Unbreak This Heart

by Betty Shreffler

  “Got it, Boss.”

  Jeff pats me on the shoulder before handing me his clipboard. “Sign here. This is your release form. From now on, your sessions will be by appointment…from outside the hospital.”

  Taking the clipboard gives me a sensation of relief and apprehension. I’m ready to leave the hospital but unsure of where to begin outside of it. The one good thing is the insurance agency of the driver of the vehicle that hit me was quick to pay my medical bills, and on top of that, the hospital received an anonymous donation toward my account. I’m leaving the hospital with having to pay barely anything. It’s one major concern I can now mark off my list.

  Back in my hospital room, I gather the few items that are mine and toss them in a duffle bag. Thanks to Kevin, I have a new phone. After a police officer stopped in my room to speak with me, I learned there’s an investigation into my accident and my clothing and cell phone were collected for evidence. Don’t imagine I’ll ever see that phone again which is unfortunate. It holds many pieces to the man I was.

  There’s a knock at my door and I turn my wheelchair to face the visitor. When thinking about who I wanted to take me to my house, Alex was my first thought, but after thinking about it more, I called Kevin. Walking back into my home is going to be rough. If I have a breakdown, I’d rather she didn’t see it.

  Kevin nods. “Ready, bro?”

  “Very.” I toss my duffle bag at him and he catches it with ease. “Thanks for the ride.”

  “Anytime. Honestly, don’t hesitate to call and ask me for anything even if it’s getting off the toilet after taking a shit.”

  Laughter rolls out of my chest. “No wonder we were close. You’re all right, man.”

  He pats me on the shoulder. “I’m serious though, anything at all.”

  “Thanks.”

  For not knowing him long since waking up with the memory loss, I already feel a brotherly connection to him. I have no doubt we were close before. I hope we can be that way again.

  The drive to my home isn’t long. On the way, we stop for burgers and I roll down the window and enjoy the rest of the ride with the breeze cooling the tension off my body.

  Pulling up to my house reveals a tan siding, ranch style home with brown trim on the windows and front door. Kevin says it’s a two bedroom, two bathrooms, and he and I redid the flooring and remodeled the kitchen a couple years ago.

  “It’s yours now,” he says, looking from the house to me. “You didn’t have much left to pay on it. I paid the remaining balance for you.”

  I’m completely shocked. “Wow, Kev, that’s—”

  “Don’t mention it. Us Maxwells stick together. I wasn’t going to have you worrying about losing your home while you’re trying to recover. With the money we received after our father died and the added money you saved, you had the balance nearly paid. There wasn’t much left to pay, so don’t feel guilty about it, all right?”

  Leaning over, I pull Kevin in for a hug. “Shit, bro. Thank you. This means a hell of a lot to me.”

  Kevin pats my back, then leans back. Staring at the house, he sighs. “I wasn’t there to protect you. This is my way of making up for it.”

  “Don’t let it haunt you. The things I did the day of my accident were my choices. No one else’s.”

  “Your girl, Alex. You were fighting for her that day and I don’t blame you. You were doing what you thought was right to protect her. I would’ve done the same. I would’ve wanted to beat the shit out of her ex too. He hurt her more than once.”

  “What do you mean?” My muscles tighten hearing those words. “Did he abuse her when they were together?”

  “No, not that I know of. You told me he walked out on her after she was raped.”

  “Alex was raped?” My hand wipes over my face, rubbing uncomfortably at my stubble.

  “Yeah, by a serial rapist. Over a year and a half ago. She was his last victim before the police caught him and shot him. It took her a long time to recover. You told me you’re the first man she’s been with since her attack. The first guy she’s let in. I actually Googled that shit after you told me. There’s articles about it. It was in the news.”

  “That’s fucking horrible.” My fist tightens into a ball. Hearing this causes a twinge in my chest, an ache in my gut.

  “I know. You should’ve seen the look on your face when you told me about it. If her rapist wasn’t already dead, I think you would’ve hunted him down yourself and taken him out. There’s something about Alex that brings out a different side of you. It’s the same as I am about my wife, Carrie.”

