by L. Wilder
I had so many questions that I wanted answered, but no answers came—just bits and pieces of information I couldn’t decipher. I tried to fight my way out of the darkness, but I was too tired. The fog was too thick.
Before he hung up, Clutch said, “We’ve got him covered. Bear will be here with him while we’re gone, and Doc messaged that he’s coming in the morning.”
Bear was one of our prospects. He’d gotten his road name for being in a piss-assed mood every morning. With his burly build and thick beard, he reminded us of a grumpy black bear. I wasn’t surprised that he’d be keeping an eye on things. If anything went south, he’d be able to handle it. Once he’d arrived, I heard them spout off some orders, and then they left. With my brothers gone, an overwhelming feeling of desperation crept over me. Every minute, every hour that passed, it just got worse. There was nothing I could do to fight it.
Until she walked into the room.
There was a low rumble of someone talking, and then I heard footsteps approaching. “Hey there, handsome.”
The woman from the strip club was back, and I couldn’t have been more relieved. Her voice was like a beacon of light pulling me from my desolation.
“Thomas wanted me to check in and let him know how you were doing.” I could feel the palm of her soft, warm hand on my arm as she continued, “You’re already looking better. The swelling is going down a little. You’re starting to look like you again.”
I liked the warmth of her touch, and immediately missed it when she removed her hand and started moving away from the bed. Her voice grew faint, making it harder to understand what she was saying as she spoke. I heard the legs of a chair scoot across the floor, and then the soft sound of her voice started again. “I’ve been reading up on comas, and they say talking helps patients recover. No one really knows for sure, but I don’t see the harm in trying. Since I don’t really know what to talk about… I thought I’d read to you. I have to get this paper about the main character done by the end of next week, and I’ve only read a few chapters. It’s been really good so far. It might be one of my favorite books ever.”
I’d only seen her once, but I still remembered how beautiful she was. At that moment, she seemed like an angel from heaven, complete with wings and a halo. I became calm and peaceful just having her next to me. I’d seen my fair share of beautiful women, but it wasn’t just the good looks with her. She was a fighter with a fire inside of her like none I’d ever seen. I couldn’t deny it. I liked it, and having her in the room and hearing her voice—and just knowing she was there—was the only thing keeping me from completely losing it.
I had to wonder why she kept coming back to me. I feared for her safety and hoped she hadn’t put herself at risk by being there. I listened as she read to me about a lawyer in the south and his two kids. Something about the story made me think of my dad. I couldn’t remember the last time we’d actually talked—really talked. When I was a kid, most of our conversations fed into a hidden lecture, but more times than not, I deserved them. I thought back to the time when he’d caught me after I’d snuck out of the house. I came slipping in at four in the morning, and he was there waiting on the front steps when I walked up.
When I opened my mouth to give him some lame excuse for being late, he held up his hand. “I don’t want to hear it, Seth.”
I stood there feeling the impending doom as he glared at me in anger. There was nothing I could do but apologize. “I’m sorry, Dad. It won’t happen again.”
“You’re right about that.” He motioned me over to sit next to him as he calmly said, “I think it’s time you and I had ourselves a talk.”
I lowered myself down onto the last step and looked up at him. “She’s leaving in a few hours. I just wanted to see her before she left.”
“You were with Sarah?”
“Yeah. She’s going to Tennessee for two weeks to stay with her grandparents.”
“Is Sarah someone you care about?”
I sighed with aggravation. “She means everything to me, Dad. You know I’m crazy about her.”
“So, you think this girl is special… that she’s the one.”
“Of course, I do. You’ve met her. You know how incredible she is. She’s smart, beautiful, and funny. Her folks are good people. She’s the real deal.”
“So, I take it this is someone you could see yourself being with.”
I knew he was getting at something, but I had no idea what it was. Playing into his hand, I answered, “Yes, Dad. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted.”
“And you don’t think you should respect this girl you care so much about?”
“What do you mean? I do respect her. I love her, Dad.”
“Then, you have to show her.”
“I did show her,” I said with a smirk.
He shook his head with frustration. “You’ve got a lot to learn, son.”
“Come on, Dad. You’re making a big deal out of nothing. I just went over there to tell her goodbye. You know… spend a little time with her before she left. It’s no big deal.”
“Did you tell me or your mother you were going?”
“No.”
“Did her folks know you were there?”
My eyes dropped to my feet. “No.”
“You knew what you were doing was wrong. You broke the rules… rules that your mom and I set in place to protect you and her folks set to protect her. What do your actions say about you, Seth?”
“It says that I care enough about her to break the rules to see her.”
“Does that mean she’s the kind of girl that has boys coming over at all times of the night?”
My back stiffened as I turned to him in anger. “No! She’s not like that.”
“Then, why did you treat her like she was?” He placed his hand on my shoulder as he looked me in the eye. “You have to respect her enough to do the right thing… the right thing for both of you. Show her she’s worth that.”
“I didn’t think of it that way.”
He left me hanging as he sat there staring out into the darkness without saying a word. Finally, I asked, “So, I take it I’m grounded.”
