Something For The Pain

by Victoria Ashley

  Cursing to myself, I run my hands up and down my sweaty face, before putting my thoughts together. I remember her saying she was going on a lunch date with Tara today. “Can you please check for Tara Daniels?”

  The woman nods her head and starts typing into the computer again. “Yes, sir. Tara is here, but you have to be family to go back. What is your name?”

  “Shit!” I grip my hair, knowing that this isn’t going to go well. I need to get the fuck back there. “Alex Carter,” I say stiffly.

  The woman smiles and then presses a button. “She’s in room 107. It’s going to be on–”

  Before she can finish I rush through the door and start running like a fucking crazy person. Someone stops walking to yell at me to slow down, but I ignore him.

  I stop to take a deep breath when I reach room 107, before poking my head around the curtain to see Tara sitting up and watching TV.

  Her eyes widen in surprise when she sees me. “Alex, how did you know I was here?”

  I walk over to the side of her bed and grab her hand. “Fuck, you’re okay. Where’s Tripp? Is she hurt? Tell me!”

  Tara gives me a confused look and squeezes my hand. “Tripp is fine. She’s at work. She got asked to cover a shift.”

  Relief washes over me and I pull Tara in for the biggest hug of her life. I’m squeezing her so tightly that I’m almost afraid of hurting her, but she doesn’t seem to be in pain.

  “Alex.” She runs her hand over my forehead after we pull away. “Are you feeling well? I’m so damn confused right now.”

  I shake my head and grab the chair behind me, pulling it up next to the bed. “Some woman called me from Tripp’s phone and said she was in an accident, so I got here as fast as I could.”

  “Shit.” Tara takes a deep breath and relaxes into her bed. “She must’ve left her phone in my car. Dax called her when we were on the way to my lunch date so I dropped her off at the bar.”

  I smile. “I’m sorry. I’m not happy that you’re here, but I’m sure as fuck happy to hear that Tripp is okay.” I stand up and reach for my cell. “I’ll call Tripp at work and let her know what happened.”

  “No.” Tara shakes her head. “I’m fine. They just want to run a few tests before sending me home. I don’t want to distract Tripp while she’s at work.”

  I put my phone away and take a seat again, reaching for a magazine.

  “What are you doing?” Tara asks with a small smile.

  “Staying here.” I throw my leg up and get comfortable. “I’m not leaving you here alone, Tara.”

  Tara looks at me lovingly, making me feel as if I truly am family. “You’re a good guy, Alex. I love you like family. You know that right?”

  I smile and close the magazine. “I kind of figured that when my name was on the list of family for visitors. I love you too, Tara. You’re like the aunt I never had.”

  THEY RAN A COUPLE TESTS on Tara and finally released her a couple hours later. After getting her comfortable on the couch, I make her the lunch that she never got to eat and leave her to relax.

  I recovered Tripp’s phone from the hospital and shoved it in my pocket with mine. It’s so weird wanting to talk to her, but knowing that her phone is with me. I can’t remember a time that we haven’t texted each other through work.

  It looks like my only option is to see her at work. I just need to make a quick stop first.

  I just hope that she’s ready for me . . .

  EVERYTHING IN ME WISHES THAT I would have told Dax no when he asked me to come in today. I have too much on my mind and I’ve been messing up most of the orders since I walked through that door; mixing the wrong drinks or even forgetting to make them completely. I’m a complete mess right now, not to mention that I forgot my phone in Tara’s car. That never happens, confirming just how messed up I am.

  I keep wanting to check it to see if Alex has texted me, but every time I go to reach for it by the register, I have to remind myself that it’s not there. I may be too mixed up to think straight or even talk to Alex right now, but seeing his messages come through calms me unlike anything else in this world can.

  I know we need to talk later. There’s so much that needs to be figured out, but I’m terrified. I’m so terrified that my chest hurts.