  “I like her, Kev, but—”

  “You don’t know her.”

  “I’m trying to get to know her to see if there can be something between us. It’s hard. When she looks at me, I feel like she wishes I was a different man, and I don’t know who that man is.”

  “I get it, bro. You mind if I give you a piece of advice from your older, more experienced, married brother?”

  I chuckle at the older as I know he’s only a year and a couple months older. “Of course.”

  “Don’t try to be the man she remembers. Don’t try to fill those shoes. Just be you. Start the relationship fresh. Discover what it is that made you fall in love with her in the first place.”

  Going silent, I absorb his words. If I’m honest with myself, I want Alex to look at me and see me, the man I am now, not the man she remembers.

  “That’s damn good advice.”

  Kevin’s hand goes to the door handle, a grin smeared across his face. “Let’s head in. You have a new home and new shit to get acquainted with.”

  Leaning against the car door, I wait for him to pull the wheelchair out of the trunk.

  “I have more good news for you, C.”

  “Yeah, what’s that?”

  “You’re going to be an uncle.”

  CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

  —

  ALEX

  As I pull my blouse over my head, I glance at Carter’s t-shirt I took from his house. Maybe it’s creepy, maybe it’s pathetic, but I don’t care. I needed to have something of him close. It smells like him and is the last shirt I saw him wear before the day of the accident. Reaching out, my hand grazes the fabric. The soft blue cotton slides between my fingers and I swallow down the lump swelling in my throat. I will not cry. I cannot cry.

  Jane is on her way over, insistent on taking me out today. She’s concerned with my emotional state, worried I’ll withdraw into myself like I did before. My heart has been shattered once more, but I made a promise to Carter I plan to keep. I don’t want him to only see the sad and emotional Alex. There’s more to me than that and he deserves to get to know the strong and fun woman I can be. I owe him that, and more importantly, I want him to see the woman he fell in love with.

  At the sound of knocking, I release Carter’s shirt from my hand. On the other side of my front door is Jane. She swoops in and hugs me, squeezing me tight against her.

  “Hey, babe.” Soft lips pucker against my cheek.

  “Good to see you too. You ready?”

  A dimple forms as she beams with a smile. “We’re changing our plans.”

  Brows creased in confusion, I wonder what she’s up to. “How come?”

  “We’re going to my house instead because Carter is coming over to hang out with Kyle.”

  “He is?” Instantly, my stomach does a loop-the-loop in excited anticipation. “It’s not going to be weird you left to come hang out with me, then we show up, is it?”

  “I got it covered. When Kyle told me he was going to Carter’s house to pick him up, I told him not to tell Carter I left to go hang out with you, that way we can show up like it wasn’t planned.”

  “I love you.”

  “I know you do. Now let’s go pick up some food, then you can seduce your boyfriend.”

  Laughter rolls out of my chest as I close the door behind me.

  ***

  Pushing through the front door, Jane carries
the bag of wings while I carry the pizza. Walking through the entryway, I can’t see Carter yet, but my nerves have already started tingling across my chest and shoulders. Jane sets the bag on the counter, and as soon as I move next to her, I see Carter’s back. Turning, he looks right at me and I’m grateful a smile spreads over his face.

  “Hey, honey. Hey Carter. It’s nice to see you. It was a good night to come over. Alex and I got pizza and wings.”

  Kyle stands from the couch and winks at Jane. “Did you girls have fun?”

  “Yep,” Jane replies innocently before walking around the counter and kissing him. “But now we’re ready to veg out. Can we join you?”

  She looks to Carter and he sets the Xbox controller down on the coffee table. “Yeah, of course.”

  Looking at me, I see his eyes brighten. “Hey, Alex.” He pats the couch cushion next to him. “Come have a seat.”

  Jane opens the cabinet and pulls out several plates. Grabbing one, I lift the pizza box. “How many slices you want?” I ask him.

  “Two would be great. I’ll have some wings too.”