“You got that right.”
The memory started to fade and my attention was drawn back to her when she said, “I think something bad is about to happen. Scout is awesome. If something happens to her, it will ruin this whole book for me… I hope I’m not boring you. Maybe we should try something else for a little while.”
Some time passed, and then she said, “This is one of my favorite songs. My dad used to play it all the time. He’d say it reminded him of me, and now it reminds me of him. I really miss him. He died last year, and it’s been hard not having him around. He was my rock, and it just hasn’t been the same without him.”
Her voice was low and filled with sadness, and there was no doubt her mood had grown somber. The room was suddenly filled with silence, and I started to think she’d left the room until another song started playing. There was no more talking, just one song after another.
Chapter 6
Zoe
When I walked into Seth’s room, I found Jacob sleeping soundly in the chair beside the bed. His head was craned forward, his shoulders drooped low, and he looked like an uncomfortable mess. He’d been there every night, and it had become our routine for me to wake him up and send him to the waiting room where he could sleep more comfortably. I walked over and gave him a nudge. “Hey, bud, I’m here.”
With a stretch and a groan, he smiled. “Running a little late tonight, huh?”
“Yeah, it was pretty crazy at work tonight. Sorry I’m so late.”
He stood from the chair. “You work too hard, darlin’. Pretty girl like you needs a fella to take care of her.”
I snickered, “Ya think so?”
“Just say the word. I’ll be at your beck and call.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I smiled. “Go get you some rest.”
Once he had gone I curled up in the c
hair and pulled out my book. I hadn’t been reading long before my Aunt Janet peeked her head into the room and asked, “How are you doing in here?”
“I’m doing okay,” I answered as I covered my mouth to yawn.
I could see the look of concern on her face as she stepped into the room. “You’ve been here every night this week. You look exhausted. I think it’s time for you to call it a night.”
“No. I’m fine. Honestly. I like being here with him.” I looked over at Seth and couldn’t help but worry. It had been five days, and as far as I could tell, there had been no change. “How is he doing? Really.”
“The doctors have taken him off the meds and ventilator, and he’s breathing really well. His stats are good, so it’s up to him now. I think he’s holding his own.”
“How much longer do you think it will be before he wakes up?”
“It’s hard to tell. Sometimes these things happen pretty fast… a couple of days or even less, but other times it can take longer. He’s been through a lot. We just have to wait and see how he does.”
“But you think when he wakes up… he’ll be okay?”
“I don’t want to get your hopes up, Zoe. He’s had severe trauma to the brain. There’s no way to tell how he will come out of this.”
“So, this could’ve messed him up permanently?”
“There’s always that chance, but he could wake up tomorrow and be perfectly fine.”
“I really hope he’s going to be okay.”
“Tell me again how you know him.”
“Umm… he’s a friend of mine from school.”
“Okay.” She sounded doubtful. “And you said he was robbed?”
“Yes.”
She gave me a knowing look. “Hmmm… Well, that’s strange.”
“What?”
“He still had his wallet… and his watch and ring. They’re in the cabinet with his other belongings. So, what exactly did they steal from him?”
“I have no idea.” My eyes skirted around the room as I tried to think of a plausible response. “Maybe they got scared off or something.”
“So, you aren’t going to tell me what’s really going on with this guy and why you’re so uncomfortable talking about it?”
There was no way I could make her understand because I didn’t understand it myself. Sure, he tried to help me, but that didn’t explain my need to be there in the middle of the night checking on him. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“Don’t give me that. You know exactly what I mean. I have no doubt that this all has something to do with those awful men your father called brothers. I told him from the start no good could come from that damned club, but he wouldn’t listen. Now, he’s dead because of them.”
“He loved the club. He was happy.”
“Would he be happy now? Would he want you stuck working in that awful strip club with all that goes on there? The whole thing makes me sick.”
“Aunt Janet.”
“It’s not your fault, Zoe. I know my stupid brother left you no choice. That’s what makes me so angry with him. He should’ve planned for this. He should’ve done whatever it took to ensure your future, but he was too tied up in that club to stop and think.”
“I’m okay. Really.”
“No, you’re not.” She motioned over to Seth as she sighed with frustration. “You’re sitting in a hospital room at four in the morning with some guy those men beat the hell out of.”
“I’m here because I want to be.”
“I get that, but I just don’t understand why. Is this guy some kind of boyfriend or something?”
“No. It’s not like that.”
“Then, tell me what it is like.”
“It’s complicated.”
“I’m worried, dear.”
“You don’t have to be. I can handle myself.”
“It’s not you that I’m worried about. It’s those Neanderthals in that club that I worry about. It could’ve been you lying in this bed instead of him.”
I wanted to tell her about my plans to leave, but I was afraid to say the words out loud. Everything she’d said about the brothers were true, and deep down, I was scared. I had no idea what they would do when they found out I was leaving. I’d like to think they’d just let me walk away, that they’d be glad to be rid of all ties to my dad, but in my heart, I knew it wouldn’t be that easy. “I’ll be okay. I promise.”
