Less Broken

by Eve R. Hart

  “Was she sick?”

  “I don’t know, man. Like I said, he doesn’t talk about it much. He seems really shy and reserved.”

  “So you thought it would be a good idea to make him go to college?” I snapped remembering what Theon had said about not liking it here.

  Reed chuckled at me and I could see him shrugging in my mind.

  “I was just trying to help. I, uh, kind of didn’t know what to do and I thought it was a good idea at the time.”

  “I know, man. I’m sure he appreciates it.” I didn’t want to make Reed feel bad and I knew he’d been trying to do right by Theon.

  The line stayed silent for a few beats. Reed was clearly over thinking what I’d told him.

  “Listen, Reed, I’m not sure if there’s something going on, but I’ll look out for him.” I meant those words probably more than he knew. And it wasn’t all for Reed at this point. However, that was something he couldn’t know.

  “Thanks, Cade. Let me know if you see anything unusual.”

  “Well,” I said and paused. I shouldn’t hide it from him, but I also didn’t want him to freak out about it. “I got close enough to him to get a good look at him.”

  “Yeah, and?” he said sounding panicked.

  “He had some bruising on his face. Maybe someone beat him up? But I haven’t seen anyone hanging around watching him. And no one has come up to him looking like they are trying to cause trouble. So I’m not sure if it was an isolated incident or something else.”

  “Okay,” he said. It was the tone that let me know that he was thinking. So I simply waited for him to go on. “Keep on him. Maybe get close if you can?”

  “How the fuck am I supposed to do that? I stick out like a sore thumb on campus,” I barked not mentioning that Theon had already caught onto that fact.

  Reed chuckled.

  “Get yourself a laptop and one of those messenger bag things. Just say you’re going through a mid-life crisis or something.”

  “Fuck off,” I grumbled but he knew I wasn’t being mean.

  “You’ll figure out something. I have faith in you, buddy.”

  I wanted to punch him.

  “And call me!” he yelled before I could snap at him again. “I mean it, Cade. If there’s something going on, I want to know. Maybe I can help. Or at least get him out of there.”

  “Yeah,” I agreed.

  I mean, I was half-tempted to take Theon and run for the sun. He didn’t belong here and I wanted to take him someplace that would make him happy. Only I didn’t know enough about him to know where or what that would be.

  “Are you sure you’re okay, Cade?” he asked and the forcefulness was gone from his tone.

  “I’m fine. Won’t happen again. I’ll look out for the kid.”

  Every time I called him that I felt something sour in my stomach. I didn’t see him as a kid and the fact that I kept repeating it to Reed made it even worse. I was trying to cover up the fact that I had been affected by Theon and it wouldn’t be long before Reed caught on.

  “Talk soon,” he said and I gave him a hum letting him know that we would.

  Then he was gone and I didn’t know what the hell to do with myself.

  First, sober up.

  Next, take a shower. Yeah, that would be a good idea because I was not only feeling rough, I probably looked it too.

  Then, coffee. And if I got lucky, I’d be able to run into Theon at the coffee shop.

  I really did have to think of a smoother way to randomly run into him. He easily saw through me and it was a matter of time before he figured out that I wasn’t there by coincidence. If that happened, I’d lose him. I knew it. Because I was lying to him and he was already frightened enough of everything around him. He’d run. Or try to.

  Either way, I’d lose him and I wasn’t ready to do that just yet.

  10

  Theon

  Class today was uneventful but at least I made it through. Nothing major happened, which was a blessing. I didn’t trip. Or spill coffee on myself. Or walk into a tree.

  I would call that a win in my book.

  I also hadn’t seen Cade anywhere despite all the lingering I did in places I’d run into him. He hadn’t been at the coffee shop or around campus. Even with all my wishing, he wasn’t waiting on the stairs to my apartment building. I was pathetic enough to get my hopes up on the way back home, and hugely disappointed when my fantasy got popped.

