Broken Dreams (Broken Series)

by Pendleton, Dawn

  “I don’t know what’s going on with you, Rainey, but I don’t like it. And one of these days , you’re going to tell me what it is that has you bruising like a peach and getting sick at odd hours of the night.” He closed the door and then hopped in the driver’s seat.

  I was speechless.

  Baker never said a word about what was wrong with me. He didn’t know exactly what it was, of course, but I thought I’d been hiding my sickness pretty well. Apparently not.

  We got to the bar at six and Baker kissed me chastely and then sent me to sit with Mallory and Luke while he checked on the bar. They were cuddled up together in a corner booth. It was obvious how in love with each other they were. My heart clenched a little in jealousy. No matter how much Baker and I ever cared about each other, we weren’t going to be able to have that kind of relationship.

  “Hey , guys,” I said as I approached the table. Just as I was about to sit down in the booth, a flurry of wild dark hair slipped past me and slid across the vinyl. “Gabby, nice to see you,” I laughed as I scooted in next to her.

  “What’s your hurry?” Luke asked her.

  “Wolfe was in the parking lot. Did you invite him?” She looked suspiciously at Luke.

  “Actually, I invited him,” Mallory admitted with a raised hand and a guilty look. “He’s part of our little group, Gab, whether you like it or not. Besides, I thought you didn’t care about what he does?” Mallory eyed Gabby.

  Gabby sighed. “I don’t care. I just wish he would find his own friends,” she muttered. We all laughed and she gave us a little smile. When Wolfe walked up to the table, her smile faded. “We’re full up,” she explained, gesturing to the full booth.

  “That’s why I brought these,” Baker said as he set two bar stools at the end of the table. “It’s a little busy , guys, so I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to hang out. Can I get everyone a drink?”

  Mallory and Luke ordered beer while Gabby gave him some fruity, girly drink order. When Baker’s eyes fell to mine, I asked for a cola. His eyes bore into mine for a full ten seconds before he turned his attention to Wolfe, who ordered a beer. Baker left the table and Wolfe sat down.

  “So, what’s new, Wolfe?” Luke asked. Mallory looked at Gabby and then at me.

  “What are you wearing?” s he asked me in shock. I was usually the best - dressed woman at the table, so wearing a hoodie was not normal.

  “We had a quickie before we came over,” I whispered honestly. Both sets of blue eyes widened at my bluntness and burst into giggles. Luke and Wolfe looked at us expectantly.

  “Mind your p’s and q’s,” I suggested with an evil eye and moved closer to Gabby. “We need a girls ’ night soon,” I begged.

  “Agreed.” Mallory eyed Luke. “He’s been keeping me on lockdown since we came back from Boston,” she whispered.

  Their relationship confused me immensely. Luke was mellow and laid back and Mallory was pushy but a loner. She’d wanted to deal with the death of her father alone, but Luke had finally grown a pair and backed her into a corner. She came around, though. Eventually. Plus, now that the mourning stage was finished, she was actually pretty fun to be around. She kept all the emotional crap under control until she was alone with Luke, which I appreciated. I wanted to be there for her, of course, but it wasn’t like I didn’t have my own shit to deal with.

  She stopped complaining about her loss to me once I told her.

  After the doctor’s appointment in downtown Boston, I met Mallory for lunch. We shopped at Faneuil Hall for an hour and then went to the Hard Rock for a meal. I wasn’t hungry, not after my treatment, but I ordered food and mentally prepared myself to tell her.

  “So, I had good reason not to tell you about what was wrong with me,” I started. She looked at me expectantly but didn’t say anything. She knew I needed to get this all out.

  “I have leukemia.”

  I didn’t mean to blurt it out, but Mal l ory still didn’t say anything.

  “I was worried telling you so close to your dad’s death would put you over the edge,” I confessed. “I didn’t want to add to your stress. I love you like a sister, Mallory, but I don’t want to be anyone’s burden. We’re best friends, but I wanted to make sure you were recovering from Joe’s death before I told you.”

