by C. M. Owens
“I wasn’t… I came to apologize, and this crazy, supernaturally strong woman tackled me.” I point an accusing finger at said woman, who snorts derisively at me.
Bella arches an eyebrow while crossing her arms over her chest and staring down at me, annoyed.
“You can’t go picking up random kids.”
I glare over at the kid who is laughing at me, but he smothers it with his hand when Berta cuts her eyes toward him. That kid is a jerk.
“Look, I—”
“Daniel’s room is at the end of the hall. Feel free to stop in and tell him you’re his hero. I need to get home.”
With that, she steps over me, and I stay on the ground, staring at the ceiling for a second. This really didn’t work out the way I planned.
“So I’m not calling the cops?” Berta—the evil woman—asks.
“Not this time,” Bella calls out. “But feel free to tackle him if you ever see him again.”
I swear that evil woman grins at me like she can’t wait. Fuck my day. This sure as hell didn’t go as planned.
Chapter 31
BELLA
My phone chimes for the eighth time today, and against my better judgment, I look down, seeing the preview of a picture.
It’s from Ethan, and it’s a picture of him in a suit. As if I want that now. It’s a little too late for that.
Maverick answered my phone? So the hell what? Ethan is a freaking five-year-old for giving me the silent treatment without even asking me what was really going on.
I’m glad I have the day off, because I feel like death. I’ve definitely been overworked and underpaid.
Dragging my ass out of bed at noon, I start sifting through my fridge, looking for something to eat. My phone chimes again, and I groan while looking at the message.
ASSHOLE: I know I fucked up, but give me a second to explain. Please. Don’t make me track you down.
ME: That didn’t work out so well for you yesterday.
ASSHOLE: I don’t need a reminder. Next time I plan to be more successful.
ME: Stranger danger!! Stranger danger!!
MAVERICK: Why are you sending me stranger danger?
Ah hell. That was a good one too, and it went to the wrong person.
ME: Not meant for you, Mav. I’m mad at you, BTW.
ME: Stranger danger! Stranger danger!
This time that message goes to Ethan, and I giggle a little. Then I curse the giggling because it hurts.
MAVERICK: Ethan already took a shot at me. You don’t get to hit me too.
It gives me a juvenile sense of pleasure to know Ethan hit him. But he’s still getting paid back from me too.
ASSHOLE: Real fucking funny. I want to forget that day ever happened. Can we meet somewhere?
ME:
ASSHOLE: I deserved that. But it’s the last shot I’ll take before tracking you down. I’m serious.
ME: Go. Away.
ASSHOLE: I’d rather go down…
ME: Now is so not the time to talk dirty to me.
ASSHOLE: Go with your strengths when you’re down in the ninth inning.
ME: Baseball metaphors or analogies or whatever will deduct even more points. As of now, I’m done. Keep calling, and I’ll give Berta your address.
Like a brave girl, I turn my phone off, groaning when my head thuds around like a pitiful balloon with rocks inside it.
After that, I spend the day taking a bath, watching old movies, and maybe fantasizing about shoving Ethan’s head in a hospital toilet. And I might also abuse that picture of him in a suit while I’m using my Magic Wand.
Didn’t say I was a saint.
By six, my head is seriously killing me, and my body aches.
I question if those rocks in my head are shaking or if someone is knocking on my door. Whimpering, I drag myself off the couch, and Allie is waiting for me when I open the door. She’s also holding roses in a really pretty vase.
“You shouldn’t have,” I tell her dryly, even though my voice sounds off.
“You look like shit,” she replies, eyeing me. “Are you sick?”
She walks in, and I shut the door behind her, collapsing against it.
“No. What’s that?” I ask her, looking at a suspiciously pretty present that she’s putting beside the roses.
“I have no idea. I rolled up just as the delivery guy did, and I signed for all this. I didn’t know you were dating anyone.”
Groaning, I snatch the pretty present, and glare at the card on the roses that says: Look, I can be sweet. I can also be your favorite asshole.
I’d laugh if it didn’t hurt to try.
“I’m not dating anyone. But I’m too awesome not to have admirers,” I say, sniffing and wiping my nose at the same time and killing that witty retort with my utter grossness.
Her lips twitch, and I wink while sluggishly moving back toward the living room.
“Yeah, you look awesome right now,” she says with a coy grin.
“You should feel what I’m feeling. I’m starting to think that dream I had about riding hippos across the arctic tundra before they trampled me later on was real.”
She laughs, and the sound grates on my fragile nerves. I’m ill, tired, and sick. Motherfucker, I’m sick. Damn those jackasses for finally making me sick.
I rip open the present, too curious not to find out what it is. Not that I’ll keep it. I sure as hell don’t want to owe Ethan Noles anything.
“Why is your vibrator out?” Allie asks, coughing on air as she side steps my Magic Wand.
I shrug, feeling completely shameless. “Don’t you make your little lady happy when you feel like ass? It always makes me feel a little better.”
She laughs while groaning. “I often wonder if I can ever learn anything new about you, and then there’s a vibrator on the living room floor.”