  Yeah, I should have known better, but that didn’t stop my mind from going to those kinds of places. Again, I’d found myself distracted for most of the day.

  But hey, I had work tonight and that would give me something to focus on. Or that was what I told myself. Nothing had worked so far so why would I think that cleaning dishes would be the magical cure?

  Surprisingly, I liked my job. I was paid under the table. Not something I needed but I didn’t really care either way. I suspected my boss and owner of the pub-slash-restaurant hated paperwork. He ran the front well, but all the other stuff, not so much. I might have been there a little over two months, but it wasn’t hard to tell that he was the man of the house. Everyone came in to see Big Tony. Named more because he was tall and less because he had a huge gut, which was what I had been picturing when I saw the ad that Big Tony’s Pub ‘n’ Grub was looking for a dishwasher. The man was muscular, hairy, and reminded me more of a mountain man than a bar owner. His face was stern until you got to know him. Then he was cracking jokes and talking like he was born to make conversation.

  I worked anywhere from two to four nights a week and put most of that money away. I had been saving so I could buy Silvie a bunch of stuff when I went for a visit. All the stuff she needed and a few things she didn’t. It wasn’t like Carl would go out of his way to get her anything. Not even new clothes. I mean, the man didn’t even brush her hair. He didn’t even try because he just didn’t care. At least he remembered to feed her and get her off to school on time. I had to be thankful for the small things.

  However, the list of stuff I needed to get her was growing longer and longer every time I talked to her. And money, well, that had to go to something else now.

  One day, I’d get us on top.

  I swore it.

  “Hey, Theon!” Big Tony called out from behind the bar as I walked in.

  “Hey, Tony,” I said with a small wave as I made my way to the back.

  Tony followed behind me, which wasn’t unusual.

  “You eat yet?” he asked as he veered off into the kitchen.

  “Uh, I had a sandwich for lunch.” I shrugged with my answer.

  “Try this,” he said as he brought out a plate and headed for the small break room. It was really the storage room for all the back stock alcohol, but there was a table in the back corner and a couple of lockers for employees to put their stuff in.

  I sat as he slid the plate in front of me.

  “What’s this?” I asked, eyeing it skeptically.

  Tony often got these crazy ideas for new appetizers. They were usually some kind of mash-up between two common bar foods. Most of them didn’t work out so well, from what I’d tasted.

  “Cheeseburger egg rolls,” he said proudly. “They should still be hot. I knew you’d be here early and I wanted to be ready.”

  I laughed as he winked at me.

  I picked up one, the grease already soaking my fingers. Oh, I was going to regret this in two seconds, I just knew it.

  His eyes were watching my every move, and even though I knew it was still hot because it felt like the tips of my fingers were starting to melt off as I held it, I took a big bite.

  First, I felt the melted cheese oozing like lava over my tongue. Then the beef layered on top of that as the egg roll shell stuck to the roof of my mouth. All piping hot, mind you. I opened my mouth to breathe out steam like a dragon.

  “Hot,” I mumbled and attempted to fan my mouth with my hand. By the way, it did nothing to douse the fire or soothe the burn.

&nbs
p; “Shit,” Tony mumbled as he jumped up and grabbed a water bottle out of the small fridge in the corner for employees. “Here.”

  I took a long pull, swallowing down the now soggy mess in my mouth.

  It was all I could do to hold back the cringe. It wasn’t so much a taste thing as a texture one. I was sure it wouldn’t have been so bad if I hadn’t drowned it with half a bottle of water.

  “I’m good,” I told him as I blew on the rest of the egg roll in my hand. Once I was sure it was safe, I took another bite. I nodded and tried to smile at the same time I chewed. “It’s not bad. I mean, I can’t really taste all that well right now. But I am getting pops of flavor in there.”

  “Does it taste like a burger though? But also like an egg roll?”

  I chuckled behind my hand so I wouldn’t spew food everywhere.