  “Rainey…” S he stood and walked around the table , pull ing me out of my chair and hugg ing me. “You are one of my closest friends and I will always be there for you. I’m glad you told me,” she said.

  And once we sat back down, it all came spilling out… My own father’s death, finding out about my leukemia, my aunt ’ s pleas to stay away from my mother for a while. It all bubbled out and I couldn’t seem to stop.

  In the end, Mallory hugged me again, apologized for being too caught up in her own life to notice what was going on with me , and then promised we wouldn’t keep anything from each other again.

  And since then, we were closer than ever. Now that Mallory knew, we could talk about it pretty openly (except around the guys) and Gabby felt like less of a sneak, too, since she’d known for years. Mallory didn’t hold it against, her, either, which I appreciated. I swore Gabby to secrecy years ago.

  When Baker returned to our table with drinks on a tray, we all thanked him. He set a beer down next to me and slid his barstool close to edge of the booth on my side , then put an arm around my waist and dragged me across to seat, closer to him. I smiled up at him. He stared at me for a moment, taking in the dark circles under my eyes and his gray eyes turned cloudy as he thought about the implications.

  The bar filled up fast and Baker only stayed at the table for another few minutes before he had to help out. We all ordered dinner and he brought us our meals.

  “Things are good between you two, huh?” Gabby asked me once he brought us our meals and kissed me.

  “Yes, they are. It’s nice not to have to worry about the relationship stuff. We’re just having fun and enjoying ourselves,” I admitted, picking at what was left of my dinner.

  “It won’t work,” Wolfe said from the end of the table. We all looked at him , though Gabby just rolled her eyes. “I’m not trying to ruin it for you, Rainey, but you two are eventually going to fall in love, and then you’ll both run away from it, because it’s not what you want. Do yourself a favor and get out now . ” He lifted his beer to his mouth and I watched him make eye contact with Gabby for a second before he swallowed the rest of it. He set his beer down and stood up. “Sorry to be a downer. I’ll just head home,” he said.

  “Let us call you a cab,” Luke suggested. He got out of the booth and the two of them walked over to the end of the bar and talked to Baker for a few minutes.

  “What the hell was that about?” I asked Mallory and Gabby.

  “Who knows?” Gabby grit her teeth. “Our marriage didn’t work out, so now he wants to ruin everyone else’s relationship, I guess.”

  “He’s heartbroken, Gab. He wants you back and he can’t stand seeing you happy without him,” Mallory sighed.

  “And who says I’m happy?” Gabby spun her fruity drink on the table. “I miss him, too. But we’re too different, too set in our ways to make it work . ” S he sniffed to hold back tears.

  “Gabby, if you want a relationship to work, you have to be willing to put in the effort it takes to keep it going,” Mallory said softly.

  Gabby nodded but didn’t reply. She kept her head down when Luke came back to the table with Baker trailing behind him.

  “I think we’re going to take off,” Luke said. He looked at Gabby. “Want us to give you a ride home?”

  Gabby looked up and gave him a quick nod. Her eyes were red and her skin blotchy, but none of us said a word. I would have to text Mallory tomorrow and see if we could put together a girl ’ s night to figure out what was going on with Gabby.

  “You want a ride too, Rainey?” Mallory asked me.

  I glanced at Baker. “I think I’ll just hang out here until Baker gets out of work. You don’t
mind giving me a ride, do you, Baker?” I asked him.

  “Of course not. I’ve got a few things to do and then I’ll take you. You want to move to the bar so we can get some more people at this table?” Baker asked. I got up with Mallory and Luke and pulled Gabby into a hug.

  “We really need a girls ’ night,” I told her. She smiled and then left with Mallory and Luke. I grabbed a stool at the end of the bar and silently watched Baker wait on customers and then head into the back to do some paperwork.

  It was another hour before he was able to leave the bar. I was exhausted.

  Chapter Four

  Baker

  I watched Rainey’s head sway forward as she slept where she sat. It was hilarious.

  I stood at the far end of the bar, smiling like an idiot as I watched her nod off. I knew it was late, but I couldn’t change my work schedule . Besides, she knew I would make it worth her while when we got back to my place.