  After filling both our plates, I carry them into the living room and hand one to Carter before sitting down next to him. Jane brings in drinks for us, and we take them with a ‘thanks.’ She and Kyle take the chairs by the couch and ignore us, focused on their meals.

  “How you been?” Carter asks. “I haven’t seen you since I left the hospital.” He sounds a bit disappointed and I’m pleasantly surprised.

  “I figured you needed some time to get settled.”

  “I did. Thank you. I’m happy to see you though. I missed you.”

  It’s been a week since I’ve seen him, and he has no idea how much I’ve missed him. Hearing him tell me he missed me is amazing to hear and it’s sweet. I can tell he’s flirting and I like it.

  “Yeah? Maybe we could get together sometime soon.”

  “Speaking of that.” Our gazes switch to Jane. She sets her slice of pizza back on her plate. “Before the accident, Kyle and I had planned on inviting you both to his father’s beach house in Key West for a long weekend. We still wanted to ask because we thought you both would like the getaway and I mean, who doesn’t want a free stay in Key West?”

  Carter and I both go silent. It’s obvious we’re both unsure of how to respond or how the other one feels. I’m still practically a stranger to Carter, I can understand if he isn’t interested or ready for a trip like this.

  “I’m game.”

  My gaze whips to Carter in surprise. His shoulders shrug, and he glances at me briefly before looking at Jane and Kyle.

  “I think it’d be good for me to go somewhere fun with my friends. As long as y’all don’t mind my limited mobility.”

  “Not at all,” Kyle quickly replies. “I’m happy to help you any way I can.”

  “We all are,” I reply, placing my hand on his knee.

  Glancing down at my hand, a smile forms his lips as he places his hand over mine and rubs it. “Thank you. Does that mean you’re in for the trip too?”

  Feeling his hand caress over mine causes butterflies to do a slow swirl in my stomach. Looking at his hopeful blue eyes, my heart skips a beat. “I am.”

  “How fun!” Jane squeals. “Alex, do you think you can get Friday off work?”

  “Yeah, I haven’t had a vacation day yet. I know Mr. Kline won’t mind.”

  “Ok, great, because the Marco Island Key West Express leaves on Thursday and comes back on Sunday. Does that work for you Carter?”

  “Yeah, that’ll work. I’ll do physical therapy that morning and if you don’t mind picking me up after.”

  “I can pick you up,” I tell him.

  Carter gives my hand a squeeze, then reaches for his pizza. “That’s perfect.”

  With our bellies full and a few drinks in, we move to the dining room table for a card game. As I stand, Carter reaches for my hand.

  “Wait a moment, I’ll walk with you.”

  Still holding my hand, he places his other on the couch arm, using both to help him stand. On his feet, he positions his hands on my shoulders.

  “Good?”

  “Yeah.”

  Slowly and carefully, I lead us into the dining room. Behind me, I hear him wince a couple times and feel his grip tighten on my shoulders. It’s obviously painful for him to walk, but he doesn’t complain or ask me to stop. We make it to the square table, and he reaches out for the red leather chair and sidesteps, dropping into it.

  I slide into the chair next to him and he brushes my hair off my shoulder. His hand lingers, rubbing my back. The sensation creates goosebumps along my neck and shoulder. Longing for more of his touch, I remain still, indulging in the affection.

  “Thank you for the extra hand.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  With the alcohol in my system, I stare a little too long at him, and he grins, his cheeks slightly pink.

  Removing his hand from my back, he caresses his thumb across my cheek, and I lean into it. With a wink, he removes his hand, attention switching to the game being set up in front of us.

  Thankfully I know the rules because my attention is entirely on Carter. I feel like a lovesick schoolgirl, desperate for my crush’s attention. Taking a breath, I rein in my emotions.

  The cards are dealt and we each look at the answers written on our cards. Each of us laughs at something we’ve read.

  “Ok, let’s begin,” Jane insists.

  She reads her card and we each search through our hands for an answer we feel is the funniest. We each slap the card of our choice face down and slide it to Jane. Picking them up, she looks at the first one.

