“How’s Sunshine?”
“A nervous wreck. Who was that?” He asked not missing a beat. Neither of us handled threats very lightly.
“I don’t know, but once I talk to Marion I’ll find out.”
I felt Blue get up to stand next to me. Looking down at her shoes still, she asked Ocean, “Can I go in and see her now? I’m Dulce, her roommate and I brought her here.”
Ocean looked down at her then back to me with a well knowing smile on his face. He held out his hand to Blue. “I’m Ocean, nice to meet you Dulce.”
She looked up at him and with a nervous smile and shook his hand so quick it was barely a handshake.
“You can go in. The doctors are getting ready to start her IV.”
Blue looked at me and I smiled at her when she rolled her eyes at me. “What, you feeling like a hero or something? If you’re waiting for a thank you then don’t!” She stormed off into the room and my smile grew wider as I watched those magnetic hips swing with each angry step she took.
Ocean turned to watch her and put an arm around my neck giving it a squeeze. “We are two royally fucked up but extremely lucky sons a bitches. I never thought I’d ever see that look on your face Law. You fucking love her!”
He laughed to himself as he reflected on how he felt about Sunshine.
“That’s an understatement cousin.” I said as we both stumbled in-between the guards who gave us both approving nods as we entered Liv’s room laughing.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Livie
I didn’t realize how much harder I was making my recovery but I needed to feel Ocean and know he was here with me.
When Ocean made his way to the door, I couldn’t help but get the sick feeling that he wanted to leave; he wanted to leave me. Of course he came as soon as he was called and yes, he came here for me but he was changing. Already he was distant. His face was a mess. I knew that he and Law got into it and that was the result of their argument.
When he opened the door to creep out I saw a glimpse of Law, who was facing off with creepy Oscar. A sharp pain stabbed me in the hand and I let my body fall back onto the bed, closing my eyes. When the door reopened, I was afraid to see who it was, so I kept my eyes closed.
“Hey loca, you are one interesting roommate. Que paso?” (What happened?)”
Her cool hand swiped my hair away from my face. “You were doing so good. What happened, beja?”
I opened my eyes to look into her cool brown eyes. “I don’t know. I had breakfast and then I felt sick. Now I’m here and Ocean is here and everything’s different. He doesn’t want me anymore.”
“Shh, come on. Don’t talk like that. If he didn’t want you, he wouldn’t have come all this way. Those two men you have outside love you Livie. I can see it; I can sense it.”
“Damn right. I love my Sunshine.”
I turned to see Ocean and Law standing side by side like my two guardian angels that they were. Yeah, Law was definitely the one that busted up Ocean’s face. I could read it from his body language.
He walked slowly over to me, deciding he wanted to come over to the side that Dulce was standing on. I gave him a playful annoyed look and he winked at me.
Yeah, the love games have begun.
As he made his way over to us walking around the bed, I could feel Dulce’s breathing coming in and out faster than before. She was nervous around him. He stopped next to Dulce placing a hand on her back as he bent down to kiss me on the forehead. I glanced at my roommate whose eyes were bugging out and I laughed.
There was a loud clink and a woman in a white lab coat and the nurse that tried to get me to calm down earlier walked in with three IV drip bags.
“Okay, now that Ms. Acosta is relaxed we’ll start the antibiotic treatment. Three hours of this and you should be back to normal, considering. I will dress and assess your wounds while you’re here as well. Is that okay with you?”
I looked at Ocean who was standing the farthest from us all and he gave me a half smile. A fake smile. I felt my eyes watering, so I turned to Law instead who was looking at me as if he wanted to trade places if it were possible.
“Yes, she’s ready.” Law answered for me and as the tears ran down my face, both him and Dulce reached out to wipe them away.
Law stood aside, removing his hand from Dulce’s back, taking a seat at the end of the bed as the nurse started to work on me.
Ocean never moved a muscle while I was being poked and prodded.
