Desolate (Riverband #2)

by Sara Daniell

  He shrugged then groaned from the pain the movement caused. The door opened and Mrs. Johanna and Mr. Rick came in. She was holding flowers.

  "Good afternoon, Mayor," Johanna said with a smile as she came over and patted his hand.

  I pushed the nurses' button. "Mrs. Johanna, Daddy's in pain," I said as I looked at her.

  A nurse came in and started asking him questions.

  Johanna kissed my head. "We will just come by later." She set the flowers on the window sill.

  Rick hugged me then they left.

  I watched as the nurse gave dad something for the pain. I then held his hand tightly. "So, I'm actually going to a public school and it sucks." I gave him a weak smile. “Remind me to thank you for the years of home school later,” I teased.

  Dad looked at me and smiled.

  "He's going to fall back asleep, but he's going to be just fine."

  I nodded and the nurse left. Another tear slipped down my cheek. "You're not allowed to ever leave me again. Okay?"

  He nodded then fell asleep.

  I took a deep breath then kissed his head. I sat down in the chair next to his bed and pulled up my legs. I drew while I watched him sleep.

  After a while of drawing, I laid my head back against the chair and closed my eyes. I didn't have my eyes closed for long when I felt someone kiss me. I opened them to see Havock.

  "Hey."

  He kissed me again. "Hey." He smiled against my lips. He handed me a Taco Bell bag.

  "You're a life saver," I whispered. I stood up and stretched. "You want to go for a walk?" I asked as I put the food down.

  “After you eat.”

  I smiled a little then sat down at the little table and ate my dinner. This room was as nice as some hotels. It was ridiculous what you got when you were the mayor.

  Once I was finished, I stood up and grabbed Havock's hand. We walked out into the back garden.

  "This hospital is nicer than the one in Riverbend. I'm glad they moved him."

  I nodded. "Me too. I just wish I was closer to you."

  "Mom said I could stay here tonight with you." He sat on a bench and pulled me onto his lap. He kissed me. "If you want me to."

  I put my head on his shoulder. "I'd like that very much, however, does your mom know that I'm staying in a hotel room because they won't let me stay here at night?"

  "I might have left out that part." He grinned.

  I chuckled. "It's about time for us to leave. I need to go get my stuff and tell dad bye," I said as I looked at my cellphone.

  He nodded. "I'll meet you out front."

  I kissed Havock then headed inside. I grabbed my stuff and hugged dad carefully.

  "I'll be back tomorrow," I whispered before leaving the room.

  I walked out to Havock's truck and got in. I gave him directions to the hotel. It didn’t take long, and we were there.

  We were barely in the door before I kissed him. He picked me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. His hands were under my shirt and lips on mine as he walked us to the bed. He laid me down and hovered over me.

  "I got you something." He kissed me again. "Want it now or later?"

  I ran my hand through his hair. "Later. Much later."

  I tugged at his shirt wanting it gone. Now.

  Once it was off, I went back to kissing him with everything in me as my hands roamed his chest.

  He started to take off my jeans but stopped. He was looking to his left, above us. "Umm, Reese?"

  "Yeah?" I asked as I looked at him for stopping. We were stopping now? Why?

  "Ummm, is there a particular reasoning the remote and my cell phone is floating?" He pointed.

  I looked at them then covered my mouth to keep from laughing. "Sorry." I touched his face then cupped the back of his neck. "Can we go back to what we were doing?"

  "Can you make that stuff stop floating? It's freaking me out. Total mood killer, Princess."

  I chewed on my lip and concentrated till they floated back to the table. I felt a slight headache forming, but I ignored it.

