Less Broken

by Eve R. Hart

  The doctor ordered a few x-rays and while we were waiting, the cops came into the room. Two of them, looking much like they’d rather be anywhere but here.

  But when one of the cop’s eyes immediately went to search out Cade’s knuckles, I blurted out everything that had happened.

  Luckily, their attitude changed as I went on.

  And I told them everything.

  I was careful to leave Reed’s name out and hoped they wouldn’t ask for it. I wanted to talk to him first and involve him as little as possible. It looked like I’d be calling him soon enough to fill him in though.

  Cade had been right. It felt good to stand up to Perry in my own way.

  “You mind if we step outside so I can get your statement?” the taller cop asked, his eyes on Cade, but at least it didn’t look like he thought Cade had anything to do with it now.

  Cade looked at me and I got the feeling like he was silently asking me what I wanted.

  “It’s fine, I’m about done anyway,” I told him and reluctantly released his hand.

  Once the door closed behind them, the other cop turned to me and asked for my brother’s contact information. He had a few other questions and I answered as best as my spinning head would allow.

  “Do you plan to press charges against Mr. Fisher?” he asked.

  “Yes,” I blurted out a little too quickly.

  The cop actually smiled. A genuine kind of smile with a hint of pride.

  “I probably shouldn’t say this, but I’m glad to hear that,” he told me. “So many times people don’t because they are scared and they end up in a worse situation.”

  The sadness in his eyes was enough to push me to stick to that decision. I wasn’t stupid, I knew how it ended up sometimes and I was sure he’d seen it enough times before. I didn’t want to be another one of those memories that added to that sad look in his eyes.

  The door opened and Cade walked in briskly followed by the taller cop.

  He took my hand again and I didn’t mind it at all.

  “We’ll pick up Perry Fisher as soon as this paperwork goes through. We’ll keep you updated, Mr. Graham.”

  “Thank you,” I told them right before they left. Then I looked at Cade. “I’m pressing charges.”

  Shock filled his eyes for a split second before he looked at me with a proud smile.

  “Good,” he said and that was the end of that.

  Two hours later, I left with a splint on my pinky and a prescription for some heavy painkillers. Luckily, they gave me a dose before I left, so I was good to go until the morning. Or so I hoped.

  I was in an out on the way back to my apartment and couldn’t be sure of all the things that I’d said.

  Man, those pills were strong.

  Cade must have thought I was a complete loon. I bet he didn’t want to go out with me anymore. I mean, how could he? Look at all the drama I had going on around me. If he was smart, he’d run for the hills.

  I couldn’t tell you what came out of my mouth but I knew I’d regret it in the morning. It would be best if I didn’t remember it.

  I cared about nothing but Cade at that moment. Not where he was taking me or what would happen when we got there.

  I just hoped he wouldn’t leave me.

  13

  Cade

  This night had been hard for me.

  The smartest thing Theon had done was tell the cops everything. Smartest for him, and for me. Now I couldn’t kill the guy because it would look too suspicious if he somehow ended up dead. I might have known how to cover my tracks but now my name was on paper and I was too close to the situation.

  So somehow, Theon had not only been strong, he’d been smart. And that left me feeling a little caged in and a little relieved.

  I couldn’t go after Perry like I wanted to, but maybe that meant I wouldn’t lose Theon.

  Not yet, anyway.

  Once he found out the truth, I’d lose him, that was for sure.

  But I could live in this lie a little longer and keep close to him without him knowing.

  I knew it was stupid, but I was way past the point where I could fix it. I couldn’t walk away from Theon, yet I couldn’t tell him how I’d come into his life.

  By the time I got him out to the car, the pills had kicked in good. He was like jelly as he walked and I practically had to carry him. Not that I minded.

  No, I definitely didn’t mind his body pressed up against mine. I did, however, have trouble controlling certain parts of me. My dick clearly didn’t care that this was not an appropriate situation to come alive. It throbbed painfully behind my zipper not giving a fuck that I couldn’t do anything about it. I wouldn’t.

  “Cade… Cade…” Theon said as I pulled out of the hospital lot. “I don’t even know your last name.”

  “Jones,” I told him.

  “Mmmm. Jones, that’s sexy. Did you know that I called you Sexy Mystery Man in my head until I knew your name?”

  “No, I didn’t,” I told him, only barely managing to hide my chuckle.

  “Yeah, ‘cause you were sexy and I didn’t know who you were,” he went on. “I ran into you that day and I couldn’t think for the rest of the day. I even almost walked to the wrong class.”

  I wanted to tell him that it had been the same for me, but he kept right on talking.

