Chapter 6
Beau
My silent prayers have worked. Shay is standing in front of me, gawking at my foot and fumbling for the words to say. She walks behind me to grab the wheelchair and begins pushing me down a hall. She continues her game of silence and so do I. I won’t say a word until we’re in a private room. There are way too many ears around here. The scent of her perfume permeates my senses and I close my eyes to take it all in. Branson would shit right now if I were able to tell him who my nurse is.
She continues to push me down the hall until we get to an empty room. She takes my folder and sets it on the counter before pushing me inside. She shuts the door behind us and lets out a breath before turning to face me. Her eyes fill with worry as she looks down at my foot. Why does everyone just want to stare at it? I’m hurting and people just think it’s okay to stare at it. Hell, I know it’s broken and they should too. It’s the size of a damn grapefruit, for crying out loud.
“What brings you here today, Mr. Granger?” she asks in her professional nurse voice. Is she seriously pulling this on me right now?
“Mr. Granger is my father, Shay, cut it out,” I tell her through the pain.
“Okay, so what brings you here today, Beau?” she asks again.
“I think my foot is broken.”
Tears well in her eyes as she glances back down at my foot. “What happened, Beau?”
“A jack slipped from my hands at work and fell on my foot. It was an accident.” She just stares at me, she knows I’m no fool. If she doesn’t believe my story, she doesn’t speak right away.
After a moment of silence, she steps closer and kneels down to get a closer look. My usual white foot is now a mixture of purple and black. “We need to get you down for an x-ray, but first I need to take your vitals.”
I nod as she begins to go through the mundane routine of checking my temperature and blood pressure. “You sure are a nice nurse, Shay.”
“It’s my job,” she says, looking up as she grabs her stethoscope. She lifts my shirt and closes her eyes for a moment, trying to focus. My heart skips a beat as she softly places the cool piece on my chest. “Breathe in,” she instructs as she listens to my heart. “And breathe out.”
She marks a few things down on my chart and then turns back to face me. “I want the truth, Beau, and I want it now.”
“You said I need an x-ray, could we do that first?” I ask her.
“Beau, your foot is broken. We already know what the x-ray is going to tell us. What happened? I don’t believe your story.”
“You want the truth, Shay? I’ll tell you the damn truth. I can’t stand sitting back day after day knowing I moved here for you and I can’t have you. I don’t know how to fight for someone that won’t talk to me. So you know what I did, I dropped the damn jack on my own foot. I did that to come here and prayed to God I could see you. I need you to give me a chance, Shayleigh. I need you, period. So yes, I’m a fucking idiot, but I don’t know what else to do. I figured after last night maybe something would have changed. I hoped you would realize that you’re everything to me but I haven’t heard from you. I moved here for you, do you hear me? For you,” I tell her, slightly raising my voice to emphasize my points.
She stands back with wide eyes. I just laid it all out on the line for her. I know how screwed up that all must sound, but it’s the truth. I can’t lie to her. “Beau, this is the stupidest thing you’ve ever done. I didn’t ask you to move here, you just showed up unannounced when I was finally being okay with moving on.”
“You want the doctor, then just say it, Shay. Don’t string me along while you try to figure it out. Don’t toy with my emotions like you did last night. I can’t take it because you’re killing me. I didn’t want to be the one to do this, but it’s me or him. If you don’t want me then I’ll go back home, but I didn’t want to go back without at least a fight.”
“What is with you two? Why are you both trying to make me choose?” she asks.
“I know you better than he does, Shay. Something isn’t right with him. He didn’t show full interest until I showed up. Don’t you see that?”
“You know what, Busty Beau?” she spits at me. “Why don’t you just go back home then? Maybe I won’t pick either one of you.”
I reach out and grab her hand, pulling her as close as I can. With this foot, I can’t hardly do anything and it’s torture. “So you’re back to the name calling, huh? Does that make you feel better? Does calling me that make it easier to make your decision?” Tears fill my eyes and I don’t try to wipe them away as they slowly fall down my rugged cheeks.