  When her head tipped up and back, though, my heart stopped. She fell backward off the barstool and fell flat on her back. I was at her side in an instant.

  “Are you okay?” I asked.

  Her eyes fluttered open and she looked confused. “Baker? What happened?”

  “You fell asleep at the bar,” I told her. I put my hand gently under her neck and she winced. “Where does it hurt?”

  “Ugh. Everywhere,” she said with a groan. “I think I broke my ass.”

  I laughed, as did the small crowd that gathered around her.

  “I’m going to take you home, okay?”

  “Sounds good,” she said , but made no move to get up.

  I eased my arm under her shoulders and moved my other hand underneath her knees. I lifted her as carefully as I could and told Jimmy I was leaving now. He tipped his head in acknowledgement and went back to making drinks.

  The crowd dispersed as soon as Rainey was off the floor. I carried her out to my truck and set her in the passenger seat , glancing at her as she rested her head back against the head rest. She looked tired. Rundown.

  “I should take you to the emergency room,” I suggested. Her eyes flew open in protest.

  “No!”

  “Alright, but you’re going to stay at my place tonight, in case you have a concussion,” I insisted. She didn’t argue.

  When we got to my apartment, I carried her in, despite her protests. Eventually she let me have my way. I set her on the couch and swung her legs up onto the cushions. When I reached for a blanket , she stopped me.

  “I’m not a child,” she grumbled.

  “Well, you must be sick. It’s only ten o’clock and you fell asleep at the bar.” I wasn’t letting her off the hook this time.

  “I was also on a plane for most of this morning and I was up around four to catch that plane. Not to mention I hate flying . ” S he rolled her eyes at me.

  I sighed audibly and didn’t hide my frustration. She was using whatever excuse she could cling to keep the truth a secret. I didn’t like it, but I guessed she was safe for the time being, so I didn’t push.

  “Are you going to make me sleep out here or am I allowed to come to bed?” she asked. Her eyes were pure green fire; I’d upset her.

  “Of course you can come to bed,” I said as I moved to lift her off the couch.

  “Hold it . ” S he waved a hand at me. “I’m perfectly capable of going to the bedroom myself.” She managed to get to her feet just fine, but I kept close to her as she walked to my room in case she fell. She sat on the edge of my bed and pulled off her shoes , wiggl ing out of her jeans and toss ing my sweatshirt and her tank top on the floor. Her bra slipped off and she chucked it across the room.

  She finally laid her head down on the pillow and I went into the bathroom. By the time I came back out, she was fast asleep with just a hint of a smile on her face , h er hand curled underneath her chin and her body on display. She hadn’t pulled the covers over herself and the sight of her took my breath away.

  My eyes were drawn to her stomach, which was so flat it indented beneath her ribcage and gave her a sickly look. I frowned at her as I watched her ribcage move. There was something going on with her. And if it killed me, I would find out what it was.

  ***

  The following morning, I woke first. I had to get to the bar and do paperwork. I stumbled into the bathroom and jumped in the shower to wash away my sleepiness. I figured Rainey would be up by the time I got out, but she was still fast asleep. I walked out into my bedroom naked, the light from the bathroom illuminating the room I’d drawn the curtains in. I walked by the bed and glanced at Rainey, who was sprawled out, face down and un covered.

  I did a double-take.

  Her back was covered in big, ugly bruises that turned her skin nearly purple. I walked over to her and gently trailed my hand down her back. What the hell? Are these from her fall last night? What is going on?

  I didn’t wake her; instead, I went to my closet and pulled out clean clothes to wear.

  Why was she hiding something from me? I wasn’t judgmental or overprotective, so it didn’t make sense why she wouldn’t tell me. But then again, her thought processes were a far cry from mine. Where I was mellow and laid back, she was just a bit uptight and reserved.

  She hated the small town life where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Although I wasn’t a fan of the whole town knowing what I was up to, I accepted it as a part of my life in Casper.