  Everything else but us faded away after that.

  ~~~

  I woke up a few hours later to Havock kissing my bare shoulder. "It's late," I said as I turned and snuggled against his bare chest.

  My slight headache had turned into a pounding one, and I just wanted to sleep.

  It was so cold. I opened my eyes enough to see that we were tangled in the sheets and the comforter was gone from the bed. I snuggled even closer to Havock.

  He laughed. "You're shivering." He pulled the sheets over me and hugged me tight.

  "That's because it's cold," I said with a chuckle.

  He kissed me then leaned over to get the comforter. He wrapped me in it super tight. "Better?"

  I wiggled some so I could lay on his chest then sighed with contentment. "Much."

  His phone rang. "What the hell? It's three in the morning!" He groaned.

  “Mom?”

  He closed his eyes and held it away from his ear and turned it on speaker. She was yelling about him lying that we were staying at the hospital.

  "Ask me how I know!" she yelled.

  "How?" he mumbled.

  "Because Garrett never came home last night, and I couldn't get you on your cell so I called the hospital!"

  Havock sat up. “Is Garrett okay?"

  "Let me talk to Reese!"

  “You’re on speaker.” Havock looked at me.

  "Hello?" I asked nervously.

  "Reese, what are you thinking?!"

  "I love him, Mrs. Johanna." I ran my hand through my tangled hair as I sat up. My head was throbbing now.

  "I know that, sweetie, but do you want to end up pregnant?! Tell him I said come home! We need help finding Garrett. Him and Rick got into it fight, and he left mad."

  “Mom, I told you, you’re on speaker. I can hear you.” Havock started getting dressed.

  “Just get your ass home!” she yelled. She was crying now.

  "He’s getting dressed," I said as I looked over my shoulder at Havock.

  "And I'm taking the pills you got me." I sighed then rubbed the back of my neck.

  Mrs. Johanna didn't say anything else to me, she just hung up. "Your mom is really angry. She never says words like that," I said as I started to get dressed. I rubbed my head trying to release some of the pain.

  Havock looked at me. "You don't have to come. You rest. And your dad might need you." He put on his converse.

  I plopped down onto the bed in my jeans and bra. My phone started ringing. What now? "Hello?"

  "Miss Johnson, we need you at the hospital."

  I stood up quickly. "Why?! What's wrong?!" I asked in a panic as I looked for my shirt.

  "He won't calm down, and he keeps asking for you," The nurse said, and I heard something crash.

  "I’ll be right there." I hung up the phone and grabbed my shirt off the floor. I put my phone in my pocket and started putting my shoes on.

  "I have to go to the hospital. Dad’s freaking out." I got my shoes on then kissed Havock. "Call me when you find Garrett," I said as I looked for my purse. I kissed him again. "I love you."

  “Love you too.” He kissed me. “I'll give you a ride.”

  I nodded then we left the hotel.

  I kissed Havock one more time before I hurried into the hospital. I ran inside and quickly to dad’s room.

  "Dad, what's wrong?!" I ask as I came in.

  He almost immediately calmed down when he saw me. I hurried over to him and grabbed his hand. I squeezed it. "I'm here," I whispered as I kissed his forehead. "I'm here," I whispered again as I touched the side of his face.

  I sat on the edge of the bed and looked into his eyes. I touched his beard. "I think I need to help you shave."

  He laughed a little. "I was worried, Reeses Pieces. You were here, then you were gone." His voice was hoarse and raspy.

  "I'm sorry. They won't let me stay here at night and they told me you'd be out t
he rest of the night. I went to the hotel just down the street."

  He patted the spot next to him. "I've missed you so much. I was so worried you were hurt."

  I sat down next to him. "I'm fine. However, I do believe there has been some things you have kept from me."

  I smiled a little then concentrated really hard and made the bottle water next to the bed to float to me. A sharp pain went through my head, but I ignored it. I then looked at dad.

  A tear fell down his cheek. He looked ashamed.

  I wiped the tear. "Hey, it’s okay, Daddy. I probably would have thought you were crazy anyway."

  He shook his head. "No. You deserved to know. Especially, with everything that happened. It would have made more sense. You would've been prepared."

  "Possibly." I ran my hand through my hair. "I'm still not really good at this. I'm going to need more training, but I could go a life time without ever seeing Brad or Troy again." I looked at dad. "I really missed you, Daddy."

  He took my hand. "As soon as I get out of here I'll take you home. Well, to a new home. I heard ours was burned down."

  "Yeah. I'm sorry." I squeezed his hand.

  "I'm just glad you weren't there. I heard you have been staying with the Satterly's. Janet told me."

  I smiled at him. "So, dad I have something I need to tell you, but I don't really know how."

  "Well, you better hurry because I'm about to fall asleep again." He smiled.

  I looked down at his hand then smiled at him. "I'm dating Havock."

  "Havock Satterly?"

  I nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

  His face reddened a little. He cleared his throat.

  “Dad, I love him.”

  "No," he said sternly.

  I sighed heavily. "We'll talk about this later. I don't want to fight about this right now."

  "Reese, I know you're eighteen, but I will not allow you to see him."

  I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Like I said. I love him." I looked at Dad. "I need him, Dad." I kissed his head. "Get some sleep. I'm sure we'll discuss this in detail later."