“Shit, Beau, I-I’m sorry. I sh-shouldn’t have said that,” she stutters. I drop her hand but she tries to grab mine again. I pull away and shake my head.
“No, Shay, I’m staying the rest of the month then I’m going back home. You don’t have to say it, your decision is clear. I can see it all over your face. You’re so blinded by him and all he has that you’ve forgotten everything we had. I was so stupid to move here. I want my x-ray now.”
She wipes a silent tear from her cheeks and regains composure before opening the door and pushing me back to the x-ray room. She sits in a chair as they bring me to the back. A few minutes later, I’m brought back to her and she silently pushes me back to the room. “Just so you know, Wyatt is your doctor and he’ll be in soon.” She walks out the door, closing it behind her.
I’m left to sit behind these four walls waiting for Dr. Perfect to show his face. Minutes pass and I’m still in here waiting. I grab my phone and decide to text Sienna.
Me: Change of plans. I’m heading home at the end of the month. I’ll call my dad to set everything back up. This was a mistake.
Sienna: What happened?
Me: She’s made her choice and it isn’t me. I’m waiting to see Dr. Perfect. I broke my foot.
Sienna: WHAT?
Me: Stupid fucking mistake on my part.
The door opens and I tell her I’ll talk to her later. Dr. Perfect walks inside in all his glory. His lab coat is pristine and white. Not a splatter of ink or blood on it. It’s like he stepped out of a fucking catalog.
“Well, look who we have here. It seems your foot is broken. We’re going to put you in a walking boot and crutches. You need to stay off your foot for at least six weeks. Your x-ray doesn’t show that you need surgery, so that’s a good thing. I’ll get a nurse to get your boot and crutches for you and you’ll be good to go. Oh, and don’t think this little stunt is going to draw her to you. She knows what’s best for her and you aren’t it.”
He turns and walks out before I can say anything. That chicken shit coward. I hate him for turning her against me. I hate him for being there when I should have been. I should have chased after her sooner and now she’s slipped completely through my fingers. There is nothing left except a massive hole in my heart. A different nurse comes in and gives me further instructions for the boot and after I thank her, I stand on the crutches. I text Branson, telling him I’m ready to get the hell out of the hospital. When he picks me up, he doesn’t even pry.
***
Shayleigh
I walk to the break room and pour myself some coffee into a small Styrofoam cup. I need to breathe. I can’t believe how stupid Beau is. What he did was beyond idiotic. He could have hurt himself worse than he did. My heart is broken. He said he’s leaving at the end of the month. This is it, it’s really over. My life is here, my dad is here and my career is here. I take a sip of the coffee and let the tears fall. The door opens. I turn to see who’s in here. Wyatt comes walking up and pulls me close. This is a bit odd, considering he’s never shown any sort of public affection toward me in this hospital.
“He upset you? It’s okay, he’s gone now,” Wyatt says as he gently rubs my back.
“He’s leaving town at the end of the month,” I say between sobs. “You want your answer? I’ll give it to you now.”
Wyatt pulls back and looks at me. “What is it, do
ll?”
“I pick neither of you.”
“What are you saying? What if we can just go back to how things were before he showed up? Make it less complicated for you, Shay. Will that work?” Wyatt asks softly.
It’s my turn to look at him. I cock my head to the side as I stare into his eyes. This is confusing me more. He hears Beau is leaving and decides to take back his offer? I do have to admit before Beau popped up, things were fine. Just fine, not spectacular, but it was manageable. We went out to dinner and occasionally I stayed the night with him. Besides sex, there was no real attachment and no need to shout feelings out from the rooftops. It’s not like I have real, true feelings for him, but he satisfies what I need when he’s not acting all macho.
“Whatever, Wyatt,” I say, wiping my tears. He cups my chin in his hands, bringing his lips softly to mine. I hesitate, not wanting anyone to walk in.
“Dry your eyes and get back to work. We still on for dinner tonight?”