“You say that, but there’s no way you can know for sure. These men have no conscience. You have to get away from them.”
“I’ll figure it out, but for now, I just need for Seth to be okay.”
“I’ll talk to the doctor when he comes in and see if I can find out anything, but only on one condition.”
“What?”
“You go home soon and get some rest.”
“I will. I promise,” I assured her.
“Good. I worry about you, sweetheart. You are all I have left of your father, and I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to you.”
“I’m going to be fine.” I walked over to her and gave her a hug. “How’s Uncle Dan? I would’ve asked earlier, but…”
We’d all been caught by surprise when we’d found out my uncle had colon cancer. He was a health nut, always exercising and eating right, but everything changed after a routine checkup. When they got the news, Aunt Janet started working nights at the hospital so she could be there with him during the day. It had been hard on the entire family. Every time the doctors thought he was making progress, there’d be another setback. I hoped for good news, but I could tell from the expression on her face that he wasn’t doing well.
She shrugged. “There’re good days and bad days, but he’s doing okay. Hopefully this next round of treatment will do the trick.”
“I hope so, too. Please tell him I’m thinking about him.”
“I will.” As she started for the door, she added, “Don’t forget our deal.”
“I won’t. I promise. Thank you for everything.”
Once she was gone, I sat back down in my spot and looked over at Seth. I’d spent the last week talking to him, sharing stories about myself, and reading, and I had no idea if he could even hear me. It all felt so silly. I felt a pull to him, and the guy wasn’t even awake. I had no idea what kind of man he really was, or if he’d even be interested in someone like me. I found myself wondering about all of those crazy little things—his favorite color, his favorite food, his favorite movie—and I wondered if we had anything in common at all. Even though there were so many unanswered questions, something in my heart told me I was right where I needed to be.
I was still watching the rise and fall of his chest when a cute, young nurse came bopping in the room. With a bright smile, she sat down her supplies. “Hey, I’m Macy! It’s time for his bath.”
“Um, okay,” I said after an awkward pause. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
“No, I’ve got it.” She went to the bathroom to fill the basins with hot water, and when she returned she said, “I do this all the time. I’ve gotten my own little routine.”
The voluptuous redhead walked over to him and, after removing his blankets, started to undress him. A twinge of jealousy shot through me as I watched her untie his hospital gown and start to tug it down his shoulders, gently slipping his arms out of the sleeves. I tried not to glare as she pulled the gown further down his muscular torso, stopping at his waist. She then carefully tucked towels beneath his chest and arms before dipping the sponge in the soapy water. After wringing it out, she began gingerly stroking his face with it. Once she had rinsed him off, she started on his arm, and that’s where my envy reared its ugly head. I felt the sensation of hot lead in my stomach as I watched her hands slide along his body. Her eyes lingered on his toned bicep as she patted it dry before turning her attention to his sculpted torso. I watched apprehensively as the damp sponge moved across his neck and shoulders, and as I glanced up towards her face, I was immediately irritated to se
e that her eyes were focused intently on his defined V. As she rinsed his neck and chest, I caught a glimpse of her cheeks flushing.
When she moved to wash his lower abdomen and I noticed her biting her lip, I couldn’t take it anymore. It was like I wasn’t even in the room as this stupid slut-bag ogled him like a piece of meat. I wasn’t having it. I stood up to confront her, but stopped when the door suddenly opened and an orderly rushed in.
A tall black man in green scrubs hurried over to the bedside. “Hey, Macy. I’ve got a situation next door. Can you give me a hand?”
Her freckled nose crinkled in disappointment as she glanced down at Seth’s bare chest. With a reluctant sigh she replied, “Yeah… can it wait a sec? I really need to finish up here.”
I eagerly interjected, “No. No. You can go ahead. It’s no problem! I can finish up here for you.”
She looked at me with near repulsion as she shook her head vigorously. “That’s not necessary! I really need to finish this. It won’t take much longer.”
Trying to contain my annoyance, I walked over to the side of the bed and placed my hand on his chest. “I’ve got it. Really.”
Sensing the tension between us, the kind orderly raised his eyebrows at Macy. “Come on. I need you next door. This can’t wait.”
With a disgruntled huff, she mumbled, “Fine.”
As she dropped the sponge into the basin, she rolled her eyes and started for the door. After she’d left, the orderly smiled and said with a wink, “It’s hard to find good help these days. Let me know if you need anything.”
Once they’d gone, I took a deep breath to collect myself and focus on the job at hand. It wasn’t easy as my eyes roamed over his tanned, firm chest before traveling to the tantalizing ridges of his abdomen. The light dusting of hair trailing down his belly and underneath the folded sheet had my entire body flushed with the heat of an uncontrollable desire. I knew it was wrong, but I just couldn’t compose myself. He was my every fantasy rolled up into one beautiful package, and what a package it was. I tried to block the unwanted thoughts from my head, but it was just too hard. I couldn’t stop imagining what was hidden beneath that blasted sheet.