Once the IV was in, I could immediately feel the difference. I didn’t feel so sluggish or worn down but my heart…well…IV’s couldn’t help me from a breaking heart. When the nurse came to change the bandage on my arm, the doctor snuck in a shot on my other shoulder. I’m pretty sure it was pain meds because I become light headed and drowsy within seconds. It wasn’t enough to put me to sleep because I would fight it if it did. My arm, despite the red and swollen lump near my wrist, was healing okay from what I could tell. The nurse was pleased and most of the dissolving stitches were gone.
In about an hours’ time they were done redressing my wounds and I rested peacefully surrounded by my two boys and my new best friend.
“Okay Sunshine, now that you are stabilized and not threatening the staff to cut off their balls and other parts,” Dulce said laughing, getting raised eyebrows from both Ocean and Law. “I’m going back to the room for now. I have some things to do. If Trevor and Joseph are cool with it, I’ll come back if you’re not already back in our room for dinner. Okay?”
I smiled at her. “Thank you Dulce, I’ll see you later.”
As she turned to walk away Law stepped in front of her, looking like he’d just laid eyes on the most precious diamond in the world. “I’m walking you to your room.”
Wow, that was subtle. Dulce sidestepped him but he stepped with her. Law looked up and winked at me again. These Hawthorne men were the cockiest I’d ever met.
“I mean if you want Waldo the freak stalking you that’s cool with me, bu…”
“Fine! Just shut up and walk. I swear if you try anything on me I’ll rip your dick off and shove it up your tight ass. Me intiendes (understand me)?”
“Yeah Blue, I got it.”
“What? Who the hell is Blue?”
Law leaned in whispering something in her ear and she pushed him back hard, turning around and storming out the door. He took off after her and I couldn’t help but laugh.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Livie
Ocean walked over to the door making sure it was closed and locked. He quietly made his way towards me, sitting down on the bed. He sat on the edge for a while but then he scooted back resting his back next to mine.
Dropping his arm behind me, he pulled me into him. I rested my head on his shoulder as he breathed me in. I hated the feeling that he’d rather be far away from me so I decided I’d give him the chance to run before I got too comfortable in his arms.
“Ocean, thank you for coming when I needed you but I’ll understand if you need to leave.”
The silence after my words was killing me and I shifted trying not to let my emotions erupt prematurely. I felt like a twelve-year-old girl instead of the twenty three year old woman that I was.
“Do you want me to go Liv?” He finally answered.
I closed my eyes as I spoke into the side of his chest. “No, I don’t want you to go but I get the feeling you don’t want to be here and I understand. I’m just giving you the option, that’s all.”
He brought his hand to my face, running his fingers into my hair and slowly letting the strands slip between his fingers. “Liv, if I wanted to go I’d be gone. If I didn’t want to come and be here for you I wouldn’t be here. Period. It’s that simple.”
I opened my mouth to ask him if it really was that simple but I gave up. He was here for me and if he said this is where he wanted to be then I had to believe him.
“Who’s that creepy guy that made your roommate uncomfortable?”
I smiled inwardly at his protective nature; at least that much hadn’t changed.
“His name is Oscar. I met him this morning when he escorted me to Marion’s office. He tried to offer me a wheelchair, so I told him to shove it up his ass and Marion’s, until I met her. She’s nice.”
He was quiet for a few seconds. “You know why he makes your roommate upset? Because you do know that Law is going to try to marry that girl.” There was a smile in his voice that made me smile in turn.
“Not sure why really, other than he’s a pervert and he gives us the creeps. I do know that she’s been through hell. She has a scar under her chin that runs from ear to ear and honestly, I don’t think she did it to herself.” I said, looking down at my self-inflicted wounds.
“Stop Liv, she’s no better than you just because she didn’t do it to herself.”
“You’re right, I guess.”
I stopped talking because he wasn’t in the mood. After counting all the times where he would have called me his baby I was starting to feel sick all over again. Physically I had the man I loved next to me but in heart and spirit, he was nowhere to be found.