  Lucas and I are done; that I know for sure, and I’m okay with it. It was never meant to be in the first place. It’s where Alex and I stand that scares the living shit out of me. I keep replaying this stupid made up conversation in my head, where I confess to Alex that I’m madly in love with him and he tells me that we can never be more than friends. The more I play it in my head, the more it begins to feel like reality; a reality that I don’t want.

  “Hey! Hey!” Dax snaps his fingers at me. “Did you get that order? Get it together, Tripp.”

  “I got it, Dax.” I snap. “Just go. You’re messing me up.” I usher him out from behind the bar and he gives me a hard look, then stands by the end of the bar watching me, to make sure I really have it.

  Luckily I manage to actually have it this time. The last thing I want to deal with right now is Dax riding my ass because I messed up again.

  Finally, an hour later, it calms down enough for me to get a glass of soda and breathe for a minute.

  “Hey, sweets.”

  I look beside me and smile as Harley leans in next to me and nudges my shoulder. “Hey, lady.”

  I try to act as if everything is okay, but by the look on Harley’s face I can tell that I’m giving my true feelings away.

  “I’m sorry, sweets.” She rests her head on my shoulder. “I would tell you again that everything will be okay, but I know you’re not looking to hear it from me.”

  “Thank you,” I whisper. “At least I’ll still have you by my side when this is all over.”

  Harley pushes my arm. “Oh stop it. You’re depressing me with that talk. Alex isn’t going anywhere. I promise . . . but like I said, you don’t want to hear it from me.”

  “Yeah . . .” I admit. “I won’t believe it until it comes from Alex. I guess I’ll know once I actually get out of this stupid place.”

  I reach for my glass and get ready to refill my soda when I hear it: This Year’s Love by David Gray. It sounds like it’s coming from across the room.

  My breath hitches in my throat and I drop my glass, watching it shatter next to my feet. I know for a fact that it’s not the radio, because the radio has been turned down all day.

  The sound gets closer, and the next thing I know I’m fighting for air as I turn around to see Alex with his guitar, walking straight for me.

  He looks like a sexy, sinful dream come true . . . with his ripped up jeans and guitar, all tatted up. I have forgotten how to breathe at this point, and my heart leaps straight out of my chest as he gets closer.

  Everyone around us quiets down and watches Alex as he drops down on one knee and starts singing the beginning Lyrics.

  “This year’s love had better last. Heaven knows it’s high time. I’ve been waiting on my own too long . . .”

  Tears begin to stream down my face as I watch him looking at me, as if he’s going to break down and cry himself. His jaw keeps flexing and his hands are shaking, but his eyes never leave mine as he continues to sing in front of the whole bar.

  Girls all around me start to gather and swoon as Alex motions with his head for me to come to him.

  Slowly, I force my feet to work and walk around the bar. As soon as I get close enough to Alex, he stands up and grabs my face, singing to me without any music from his guitar.

  “When you kiss me on that midnight street. Sweep me off my feet . . .”

  Singing, he presses his forehead to mine and starts rubbing his thumbs over my face, wiping my tears away. I start to cry more as he swings his guitar behind him and wraps his arms around me, moving us both to the music.

  “Is this really happening? Alex . . .” I whisper into his chest.

  I can’t believe this is happening right now. I feel as
if any second now I’m going to wake up from this perfect moment and be standing here in this stupid bar, wishing that I were with Alex.

  He whispers the last word to the song, before cupping my face and pressing his lips to mine. His kiss is so intense . . . so desperate and full of need that I almost die right here in his perfect arms: the perfect kiss of death.

  His breath fans against my lips when he pulls away. “I love you, Tripp. I’m so fucking in love with you that I need you to breathe. I’ve been in love with you since the first day we met and every day with you only makes me love you more and realize that I never want to go another day without you. You are and will always be the best thing in my life and I promise to never let you forget that. I need to know that you love me too.” He pulls my chin up and looks me in the eyes, before whispering,” Do you?”

  My eyes search his and I forget how to speak as he watches me, waiting for an answer. My grip on him tightens as I finally get my mouth to work. “You have no idea. I love you so much that I can’t even breathe right now.” I hold a shaky hand up. “I’m shaking right now because I never thought this day would come. You’re my best friend and my whole world. I never want to lose you. I can’t lose you. I need to know that I never will.”

