongings. You don’t have to go back alone,” I offer, willing to ask Aiden and Zac for help if I have to.
“I don’t want to cause trouble. I’ll be okay for a couple of days. I’ll get my stuff ready and try to sneak out while they’re sleepin’, or when I have to go to the store.”
Feeling both worried and disappointed, I follow when Stella begins to walk again. “Let me just see where you live, that way I can find your place easily if you need help,” I say when it looks like she’s about to say goodbye.
Stella looks reluctant, but after thinking it over, she nods. “Just excuse the place. It’s a real dump.” When we get close, Stella points to a trailer, and it’s so run down it reminds me of the shacks back home in the rural areas. “That’s the place.”
I lightly place my hand on her arm. “You’ll call me if you need help. I have friends who can come over with me so we can safely get you out.”
“I have your number,” she says, and for the first time since I met Stella, I see a glimmer of hope on her face.
Too late, I notice a man approaching us. He’s wearing a vest which is torn at the neck and a pair of old jeans. He hasn’t shaved in a while, and his face looks haggard.
Stella notices something’s got my attention, and when she glances over her shoulder, she whispers, “Shit. It’s the guy stayin’ with us. You gotta go now.”
I’m torn between walking away and staying by Stella’s side. Knowing it won’t help Stella if I antagonize the man, I start to take a couple of steps back. “Call me if you need help,” I whisper urgently, then I turn around and walk as fast as I can without looking too suspicious.
“Who’s the friend?” I hear the guy ask.
“She’s new in town,” Stella says, and hearing how timid and scared she sounds, make my steps slow down, but I don’t turn back.
“Beau, let her be,” Stella calls out, and it makes me glance over my shoulder. Seeing Beau jog to catch up with me makes my heart stutter with a ripple of fear.
> I turn to face him and focus on controlling my breathing so he won’t pick up on my fear. It feels like I’m facing off with a rabid dog.
“So, you’re new in town?” he asks, and the man knows nothing about personal space because he gets so close, I’m overwhelmed by a sharp smell of solvents.
“Yeah,” I say, hoping my voice sounds strong. Giving a slight wave, I take a couple of steps back, and I’m just about to turn and make a run for it when he grabs hold of my wrist. He’s much stronger than he looks which makes panic flare through my chest.
“Hold up,” he drawls, a creepy grin pulling at his mouth. “You’re friends with Stella?” I hear the suspicion in his voice and knowing this encounter can turn out bad for her, I try to downplay things.
“We just recently met.”
“What are you doin’ walkin’ around so early?”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“She works the night shift over at the Walmart,” Stella quickly explains, but she sounds so damn nervous it makes Beau’s eyebrows pop up.
“I have to get home, or my boyfriend will worry,” I make up the first excuse I can think of.
“You’re new in town, and you already got yourself a boyfriend?”
Shit, this man is much sharper than he looks.
“I… ah… moved here for him,” I stutter through an explanation.
Beau nods then finally lets go of my wrist. “Don’t make a habit of comin’ by here,” he warns me.
Nodding, I rub the bruised skin on my arm and glancing one last time at Stella, I turn around and walk away as quickly as I can.
After the encounter with Beau, I’m startled, and my concern for Stella’s safety fills me with apprehension.
The second I’m around a corner, I begin to run, just wanting to get back home.
Zac
Chloe’s not back from work yet, and I keep watching the time. When an hour has passed, I get up, and I’m just about to drive over to the shelter when the front door slams open, and Chloe hurries inside. She shuts the door and locks it behind her.
When she turns around and sees me, she quickly forces a smile to her face. “Morning.” Before I can even think to greet her back, she hurries to her room and shuts the door behind her.
Confused, I stare at her room. That was totally unlike Chloe.
I knock on her door, and hearing her, “Yes?” I push it open and walk inside.
“Oh… uhm… you need something?” she asks, and when she shoves her left arm behind her back, it makes me even more suspicious.
I walk over to her and let my eyes scan over her face. She’s anxious about something.
I reach out and taking hold of her left arm, I begin to pull it from behind her back, but she quickly reaches to stop me with her free hand. Using my left hand, I move her right arm out of the way and then pull her other arm from where she’s trying to hide it.
The second I see the red bruise around her wrist, my eyes flash to hers before I look back at the finger marks.
I take a breath to stay calm, and softly ask, “What happened?”
Shaking her head and looking self-conscious, she replies, “It’s nothing.”
“It’s okay,” I say, and when she brings her eyes to mine, I continue, “You can tell me anythin’?”
“It doesn’t hurt, and the red should fade in the next couple of hours.”
“Who hurt you?” I ask, not prepared to let go of this until she gives me a name.
“I’m really okay. I… I…” she lets out a frustrated sigh, and her eyes meet mine again. “I walked the woman I told you about home, and we ran into someone she knows.”
I nod, hoping she’ll elaborate on her own.
“The guy gave me the creeps. She’s getting ready to leave the place she lives at. I’m so worried for her safety.”
“Just say the word if you want me to go past her place to check on her,” I offer, even though I know it won’t be wise.
“Rather not. At least not yet. She said she’d phone once she’s ready. If you wouldn’t mind comin’ with me then, I’d really appreciate it.”