I laugh, but then groan when it hurts. Allie frowns as she reaches over and feels my forehead. I’m too busy opening up my pretty present to bat her hand away.
“Holy hot girl, Bella. You’re burning up.”
“I’m sick,” I state flatly. “And you need to go before you get it and make my niece sick later.”
She stands and moves across from me like that will somehow keep her from getting infected.
I roll my eyes when I finally get the stubborn box open. My arms are weak, and so is my grip. Tearing into that thin box was like tearing into a wooden crate that had too many nails.
“What is it?” Allie asks, and I pull out the slinky nightie to answer her question.
“Something that will be returned to the sender. After I hack it into tiny pieces.”
I start to get up and get scissors, but my body feels too heavy, as if it’s getting worse by the second. I had so better not be sick in the morning. I only have one damn shift tomorrow. I’d rather be sick on a double shift day so that I can call in and really stick it to them.
I drop the box instead of expending precious energy on cutting the nightie to pieces. Not worth it.
“Get out of here. Save yourself,” I say dramatically as I curl up on the couch and cover my eyes.
“I’m not leaving you like this with no one here to take care of you. We’ve always helped each other out when sick.”
“Things change, Allie. I’m a big girl now. Promise. I even have the big girl panties to prove it.”
I expect her to laugh, but when I look over at her, she’s staring at me with tears in her eyes.
“I take it back? I’m not a big girl now?” I say playfully, still hoping for a smile.
“I feel like I’ve abandoned you, and you’re starting to push me away like you do everyone else.”
A heavy sigh leaves my lips, and I attempt shaking my head. Bad idea. Never shake your head when it feels like a bowling ball on your shoulders. I miss the balloon feeling it had earlier now.
; “No, Allie. I swear I’m not. I’m just trying to adjust… Same as you. I’m sick. I’m not dying. You have a life with a really great guy, and your daughter has never been happier. Go live that life, and stop worrying about me. It’s really annoying.”
I smile to let her know I’m joking, and she returns a watery smile at me.
“I’ll go buy you some supplies at least.”
“If you must,” I say around a yawn. “My debit card is in my purse.”
She stands, and I watch her walk out without my debit card. Damn good friend is going to get her ass kicked if she tries to pay for my sick-girl supplies.
My eyes grow heavier and heavier until I’m suddenly on the back of a rhino who is tackling a hippo. Damn hippos are everywhere. I better not get trampled again.
Chapter 32
ETHAN
It’s her day off, which I learned after braving the hospital again. Fortunately I didn’t have to run into the linebacker devil woman to figure that out.
Just as I decide to drive by her house, I see her red Acura pass me, and I follow her all the way to her driveway because I’ve gotten pathetic like that.
I didn’t give her the chance to explain, but now I’m demanding that she listen to my explanation. My hypocrisy really shouldn’t surprise her by now.
Weirdly, Allie is the one who steps out of the Acura when I get out of the car, and she puts her hands on her hips as she stares at me.
“Why are you driving Bella’s car?” I ask, as though I have the right to.
I mean, her car is in the driveway. Why not drive it?
“Because mine was full of things from the school play Angel is putting on, and I needed to pick up some things for Bella.”
I really don’t know what to say to that, but Allie doesn’t look like she wants me to just walk into Bella’s house without some sort of explanation.
“I take it you’re the roses and nightie sender? I kind of had a feeling it was you,” she states flatly.
We really suck at sneaking around.
“Um… Any chance you could withhold that information from Wren? I’d like to tell him myself.”
She doesn’t show any emotion as she leans against the back of Bella’s car.
“Considering how poorly she received those gifts, I don’t think she’s into you anymore. What’d you do?”
“What makes you assume I’m the one who did something?” I immediately shoot back a little angrily.
Did I mention I suck at talking to people? I’m used to cutthroat businessmen and women. Not regular people.
Allie doesn’t back down though or even seem the least bit intimidated.
“Because Bella has a habit of picking guys who don’t appreciate her. She’s too good for the jerks who treat her like shit on a side dish. You’re not going in there unless you tell me what you did.”
Groaning, I run a hand through my hair, and I do tell her. Because apparently Allie isn’t the meek woman I thought she was. Right now, she’s a vicious guard dog waiting for a reason to bite.
When I finish laying out the minor misunderstanding, she looks pissed.
“How many girls party at your house?” she asks randomly.
“Hell if I know. Why?”
“Because Bella has one guy at her house who answers her phone, and you react like that? Just go, Ethan. She deserves someone who isn’t looking for a reason to break her, and you’re an idiot and a hypocrite.”
She pushes off from the car and moves around to the back door of the car. I catch the door before she can open it fully, and I glare at her.
“I have my reasons for reacting the way I did. It won’t happen again. And I’m not telling you my reasons until I explain things to Bella.”
“Well, not today. She’s sick. And I’m talking high fever, barely able to move, flu-like sick. She needs to see a doctor, but she won’t. Never does. A nurse who doesn’t see the doctor… Yeah, it’s irony, but it’s Bella. And I’m staying until she feels better.”