  Rainey rolled over and stretched just I pulled my jeans up. I left the button undone and smiled at her. Bruises or not, she was gorgeous. Her blonde hair was wild and unruly across the pillow and she shyly pulled the sheet over herself while smiling seductively at me.

  “You should come back to bed,” she mumbled, still half-asleep.

  I almost followed her beckoning but remembered the bruises. I didn’t want to hurt her any more. I shook my head at her.

  “I’ve got to get to work,” I said as I pulled on my favorite blue T -shirt. It was thin and faded because I wore it so much.

  Rainey sat up, letting the sheet fall to her waist. She leaned back on her hands, her pert breasts thrust out and taunting me. She was something else.

  I walked over to the edge of the bed and leaned down to kiss her gently. She was having none of it. She curled her hand around my neck and pulled me down onto the bed. I was careful to hold my weight above her so I didn’t cause any more bruises, but I couldn’t resist when her tongue probed my mouth. I tipped her head back and kissed her throat. Her moans distracted me and I was just about to yank my jeans down when my mouth skimmed over the discolored skin on her shoulder.

  I put that mark on her. I wasn’t about to do it again. I pulled away.

  “I really need to get to work. You’ve got your mom’s minivan, right?” I asked as I stood up and stepped away from the bed. I needed to get away from her before I hurt her again.

  She fell back onto the pillow. “Yeah, I’ll take the minivan. I think we’re going to do a girls’ night tonight, so don’t wait up,” she explained as she hiked the sheet up to her neck. She gave me the evil eye and I knew she was pissed. It wasn’t very often I refused to have sex.

  “I won’t,” I promised and then went to fill a to-go mug with coffee. Having a self-brew coffee pot really made things easier. I skipped cream and sugar and just carried the black coffee to my truck.

  I refused to feel guilty about not wanting to hurt Rainey. She was sick, and I wasn’t about to add to that. I knew she’d been hiding something from me. Her whole demeanor since she’d been back was different. She was almost aloof. She wanted sex without any emotions or feelings.

  Which was fine. I wasn’t exactly interested in a real relationship; I was too busy for one. But I cared about Rainey, as a friend, at least. And if she was sick, I wanted her to get well, not push her limits and walk around covered in bruises. And if that meant I pissed her off, I didn’t care. Her well-being came first.

  I drove to the jobsite Luke was working at and hopped out of
the truck, to-go mug in hand. He was on the roof of an old church in town. He spotted me and waved, making his way toward the ladder at the far end of the church. He climbed down and came over.

  “Hey , man, you need work today?” he asked. On occasion, I worked for his employer, JP. I wasn’t in the mood to work today, though.

  “No, just needed to vent about Rainey,” I muttered.

  Luke looked at his watch. “It’s almost ten. I can break for fifteen,” he said and yelled to one of the other guys that he was taking a break. He turned back to me and motioned me to follow him to the ten - by - ten canopy that housed a picnic table.

  He grabbed a couple of sodas out of the cooler and tossed one to me as we sat at the table.

  “So what’s up?” h e asked, popping the top of his can.

  “Do you know what’s wrong with Rainey?” I asked. No point trying to sugar-coat it.

  “I wish I did, dude. I’m almost positive Mallory knows, but she refuses to mention anything, telling me that Rainey’s privacy is what’s most important. But her saying that just makes me believe whatever she’s hiding is kind of a big deal,” he said.

  His words confirmed my fears. “That’s what I was afraid of. Do you think Mallory would tell me?”

  Luke’s head went back as he howled with laughter. “Yeah, right,” he said after he finished. “Mallory is dedicated to Rainey and there’s no way she’ll reveal anything Rainey asked her to keep a secret. You can try, though.”

  I blew out a breath. “I bet you’re right. But I can’t help but worry about Rainey. She’s acting odd and bruising easily,” I said, more to myself than him.

  “Bruising? How easily?” Luke turned serious and I had an inkling he might know what was going on.

  “Pretty easily. She fell off her stool at the bar last night after you guys left and this morning, her whole back side was black and blue,” I explained.

  Luke sucked in a breath, but said nothing.