I closed my eyes, inhaling the scent of him while willing myself to sleep. I promised myself I would not allow this to happen again. I would deal and heal without being such a pussy. My last name was Acosta for crying out loud. I was tougher than this!
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Ocean
I was relieved when Liv finally decided to stop trying to figure me out. Once she did, the sleep took her away and she was peaceful and quiet in my arms.
Her antibiotic drip was almost done and I really didn’t want to disturb her just to say goodbye. Shit, I couldn’t lie to myself. I just didn’t want to see those eyes pierce through me, seeing through all my bullshit when I said goodbye for now.
I slipped out from under her placing light kisses on her forehead, eyes, nose, cheeks, and lips. I even kissed my sweet spot to feel her calm and steady heartbeat. When I opened the door, the guards were still standing outside.
“You boys really don’t play with security do you?” They both smiled at me.
“Hey, you guys know what’s up with that creep that came by earlier?”
The bald guy answered first. “He’s been here forever. No one likes him but he never seems to get fired. He’s like a fucking wart man; annoying and dumb as hell. Likes to hang around the girls but we’re on it, she’ll be safe.”
I looked at baldy then to the other guy. They were both black and huge, kind of like the bodyguards I used to have when I competed professionally. They looked like loyal and honest men. Skilled athletes that didn’t mess around with someone’s safety.
Being a fighter, you come across hundreds of people who swear up and down they’re all those things when they’re not. These two…certainly were and it calmed the beast inside.
“Appreciate it, I really do. She’s special and I’m pretty sure you two remember what happened when I dropped her off.” I said half-laughing and half wanting to cry.
The other one spoke up. “Yeah man, you knocked the shit out of the other guy. It was painful to watch.”
This time I laughed hard. “Yeah I did, but the son of bitch got me back.” I said, pointing to my face.
They both laughed with me.
“So, she your wife?” Baldy asked sincerely wanting to know.
“Uh, yeah. Yes, she is.” I said wishing it were true and I was happy to admit it instead of being sad about it.
“You just haven’t asked her yet, right?” I really liked these guys.
“You got it,” I said saluting them as I backed away from the door before I ran back in to shake her awake just to hear her tell me that she still loved me.
“Gotta find my cousin before that girl rips his dick off and hands it to him,” I called back as they laughed.
****
Lawrence
The walk with Blue was a short one; too short. After a while she slowed down, letting me catch up to her as I kept my eyes on her hips memorizing the way they swayed from side to side. I was going to die a happy man one day. As long as I had this shorty by my side it would be a blissful death.
I cleared my throat. “So how’s Sunshine really doing?”
She slowed her pace down even more so we could walk side by side. She was about the same height as my mom and I loved it. I guess my ego had issues. I hated dating chicks my height or close to it.
Even with heels, Blue would still be short enough to tuck safely under my chin. It made my balls tighten just thinking about her in heels.
She pushed her hair behind her ear so I could see her face. “Her first night was really rough. She had a nightmare and woke up screaming for Ocean. At first I thought she was dreaming of drowning but when she opened her eyes, the pain I saw was too real and I knew she was screaming for someone she loved.”
I swallowed hard, not really wanting to hear the truth.
Blue quickly added, “But after that, she’s been doing alright besides what happened this morning. I’ve been helping her shower and do the girl stuff so you and Ocean don’t have to worry.”
But I did worry. I was worried about that creep and why he made her so uncomfortable.
“What about you, Blue? How are you doing?”
She stopped to face me as her cheeks turned red along with the tip of her ear. “Why? What’s it matter to you?”
“It matters to me because I want to know.”
She stepped close to me, our chests almost touching.