I’m relieved Chloe’s thinking ahead, and she won’t just rush over there on her own if the woman calls her.
“Don’t go there without me,” I say, just to make it clear to Chloe.
She nods and gives me a thankful smile. “Thank you.”
CHAPTER 19
Chloe
Monday, I spend the day cleaning the house from top to bottom to keep myself busy. I haven’t stopped worrying about Stella, and wish I could phone to check on her.
I’m busy wiping the window sills when my phone rings. I rush over to where I left it in the kitchen, and seeing Emma’s name flashing on the screen, I smile.
“Hey, Sunshine.”
“I’m on my way to the hospital.” Emma sounds tense, and instantly concern fills my chest.
“Why? What happened? Is Laurie okay?” I ramble through the questions as scenarios fill my mind.
“It’s Aiden and Zac. Something happened, but I’m not sure how badly they’re hurt. My mother-in-law just came to pick me up, and I’ll give you a call once I know more.”
Zac’s been hurt?
The thought shudders through me, and all I can do is say, “Okay, please let me know what’s going on as soon as you can.”
Cutting the call, I drop the phone back on the table, then sit down because my legs feel wobbly.
“Maybe it’s nothing serious?” As soon as I say the words, dread begins to spin a web in my chest. They wouldn’t be at a hospital if it weren’t serious.
Shit.
My heart begins to pound behind my ribs, and I get up because sitting still is killing me.
Please let Zac be okay. I send up the prayer, then quickly add, And Aiden.
I keep looking at my phone while I wait for the call, and when thirty minutes have passed, I feel tearful from all the worry.
I walk out of the house and sit down on the top step of the porch, my eyes on the road.
“Asseblief…” Please. Please. Please.
I keep repeating the words over and over until my phone finally rings.
“Are they okay?” I ask before Emma can say anything.
“Sorry, I should’ve called earlier, but Laurie wouldn’t stop crying the second we got to the hospital,” Emma says.
“Zac and Aiden,” I say breathlessly with fear. “Are they okay?”
“They just have a couple of bruises. Zac should be home any second because he left before us.”
Just then, his SUV turns up the driveaway, making waves of relief crash over me. “He’s here.”
I cut the call and dropping the phone on the porch, I run toward him as he gets out of the car. I throw my arms around his neck and hug him tightly. Feeling emotional, I don’t let go, and whisper, “I was so worried. Are you okay? Shit, this is why I don’t do relationships. I’m gonna die of an anxiety attack.”
“I’m fine. Sorry for scarin’ you,” he says softly, and his arms tighten around me.
When we let go off each other, I brush some hair from my face with a trembling hand. My heart is still beating out of my chest. I can’t remember when last I had a fright like that, and it’s something I don’t want to experience any time soon again.
“I need a strong drink,” I say, trying to make light of the situation.
The corner of Zac’s mouth pulls into a sexy grin. “You were really worried about me.”
“Duh.” I almost roll my eyes but stop myself just in time.
“Because you care about me and not just as a friend,” he states, and it takes another second before I realize I’ve just been caught.
My lips part but I can’t find the words to deny what Zac just said.
Zac
Chloe begins to squirm, and then her eyes focus on the cut on the corner of my mouth.
“Did they clean the cuts properly?”
I chuckle as she grabs my hand and drags me toward the house. When we
reach the porch, I notice her phone lying on the floor, and quickly bend to pick it up. I let out a soft groan from where I took a punch to my ribs.
“What? Where does it hurt?” she begins to ramble, her eyes and hands flitting all over my chest.
Laughing, I try to set her at ease. “I’m fine.”
“You wouldn’t groan if you were fine,” she snaps. Grabbing my hand again she drags me into the house and over to a couch. She pushes me back, and I sit down, enjoying the attention too much to stop her.
Chloe runs to the kitchen and gets a first aid kit, and when she sits down next to me, I don’t stop her from cleaning the bruises again.
Her eyes are focused on each cut, and when she applies some antiseptic balm, she bites her bottom lip.
“You keep tendin’ to my bruises like this, and I’m gonna start wishin’ I let the guy beat me more,” I tease her.
Her hand stills a few inches from my jaw, and her eyes dart up to mine.
Not letting this moment pass, I say, “How can I convince you to give us a chance.”
She sets the tube of ointment back in the first aid kit, then sits back on the couch. I’m glad she doesn’t try to make a run for it, and it gives me hope we’ll be able to talk about us.
Her eyes drop to my hand, and she reaches for it. Setting it down on her thigh, she lightly brushes a circle around the bruise I got from punching the one guy.
“What happened?” she asks, and even though I know she’s stalling, I don’t call her out.
“We had to break up a fight. It’s nothin’ serious.”
She nods, and keeping her eyes on my hand, she takes a deep breath, then admits, “I’m scared, Zac.”
“I’m good at my job. You don’t have to worry about me,” I try to reassure her.
“Not about that…” she frowns, then adds, “well, about you getting hurt as well.” Her eyes come up to meet mine, and I see the apprehension in them. “I’m scared things will go bad between us, and I don’t want to lose the friendship we have.”
We Were Lost (A Southern Heroes Novel Book 5) Page 10