  “Yes, very… uh, both of those things. Yep.”

  He smiled, looking proud.

  “It’s missing something though,” he said, losing his smile. “Can’t put my finger on it, but it lacks that punch. I want it to be like a party in your mouth.”

  “I’m definitely getting gathering, but not quite a party,” I told him. “What if you put some of that blackening seasoning in it?”

  It was his special blend and he swore he’d take the recipe to his grave. It was one of the few things he got right when it came to cooking. I wasn’t even sure why Mario let him in the kitchen anymore, but I guessed when you were the boss and owner, you could do what you wanted.

  “Yes,” he said, his eyes glazed over and I knew he was running through ideas in his head. “Blue cheese instead of American. Like a black and blue burger. Holy fuck, Theon, you’re a genius!” He jumped up and headed for the doorway. “Eat the rest of that before you get to work.”

  Then he was gone. Well, his body was. I could still hear his excited voice booming as he told Mario his new idea.

  I chuckled and shook my head.

  I quickly finished the two overly stuffed egg rolls before I got ready for the night. I had to say, once my mouth regained some feeling and I could actually taste a little, they weren’t all that bad. I was still behind the fact that it was missing that wow factor though. I had a pretty good idea I’d be trying the new one before I left for the night.

  Five hours later, I was sweaty, covered in gross leftover food, and ready to take a long shower. Then a long nap after that.

  And by long nap, I meant go to bed seeing as it was too late at night for a short rest.

  I left work with a smile even though I felt gross. I always had a good time there. Everyone I worked with was super chill and talked to me enough to bring me out of my shell for a bit. I liked being in the back corner. I didn’t have to deal with people and it was like my own little space. It was mostly the staff that pulled me into their jokes and conversations here and there. And that was perfect for me.

  I was in a decent mood as I walked up to my apartment.

  However, that mood quickly got ripped away when I saw Perry standing at my door waiting for me.

  “You got something for me?” he asked, his eyes cold and dead.

  How did I not see this side of him before?

  How had I fallen for his fake charm?

  I guess I was just desperate for something. Love. Comfort. Touch. I felt lonely most of the time and I hated that feeling so much that I clung to the first thing that came along. So, really, this was all on me, I guess.

  “I have some. I’ll get more,” I told him, my palms sweaty and my mind racing to find a way out of this situation.

  “Some? What the fuck do you mean, some?” he snarled. “You didn’t ask him, did you?”

  “I told you I won’t. If it’s money, I’ll get you what I can, but I won’t involve my brother.”

  “You little fucker. Was last time not enough of a warning for you?”

  His fist flew, catching me off guard as it landed a hard blow to my stomach. I doubled over from the pain.

  “Stop, please,” I begged but it didn’t matter. In fact, I think he enjoyed it.

  He yanked me upright by my hair and I held back the wail of pain. But I couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down my face.

  He kept punching me to the point I lost count of the blows. During his assault, I felt something drip from my nose, and a moment later, I tasted the blood on my lip. I didn’t think he’d hit it but I couldn’t understand why it was bleeding. Eventually, I ended up on the ground curled into a ball. That was when he kicked me in the back. I cried out because there was no way for me to hold it in.

  My hand landed on the floor and I tried to push myself up. If I could get to my feet I could run.

  That was a mistake because the next shot of pain came to my pinky finger as he stomped on it with his dirty boot. The pain and the crack sound had bile rising up my throat.

  “Get me the money,” he said before he stormed off. I watched his boots until they disappeared down the stairs.

  Once I knew he was really gone, I let out a sobbing cry.

  I attempted to stand but only made it to my knees.

  With my good hand, I fished my keys out of my pocket and reached up to unlock the door. Then I pathetically crawled into my apartment and finally gave up in the middle of the cool kitchen floor. It actually felt good against my heated face and I didn’t resist as my lids fell closed for a good long moment.

  The plan was to lay here and catch my breath. Then maybe search out some ice for my finger, which I prayed wasn’t broken.