All I can do is shake my head. I don’t want to do dinner.
Wyatt walks out of the break room and my phone begins vibrating. Sienna’s name pops up and I already know what she’s going to say because I know that Beau has talked to her.
“Hello?”
“What the hell is going on, Shay?”
“Well, hey Sienna. I know you’ve talked to Beau. I’m tired of being told to make a choice. This is my life and I won’t be pushed into something. Beau told me he’s moving back, so I’m putting my life back to normal.”
“With the doctor?” she asks sarcastically.
“No, not with the doctor,” I answer back in kind. I finish the rest of my coffee before tossing the cup in the wastebasket.
“What happened to you, Shay?”
“What do you mean what happened to me?” I ask defensively.
“You know what. You’re shutting out the guy you love.”
“Love doesn’t always matter, Sienna. You know me, I don’t do love. That’s why I left Brandon before I came down last summer. Love is not for me.” I place my hand on my hip as if she can see me.
“Did you tell Beau that?”
“No,” I scoff.
“Why not? Because you would kill him more than you already have?” she practically shrieks.
“I have to get back to work, Sienna. Thank you for calling to bitch me out. I really appreciate it. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
“Fine, Shay, I just worry about you.” I understand her concern and deep down I thank her for it, but it’s time to get back to my old self. The old self who didn’t give a shit about love because in the end, love is not all you need.
Chapter 7
Beau
Today has been the absolute worst day of my life. The broken foot in the boot has a lot to do with this realization. The fact that Shay no longer gives a shit is the rest of it. I packed up my whole life and moved on a whim. I took a chance on love and had my heart smashed into tiny pieces. I came here full of hope, hope that I would hold her in my arms again and things would return to some state of normal, but hope no longer exists and love is just something people dream about but can never have. I can’t get back home fast enough. These next few weeks until I’m healed are going to suck.
Branson pulls back into the shop and parks the car. He turns to face me with a solemn look. “I take it things didn’t go well?”
I turn away from him and stare out the window. I feel like such a damn pussy and I’m sick and tired of feeling sorry for myself. “No.”
“I’m sorry, dude. That took some crazy balls to do what you did. How long are you out for?”
“I was told at least six weeks. Oh, and I’m moving back home at the end of the month. I can’t stay here and watch her with him. I’d rather be far away and at least try to forget.”
“That shit sucks,” he says quietly. Branson has been one of the best friends I could ask for since I’ve been here and even I have to admit what he says is true. It does suck. It sucks really badly because despite the shit going on with Shay, I actually like it here. The dirt roads are calling my name though, calling me back home.
“Yeah, it does. I guess I’ve got to break the news to Stuart,” I say as I open the car door. Branson jumps out from his side and grabs the crutches. He meets me holding them out. “Thanks, man.”
“Your ass is crippled, it’s the least I can do,” he says, laughing, as I stand and steady myself on them. This isn’t my first time on crutches so I’m thankful to have had some sort of practice.
I hop along to the office where Stuart sits behind his desk. He takes one look at the boot and crutches and shakes his head. He begins asking all kinds of questions and I answer them all. His face drops a little when I break the news that I’ll be returning to Louisiana in a few weeks. He doesn’t know anything about the Shay ordeal and I don’t plan on telling him. We hash out a plan to at least have me here doing something until I leave, even if it means just answering the phones.
My foot begins throbbing and I’m reminded of my injury. That shithead doctor didn’t write me a prescription for pain. He wants me to suffer. I’m used to it by now but I’m hurting. “If it’s okay, I’d like to go home and rest.”
“Well, of course, son. Give Branson your keys and he can drive you home and I’ll follow to bring him back here,” Stuart says, standing from his desk.
I reach in my pocket and pull out the keys to my truck. Branson catches them and climbs behind the wheel. I situate myself and sit in the same spot Shay sat not long ago. I hate that everything comes back to her. I don’t think I’ll ever have another thought that doesn’t make me think of her.