Bella’s sick? Shit.
“I’ll stay. You don’t need to stay and get sick, considering you have a kid.”
She snorts before jerking the door. I let it go, and she leans in and grabs some bags that I snatch out of her hands.
“I mean it, Allie. You can poke your chest out like you’re big and bad, but I have no qualms about ignoring you and pretending you don’t exist. It’s not like you’re strong enough to stop me from going in there. I’m staying with her, and when she feels up to talking, I’ll explain what went down.”
She eyes me like she’s deciding whether or not she wants to stab me or slap me. Heh. I feel kind of sorry for Wren now.
“Look, Wren’s already worried you’re ready to bail on him. If you start staying here, he’s going to panic even more.”
Her eyes soften, and she takes a breath. “I’m never going to bail on him. Why does he think that?”
I shrug. “I don’t know, but he didn’t want me around Bella because he was worried I’d fuck up—”
“Like you did,” she interrupts.
“—and then you’d be upset with him,” I finish, acting like she didn’t butt in.
“I’m never going to be upset with him over something you did. I don’t know you and I don’t care to at this moment.”
“Well, good, because I don’t really like talking to women unless it’s about business. They tend to want to talk about feelings and shit, and that’s just too chick for me.”
She arches an unamused eyebrow while glaring at me.
“Except Bella,” I amend. “I like talking to Bella. And Brin’s cool when she’s talking about something evil she wants to do to Rye.”
Her lips twitch, but she doesn’t allow herself to smile. Finally, she blows out a long breath.
“Are you messing with her head?”
“Pretty sure she’s the one messing with mine,” I admit.
Again, she tries not to smile.
“Bella’s not an easy one to get close to. She’s friends with everyone, but close with very few.”
“I’m aware. It took a lot of stalking just to get her to warm up to me the first time,” I confess. This time, she laughs.
“I’ll wait out here. If she doesn’t want you here, I’ll be staying. But I’ll give you a chance to see if she’ll let you prove yourself.”
She thrusts a few more bags at me, and I struggle to collect them all as fast as she’s handing them to me. Holy shit. Did she buy out the grocery store? And why do chicks think you have to get it all in one load?
“Her favorite soups are in there. Keep her hydrated. If her fever gets too high, take her to a doctor, even if you have to take her kicking and screaming.”
As she rattles off a bunch of other instructions, I start struggling under the weight of the entire fucking store she bought. But I stay patient until she’s finished. She gives me one last wary glance before moving toward the door.
“Ten minutes. I’ll wait out here for ten minutes. Then I’m coming in.”
Instead of arguing, I let her open the door for me, and I walk into the dark house. Every single curtain is closed, which Allie said to make sure I kept them closed, since Bella has a headache.
I can barely see what I’m doing as I put the bags down on the ground and stumble my way toward the living room. Fucking eh.
As soon as I enter the living room, Bella jerks upright, going still, even though it’s hard to see her. In the next second, she squeals and grabs something before launching it, and I curse when a hammer slams into my head from across the room.
“Motherfucker!” I snap, grabbing my head that is still pounding.
That damn thing hits the ground and starts vibrating against the tile, dancing in a circle at my feet. That’s when I realize I didn’t just get hit by a hammer. Is that… Is that a fucking… No way…
Chapter 33
BELLA
A noise startles me, and I jolt awake in time to see a shadowy figure looming near the e
ntrance of my living room. That’s way too big to be Allie.
Groggy and worried I’m still dreaming, I shriek and grab the first thing I can before throwing it across the room with all my strength. Thank you, adrenaline. Save my life while you’re working.
“Motherfucker!” the man yells, and I scramble back on the couch as my Magic Wand hits the ground and starts rattling on the floor.
As my eyes adjust to the dark, I stare in horrified fascination as Ethan comes into view. He’s clutching his head where I nailed him with my… Oh shit.
“Did you really just hit me with a damn vibrator?” he asks, sounding more confused than angry.
I cover my mouth with my hands, trying not to laugh.
“It was the first thing I could grab.”
He mutters something under his breath as he grabs the dancing vibrator from the floor and shuts it off. I’m somewhat wondering when the damn thing got cut on.
“Allie said you were sick, but judging by the power from that throw, I’m questioning if she’s out of her mind,” he grumbles, still rubbing his head as he studies my vibrator with far too much interest, even turning on a light.
“I am sick,” I defend, squinting against the dim light. “But when some guy breaks into my house, the fight-or-flight response kicks in with some oomph. What the hell are you doing in my house?”
I clutch my chest as my breathing tries to slow down, along with my furiously pounding heart. The more the initial terror wears off, the more everything on me starts to hurt.
“Why is this thing so heavy? It’s at least ten pounds or something. And how does this go inside—”
“You are not asking questions about my vibrator. And it doesn’t go inside you. It’s a clit stimu—No. No. I’m not explaining it to you. What the hell, Ethan?”
He pushes a button, and the wand is turned on to full, knock-your-clit-off speed, and his eyebrows go up like he’s fascinated.