  “Ok. It ain’t no sunshine when she’s… getting humped by a vicious Chihuahua… sticking a chili pepper where no chili pepper should ever be stuck… when Aunt Flo comes to town.”

  We all burst out laughing and wait for Jane to pick the one she thinks is the funniest.

  “I’m going with getting humped by a vicious Chihuahua. Who’s was it?”

  “Mine,” I cheer.

  “One point for you. Your turn to read.”

  Over an hour later and a couple more drinks in, my cheeks are hurting from how much I’ve laughed and smiled. Jane tallies the score and points to Carter. “You’re the winner,” she beams.

  “What do I win?” he jokes.

  “A kiss from Alex, of course.” Her sneaky grin widens as she gathers the cards to put back in the box.

  “I’d take that.” Glancing at me, he winks.

  Helping Jane, I gather cards and drop them in the box. “Let me know when you’re ready to cash it in.” I give a sideways glance and wink back.

  His smile is playful and his gaze seductive as he watches me, carefully standing to his feet. “I’m holding you to that.”

  “Please do.” I nod, grinning.

  Carter’s smile widens before he looks at Kyle and pulls his cell phone from his jean pocket. “Unfortunately, it’s getting late. I’ll call a cab to pick me up.”

  “You’re welcome to stay here. I can drive you home tomorrow morning if you want,” Kyle tells him. “We have a guest room.”

  “You should stay too,” Jane adds, putting the game box back in the cabinet.

  “Sure, I can take the couch.”

  “No, I’ll take the couch,” Carter insists, putting his cell back in his pocket. “You can have the guest room.”

  “It’s fine. I promise. I don’t mind.”

  “I do. I want you to have the guest room.”

  Opening the fridge, Jane pulls another beer out. “Why don’t you both use it?”

  My gaze shifts to her, eyes narrowing.

  “Or not,” she giggles. “Let’s go to bed,” she tells Kyle, running her hand over his shoulders.

  Following quickly behind, Kyle smacks her ass, and she rushes into their room. Kyle closes the door after him, leaving Carter and me awkwardly at the table.

  “We won’t see them again until morning.” I
laugh. “But we’ll hear them.”

  “How long they been married?”

  “Four years, together for five. They met through a mutual friend and hit it off instantly. She told me shortly after meeting him he was the man she was going to marry.”

  “They’re great. You all are. I’m lucky to have such good friends.”

  “You’re pretty awesome yourself.”

  Putting his weight against the table, he adjusts his footing, I notice the grimace he makes, and it pains me to see it.

  “You’re doing really well getting around, but it hurts, doesn’t it?”

  “It does, but it’s also because I’m pushing my body.”

  “Do you have anything to take that can help?”

  “Yeah, but I don’t want to take pain pills. I have to work through it and manage it.” His face twists, another grimace of pain.

  “Let’s get you into a comfortable bed. You look tired,” I state, walking toward him at the end of the polished black table.

  Without arguing, he places his hands on my shoulders, and I lead us to the guest room. Reaching along the wall, I flick on the switch, then help him ease down onto the bed.

  “You need anything?”

  Raising his shirt over his head, he sets it on top of the comforter. Using his arms, he scoots his body back to the headboard. With each push of his arms, his muscles flex, and my gaze is drawn to the contours of his chest and abs. My hands twitch with the need to touch him.

  “I’m good. Thanks.”

  “How about a massage?”

  With a tilt of his head, the corner of his mouth raises. “Not going to say no to that.”

  The bed dips beneath my weight as I crawl across the mattress to him. Staring back at me, his eyes have lost the look of pain and have filled with something new—desire.

  “Lay down.”

  The soft fabric of his jeans fills my hands as I tug at him, helping him to lay on his back. Raising one knee, I straddle his thighs. His gaze doesn’t stray, remaining fixed on me.

  “I’ll start on this side.”

  Firm hands hold tight, just below my ass. With the alcohol coursing through me, I’m feeling confident. Taking his hands in mine, I move them up. Cupping my ass, he continues to watch me, awaiting my next move. My hair falls to the side, brushing across his chest as I lean down, putting my lips within a whispered reach of his.