With her index finger, she poked me in the shoulder as she spoke. “Look, Lawrence. I’ve met your kind before and I’m not a damn charity case. I don’t want your attention and I don’t need you trying to stick up for me or try to save me if you think that’s what I need; to be saved and shit. I’ve been here long enough to handle myself and I do pretty damn well. So back the hell off. I’ll be the best roommate and friend to Livie because I really like her but as for you, back off and leave me alone. Don’t call me by my name, Blue or any other color of the fucking rainbow!” She pushed her finger into my chest with finality.
I grabbed her hand flattening it against my chest so she could feel my wild heartbeat. When she tried to pull it back, I held it down firm. I knew it was a dick move but shit, I couldn’t help it.
“You don’t know my kind because you’ve never met me before. I can assure you I’m a lot more than you can handle. That goes for emotionally because physically, well…that’ll come later. I’m not in a rush like most assholes. As for right now, you intrigue me. I don’t get easily intrigued because I could have any woman I want but what I want from this point on is you. I’m going to get to know you like no other man ever has or ever will, whether you want it or not.”
I let her hand go as she shook from the anger coursing through her. I didn’t mean to be so bold but fuck, why not?
Speechless, she just looked up at me trying to decide whether to slap, punch or kick me. From the look on her face, she probably wanted to do all three and repeatedly.
“And as far as your nickname, Blue. Once you’re out of here and home with me, I’ll take you where you can see a blue moon for yourself. They’re rare, beautiful, and unique; all the things you are to me.”
Her hand come up so fast, slapping the taste out of my mouth before she ran down the rest of the hallway kicking a door open and slamming it shut.
“Way to go Casanova. Scare your bride before you even ask her to marry you. Do I need to get my tux tailored now?”
“Whatever. I don’t see you doing things any differently. What the hell was that about in Sunshine’s room? She’s not stupid dick wad. Even I can see you’re trying to push her away.”
“Fuck you. Let’s find this Marion chick and bounce.”
Ocean took off down the hall mad as hell because I called him out.
Chapter Thirty
Livie
It was officially Sunday morning and I was feeling much, much be
tter compared to Thursday’s events. My infection healed and as of this morning, per the doctor, it was totally out of my system.
I was in the massive gyms training room, the one Santi liked to use. Santi was awesome! I couldn’t have asked for a better trainer. Even though he was still working on motor skills with my left hand, I couldn’t have asked for anyone better. Of course with any trainer, he had a condition which I was more than willing to comply with when he told me what it was.
As long as I didn’t give up during his sessions, I was allowed to yell, scream, cry, hit, kick, punch and curse his ass into the next millennium. After the first hour or so of rehab for my arm, this came in handy. Once my hand would start trembling to the point that I couldn’t open or close it anymore, I would do all of the above.
He would hold back much of his aggravation with me but we made it work. If he wasn’t such a great guy, then this would be a totally different experience. I watched as he unlocked the door and walked in looking half-dead.
Since I absolutely had to categorize every person I met, I labeled him as a Laz Alonso look alike. Every woman who envisioned a good looking man knew that Mr. Alonso was a fine ass specimen. I already belonged to an extremely sexy and complicated ass hat named Ocean, but it wasn’t a crime too look, was it?
“Don’t hurt your face Livie.” he said, laughing to himself.
I rolled my eyes playfully. “People that laugh at their own jokes are naturally unfunny, so stop before you hurt your brain, Santi.”
As he passed me, he pulled on my ponytail. My hair needed a serious trim; it was too long. If Ocean saw someone else pulling my hair he would flip…at least I still hoped he cared about me that much.
Every morning and every night before I went to bed, I sent both of my boys a text message. Law always replied, while Ocean would simply read them…I assume he would read them at least…and then nothing.
Each text was simple. Good Morning…love you…miss you...good night…love you…miss you. Not that complicated, right?
“Really Livie, your face looks like it’s going to fall off. What you thinking about?”
I blinked a couple times, clearing the picture of my boys out of my vision. “Thinking about getting this torture over with.”
Oceans Submerged: Book Two, the Oceans Series Page 11