  He tangles his hands into the back of my hair and moves his body into mine. “You will never lose me, Tripp. I just need to know one thing?” He runs his thumb over my bottom lip, taking my breath away. “Can I keep you? I don’t just mean for today or for a week or a month. I need to know that I can keep you forever. I need you to be my something for the pain for the rest of my life.”

  He surprises me by dropping down to one knee and pulling a ring out of his pocket. “Tripp Hazel Daniels, will you be my wife? I want to marry you and make you smile every day for the rest of my life. I can’t imagine a life without you and I definitely don’t want to imagine your life without me in it. Say yes . . .” He whispers the last part and that’s when I lose it.

  I drop down to my knees in front of him and place a hand over my mouth as the sobs start to escape. “Yes. Yes, Alex. A million times . . . yes! Every day for the rest of my life . . . yes.” I nod my head continuously as the tears run down my face, soaking the front of my shirt.

  I can barely even see the ring when Alex slips it on my finger, and I truly don’t care. It could be a vending machine ring for all I care. All that matters to me is spending the rest of my life with my best friend: my future husband.

  The bar erupts into cheers when Alex pulls me into his arms and kisses me. I can hear Harley happily crying above us and jumping around in excitement.

  “Can I take you home? I’ve missed you so damn much.”

  I nod my head and laugh through the tears. “Yes, please. I need to get out of here.”

  “Good.” Alex pulls me up to my feet and sucks my bottom lip into his mouth, biting it playfully, before releasing it. “Because I have eight days to make up to my fiancé.” He smiles big, flashing his dimples. “Fuuck . . . I love the way that sounds.”

  I throw my arms around him and kiss him so hard that he almost falls backward into the bar. He grabs the back of my neck and smiles when we break the kiss. “Damn, baby. Now I really can’t wait to get you home.”

  Harley throws her arms around me the second that she sees an opening. “I knew it!” She squeals. “I so knew it. Now get out of here. It’s slow enough now. Dax can fuck off.”

  “I love you,” I say thankfully. “Thank you, Harley.”

  Grabbing me by the back of the neck, Alex pulls me in for a long kiss, before grabbing my hand and leading me out of the bar.

  I can’t stop smiling as I look at our hands entwined together. Everything about it just feels so right.

  “I love it too,” Alex says, pulling our hands up to kiss mine. “So get used to this; every fucking day. I am your man and I promise you I will show you that in every possible way.”

  “You’re perfect, Alex. Seriously perfect,” I admit.

  Alex pins me against his truck and spreads my legs with his thigh, making me straddle it. “I’m only perfect with you, babe.” He kisses me soft and deep, before stopping and smiling against my lips. “I love you, Firecracker.”

  I moan as he pushes his thigh further between my legs, breathing heavily against my lips. “I love you.” I lean my head back. “So damn much.”

  Alex removes his thigh from between my legs and smiles. “I’m going to love hearing that for the rest of my life.” He bites his bottom lip seductively. “I want to get you home, but we have a stop to make first. I’ll explain on the way.”

  Grabbing my ass, he helps me into his truck and rushes over to the other side. He starts his truck and hands me my phone. “Why don’t you give Tara a call and tell her we’re on the way.”

  I swallow hard, beginning to worry that something bad happened, but knowing Alex, he would be freaking out a lot more than he is if it had. It instantly calms me, letting me know that everything will be okay.

  Alex always makes everything okay, and now I have the chance to show him that for the rest of my life. Tripp Carter . . . I love the sound of that, and I couldn’t imagine it any other way.

  Eight months later . . .

  TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY AND all I want to do is get out of this shop, away from Ace and Styles’ annoying asses, and spend the night with my wife. I just got done with my last appointment for the day and I can’t deny that I rushed my way through it, being careful not to fuck up James’ back piece in the process. He picked a shitty day to set an appointment anyway.