“Do you have a prescription you need filled?” Branson asks as he stops at a red light.
“No, the asshole didn’t give me one. I’m just going to take a shitload of ibuprofen when I get home.”
“Dammit. Okay, man. You know you better call me if you need anything. I’ll bring beer if you want, anything.”
“Thanks, man. I appreciate it. Right now I just want to close my eyes and forget this day happened.”
He chuckles as he continues to drive to my apartment. I’m relieved when we pull up. This is my safe zone for the time being. Nothing bad can get me in here, I can be at ease. Branson helps me get inside and I point out the medicine cabinet. He grabs the bottle of ibuprofen and sets it on the counter. I hobble over to the bottle and pop it open. I grab about four pills. They slide down my throat with ease and all I can do is pray that they begin to work quickly.
Branson gives me another speech about calling him for anything but I shoo him out the door. I’m ready for peace and quiet. Once the door is shut, I lock it behind him and hobble over to the couch. I slowly ease my body down and get comfortable with my foot propped up. I grab my phone but before I can set it on the end table, my eye catches the screen. Poor Sienna got left in the dark when Dr. Perfect walked into the exam room and I never got to finish telling her anything. I’m tired as hell though, so she’ll have to wait just a little longer. It won’t kill her.
Shayleigh’s name catches my eye and the tears I shed earlier come back with a vengeance. They stream angrily down my cheeks. How could she do this to me? How can she just sit back and treat me like nothing? How could she choose him? I know I’m here for a few more weeks, but if I’m going to get over her, I need to start now. My finger hovers over her name. Today may as well be marked down as the day I, Beau Granger, lost my mind. First my foot and now this. I tap the edit button and stare at everything. Her name and number taunt me, but they won’t for long. I tap delete and suddenly, all of that is gone.
***
A few weeks have passed. Almost six, to be exact. I’ve been keeping regular appointments with an orthopedic doctor. When searching through the internet, I chose a doctor as far away from the hospital as possible. Sienna offered to bring Rob and help me move back. I think she held an ulterior motive in her kind words. Reality is, she cares about me, but not that much. She really just want
s to give Shayleigh a piece of her mind face to face. I shot her idea down. I’ve had more than enough heartbreak lately and I just want to leave unnoticed, the same way I came. I’ve already paid the fees for terminating my lease and everything I want to bring home has been packed with Branson’s help. He came over late last night and we had a few beers while he loaded the very few boxes I have into my truck.
I already have an appointment with an orthopedic back home so I can get cleared and get back to work. Thank God it’s only my left foot and I can drive. If not, I’d be stuck in this God forsaken hell hole a little longer. I haven’t heard two words from Shayleigh and that just guts me more every time I think about it. I’ve cried more tears than I’d like to admit over these past few weeks. I’m ready to be back home where I belong. A country boy doesn’t belong in the city like this. I could never adapt to this life, I need my dirt roads and my fishing pond. More than that, I need my best friend Rob back in my life.
I take one long look at the apartment I’ve lived in for the past year. These four walls no longer belong to me. Hopefully the next person who lives here will have better luck. I turn off the light for the last time and hobble out the door. I double check to make sure it’s locked behind me before making my way to the truck. I’ve got to drop my apartment key back to the realtor, then I’ll begin the ten hour drive to the place I should have never left.
The first few hours of driving are filled with complete and utter silence. I thought I would like it that way but the last fifteen minutes of it were nothing but my mind playing the most torturous jokes on my mind. I decide to pull off the interstate and into a gas station. My tank is nearing empty and I need a Red Bull to recharge for the last hours of the trip. Minutes later, I’m sipping on my Red Bull and getting back on the interstate. The ride is the same as before, except this time I have the radio blaring as I pass eighteen wheelers and cars with their rag tops down. Everyone on the road is on a mission to get somewhere, just like me. We’re a stream of automobiles drifting along the concrete sea on the way to our destination.
Destined for A Dirt Road (Dirt Road Summer #2) Page 5