  He tightened his hold on my hand. "Reese," he said through clenched jaw.

  I looked at him. “Yes?”

  "Promise me you won't see him. Please."

  "I can't do that." A tear slipped down my cheek. "I hate upsetting you. I don't want to upset you, but I won't give up Havock."

  "We'll see about that. Goodnight, Reese." He closed his eyes and turned over in bed.

  I sat down in my chair, my headache full blown. "Goodnight, Daddy."

  I shouldn’t have told him about Havock now. I should’ve waited until we were out of here. But it seemed like a good idea when the words left my lips. The last thing he needed to do was stress about who I’m dating. I wiped a tear that fell and curled up into the chair and fell asleep.

  HAVOCK

  I drove around until I found Garrett's truck parked at J's. I laughed and knocked on the door. Mom and dad should’ve known he was here. Whenever Janet is in town, he’s with her. It was probably just a ploy to get me out of Reese’s hotel room.

  A tall red headed man came to the door and opened it. "Can I help you?"

  "Uh, yeah. My brother’s truck is here. Is he here? Garrett Satterly."

  "Yeah, come on in." He let me in then I followed him to a table where Garrett was sitting eating a cheeseburger while Janet did paperwork. A damn cheeseburger. I looked at my cell. It was 2:00 am.

  She looked up. "Oh. Yay. Havock Satterly in the house. I must be the luckiest girl in Riverbend,” she said sarcastically with a smartass smirk then went back to doing paperwork.

  Garrett looked up from his food. "I'm not going home right now."

  I laughed. "I wouldn’t dare take you away from that burger. You’re eating it like you’re about to have sex with it."

  “Is sex all you think about it?” Garrett shook his head.

  I nodded. “Yeah. Pretty much.” I laughed when he rolled his eyes.

  The red headed guy sat down and propped his feet up. "You ask nicely and I bet my cousin here will fix you something, too."

  Janet rolled her eyes. "Havock, this is Kevin my cousin. Kevin, Havock."

  "I'm not hungry. I'm tired as hell." I looked away from Kevin and back at Garrett. "Mom is freaking out and thanks to you, I got caught staying the night with Reese."

  Garrett laughed. "Aw, bless your heart. And I'm 19. I can go home when I please."

  I raised a brow. "Why do you sound like me all of a sudden?"

  He shrugged. "Bad night."

  Janet stood up and rubbed the back of her neck. "I'm getting some more coffee. Anyone want any?" she asked as she picked up her coffee cup.

  "I want you to go home and get some sleep. You haven't slept in three days," Kevin said as he looked at Janet. Janet rolled her eyes and looked at me and Garrett. “Coffee?”

  I shook my head. "Let's go, Garrett."

  Garrett groaned and stood. "Thanks, Janet. Sorry I kept you up with my problems."

  "Anytime. I enjoyed the company." She nodded towards us then disappeared into the kitchen.

  "I'll see you guys out so I can lock up," Kevin said as he stood. We walked out. Garrett talked to him for a little bit then walked over to his truck. I followed him.

  “What's up with you and dad?”

  "I don't want to talk about it."

  "Whatever, dude. Just tell me."

  He leaned against his truck. "It was about you."

  "Me?” I laughed. “Am I gonna need a cigarette to hear this?”

  He nodded.

  "Yay." I lit a cigarette.

  "He smarted off something about how you'd end up in jail. He made mom cry and pissed me off. I know you screw up a lot, but you'd never end up in jail."

  I shrugged. "That's debatable."

  He shook his head. "No one gives you any credit, Havock. You might mess with things you shouldn't, but you're really smart and despite what you try to make people believe about you, you love life. You’d never screw up bad enough to end up in the slammer."

  "That's also debatable."

  He laughed. "Anyway, I told dad he was wrong for thinking that about you. Then we got into a fight. It was stupid, but it pissed me off."

  I took a hit off my cigarette. "I don’t need you or anyone trying to get dad to cut me slack or think I’m anything but a screw up."

  He opened the door to his truck. "It's what big brother's do."

  “Yeah, but I don’t need you to, Garrett. Just let dad hate me. It’s my fault and I’m just like whatever about it…I really don’t care.”

  My phone dinged.

  Reese: Did you find Garrett?

  Me: Yeah. He was stuffing his face with a double cheeseburger. Practically making out with the damn thing. And why are you still up? How's your dad?

  I got in my truck and followed Garret towards the house.

  Reese: My head hurts too bad to sleep and he's asleep. He's talking about looking for houses when the doctor lets him leave here. Well, I love you. I miss you already. Get some sleep.

  Me: Driving home now to do that. And don't bitch about me texting and driving. I'm a pro at it. Love you, Princess.

  Reese: lol. I love you too. Goodnight.

  ~~~

  I woke up after lunch, thankful that I was suspended. I wouldn't have made it to school anyway.

  I sat up and stretched. I heard my phone ding and saw a text from Jude.

  Jude: After school we’re hanging out.

  Me: Sounds good, but first I need to see if Reese needs me to come to the hospital. I'll let you know.

  Jude: K

  I saw a piece of paper hanging on my door.

  I furrowed my eyebrows and went over to it.

  My youngest son,

  You are GROUNDED. Your keys are gone until further notice.

  Love,

  Mom & Dad

  I grabbed my cell off my bed and called mom.

  "Hello," mom answered in a sweet tone.r />
  "Grounded?! What's the point of being eighteen if I still can get grounded?!"