  “Damn, birthday boy in a hurry today or what?” Styles jumps up to sit on the desk, watching me as I throw my leather jacket on. “Where you going anyway? No more appointments today?”

  I grin at him as I reach for my keys. “Monty’s. I’m meeting Tripp, Lyric, and Memphis for dinner and then I’m taking my wife home to pamper the shit out of her. I canceled my last appointment.” I spin my keys around my finger. “That woman loves me, man. I’m the luckiest guy in the world. So yeah . . . I’m in a hurry. Everything else can wait.”

  Styles crosses his arms over his chest and looks over at Ace as he pops his head out of his room.

  “Happy birthday, fucker.” Ace shouts, before slapping the door and disappearing.

  I turn to leave, giving Styles a quick head nod. “I’m out, man. Tell Ace I said to fuck off and have a good day.”

  “Alright, dude. Eat some good shit for me. I’m starving and there isn’t shit for food around here. I need a nice, fat, juicy burger right now. That or some hot chick to walk through that door and that doesn’t happen much these days since you scared them all away with that wedding ring.”

  “Yeah . . .” I nod my head and reach for the door. “Good luck, man.”

  Before Styles can hold me back any longer, I rush out the door and jog over to my truck, hopping inside to head to Monty’s.

  It’s been eight months since I’ve asked Tripp to marry me, and three months since I’ve been able to call her my wife. Everything has changed since that day and I wouldn’t go back to my old life for anything.

  Styles and Ace may not be too excited about the lack of girls at the shop since I’ve been wearing this ring, but I haven’t ever been happier in my entire life, and I make sure to tell them that daily when their asses are moping around complaining.

  Since we got married Tripp and I have been going through the process of buying a house together, and we’re supposed to hear word any day now. I’m hoping that Tripp will have some good news for me tonight at dinner. That shit would make my birthday complete.

  I pull up outside of Monty’s and practically jump out of my truck before I can even pull the keys out. It’s been seven hours since I have tasted Tripp’s lips, and right now that’s the only thing I’m hungry for.

  When I walk inside, I spot Tripp sitting across a table from my brother and Lyric. Memphis notices me first, whistling and yelling. “Over here, birthday boy.”

  I see Tripp twis
ting her wedding ring on her finger when I approach, but she quickly stops and jumps up to give me a kiss. “Happy birthday, stud.”

  I grab her face and kiss her harder when she tries taking a seat. “I don’t think so, baby.” I run my thumb over her lips and bite my own. “I haven’t tasted those sweet lips all day. Come here.”

  She smiles against my lips as I kiss her for a third time. “I missed you too,” she says, knowingly.

  “Happy birthday, handsome,” Lyric says happily as Tripp and I scoot into the booth. “You look nice today.”

  “Thanks, sis.” I wink and reach for Tripp’s hand, kissing it. “You guys ready to order yet? I already know what I want and I’m starving.”

  Everyone agrees that they’re ready and Memphis catches the attention of our waitress. We place our orders and enjoy our meals, making fun of each other and talking about old times. This is what family is truly about. This feeling. . . . The way we can be so free with each other and enjoy each other’s company, this is living, and I can’t imagine doing this with anyone besides Tripp.

  “I’M STUFFED,” I SAY, SITTING back and rubbing my stomach, full.

  The door opens. I look over and spot Tara walking in with her boyfriend, Charles, holding a cake box with her free hand.

  “Happy birthday,” she shouts. “Who’s ready for cake?”

  Smiling, I stand up and kiss Tara on the cheek, grabbing the cake from her hand and setting it down on the table. “Thanks, Tara. You made this for me?”

  She nods. “Yes, and Tripp helped. You better like it.”

  “I’ll love it.” I nod at Charles and then help him pull a table over, next to our booth.

  Memphis cuts the cake and we all dive in, enjoying ourselves.

  “Happy birthday, baby.” Tripp slides a birthday card in front of me, but keeps her hand on it. “Before you open this, I have some news for you.”

  I slip my hand behind her neck and pull her to me. “The house. Did we get the fucking house?”