  I had no clue how long I stayed there unmoving but it felt like a long time.

  In the distance, I heard heavy footsteps coming closer. Thinking it was one of my neighbors, I stayed silent. If I didn’t move or groan maybe they’d ignore the partially open door and still dark apartment, and carry on their way. And if I was lucky, there wasn’t enough light spilling in from the hallway to show my broken body here in a heap on the floor.

  “Theon?”

  I must have not remembered hitting my head so hard that I had a concussion, because I would have sworn that sounded like Cade’s rough voice calling my name.

  Or I was dead and dreaming that he’d come to save me.

  Yeah, that was probably the case.

  “Theon. What the fuck?”

  That was definitely Cade. But what was he doing here?

  I groaned. I think it was mostly because I couldn’t believe Cade was seeing me this way more than the pain I felt. Of freaking course he would show up now. This was most definitely not the fantasy I’d had earlier. Far from it. Could I maybe hang out with this guy and not be in some sort of humiliating situation? Was that too much to ask for?!

  “Baby, what happened?” he asked and I was positive that first part had been my brain mishearing something.

  “I’m fine,” I said as I tried to push myself up. A long pained groan fell out of my mouth but I managed to get into a seated position. “Just need to put some ice on it.”

  I blinked at his crouching form in front of me. He was blurry and dark, and I told myself it was because the lights weren’t on. I might have still been in denial about how bad off I was.

  “Theon, ice isn’t going to fix this.” He sounded a mix of mad and concerned, though I wasn’t sure how.

  “I’ll be good to go by tomorrow. Just help me up, please. Maybe get me to the bed.”

  I held my hand out hoping he’d take it and pull me to my feet. Then I’d sort of know what it would be like to hold his hand. Only, that didn’t happen. Instead, his calloused fingers closed around my wrist.

  “Theon, I think your finger is broken.”

  “It’s not. I promise. I can still move it, so that means it’s fine.” As I said those words I tried to wiggle my pinky to prove my point. The only thing I managed was to cry out in a decibel that was too high to even sound human.

  “Come on,” he said and I felt his arms wrap around me as he lifted me to my feet with absolutely no effort.

  That hurt really bad
, by the way. And the gasp that my lungs took in too sharply only made it worse.

  “I’m taking you to the emergency room,” he said sternly. “And on the way there, you’re going to tell me who the fuck did this to you.”

  I swallowed hard and looked up to meet his eyes. Hey, I could see them now with the reflection of the hallway light. That was a good thing. Except the look in his eyes looked downright murderous, so maybe I didn’t exactly want to see them like that.

  “I can’t,” I whispered. I felt the shame as I said the next words softly. “I don’t have insurance. And no money to pay for it.”

  “I’m not leaving you like this. Let’s go.” He started moving toward the door slowly as he held on to me.

  There was no arguing with him so I told myself I’d figure it out later. Maybe I could see if Tony would let me work a few extra shifts to make some extra money— you know, once I could actually work again.

  At the door, he shut and locked it with the key that I had left in the lock.

  A million things were going through my head.

  What was I going to tell him?

  How could I get out of this whole thing without pissing him off?

  How was I going to make it down the stairs without crying?

  Well, that last one he took care of for me, because the moment we made it there, he scooped me up in his arms all sexy-hero-like and carried me down. He didn’t stop there, taking me all the way out to what I assumed was his car parked across the street. In fact, he didn’t let me go until I was all safely buckled up in the passenger’s seat. How he got the door open and still held me up, well, I had not one clue.

  Once the door was closed, I let my head fall against the cool pane of glass while I wished the world would just open up and swallow me whole.

  Cade got in and started the car up without a word.

  If I closed my eyes maybe he would think I was asleep.

  No such luck though because after he found the fastest route to the closes hospital, he was grumpily asking me questions.

  11

  Cade

  “What happened?” I asked in what sounded like a growl.