  “It was your eyes that got me first. I mean, have you seen them? So intense. And beautiful.”

  This time I did chuckle. Did he know how fucking cute he was right now?

  “It’s not funny,” he snapped but it lacked the punch I was sure he’d meant to come across.

  “You’re absolutely right,” I said and tried to school my expression as I drove us back to his place.

  “No, it’s really not, Cade.” There was a pause and then he groaned. “Even your name is sexy. How is that fair? I got stuck with Theon. The and on. Two of the most basic words in the English language. I mean, I know it’s not exactly like that, but come on. Bor-ing!”

  “I like your name. I’ve never heard it before so it feels new and…”

  “And what? Plain?”

  “Well,” I said as I chanced a quick glance in his direction. “I was going to say unique.”

  He rolled his eyes. Well, it was more of a whole head movement thing. I caught it out of the corner of my eye.

  “Unique is just a nice way to say stupid.”

  “Think what you want, I like it.”

  “But your name. Cade,” he practically purred. And it went straight to my dick. “Can you just hear how hot it would sound calling it out as I came.”

  The car swerved but I quickly got it back under control.

  Thank God it was in the middle of the night and there weren’t any cars on this backwoods road.

  Yeah, I could hear how hot my name would be spilling from his lips because he’d just said it like I was actually inside of him.

  I was on thin ice here, and it was taking everything in me to control myself.

  Never in a million years would I have thought Theon had this side to him. But, damn, if I didn’t want to see more of it. Maybe when he wasn’t all fucked up on painkillers and really, truly begging for me with full knowledge of what he was doing. Oh, and you know, would remember it in the morning.

  “I still don’t understand why you would want to ask me out,” he said, carrying on even though I had been silent this whole time. “I bet you changed your mind after tonight.”

  “No, I haven’t,” I told him bluntly.

  “I don’t get why though. Look at me, Cade. I’m a mess. I can’t even be around you without hurting myself. And now with this…” He let out a long sigh. “No man wants added drama.”

  He sounded sad now and I hated it.

  “You’re so strong and I’m nothing but a pushover that lets his ex-boyfriend beat him up.”

  “Stop it,” I nearly barked. I saw him shrug out of the corner of my eye. “Do you know how strong you were tonight?”

 
“I wasn’t. I didn’t even try to run when I saw it in his eyes. You know, that look that said he was pissed and going to lash out. I just stayed there and took it all.”

  “Baby,” I said and couldn’t even hate the way the pet name fell so easily from my tongue. “You told him you wouldn’t do it. You stood up to him. Even knowing how it might turn out, you chose to protect your brother. You were brave when you decided to tell the cops everything. And not only that, but you’re also pressing charges against him. I’m really proud of you, Theon. It takes a strong person to do that.”

  He mumbled something but I couldn’t understand any of it.

  I still got the feeling that he wasn’t really listening to me. But with any luck, the words would sink in later.

  By the time we got back to his apartment, he was out.

  I carried him up to his floor and struggled to unlock the door and hold him up at the same time. It took me longer than it should have, but eventually, I stumbled through the doorway without dropping him. He was still out in my arms, not even noticing all the trouble I’d had.

  As I flipped up the light switch with my elbow, I instantly noticed how his apartment was bare. I wondered for a second if I’d gotten the wrong place. But when I looked at the kitchen floor and saw the small smear of blood on the linoleum from his nose, I knew it was the right apartment.

  Anger boiled in my gut.

  Where the hell was all his stuff?

  There was a small table and a couple of chairs jammed up against the far wall in the kitchen. A few pieces of mail on the corner of the kitchen counter with his laptop sitting next to it. With the open floor plan, I was able to see the rest of the main area. Nothing. Not even a couple of milk crates set up as makeshift seats and tables.

  Something wasn’t right.

  But I didn’t have time to think about it now.

  Theon stirred in my arms and let out a little moan in his sleep. I held him firmly as I made my way to where I assumed the bedroom was. I was relieved to see there was a bed in the room. A real one, not an air mattress covered with a few blankets, which was what I had been expecting given the lack of things I saw.

  As carefully as I could, I set him down on the mattress before reaching to turn on the lamp on the table beside the bed. Maybe he was in the process of furnishing the place and started with the bedroom.

  Something in the back of my head told me that wasn’t the case.

  I sat on the edge of the bed and rested my elbows on the tops of my thighs. I didn’t want to leave, but I also shouldn’t stay. I was going to have to call Reed at some point. He wouldn’t be happy hearing that I’d let this happen but it wouldn’t be smart to hide it from him.

  I let out a long breath as I ran my hand through my hair.

  As I turned my head to look at Theon over my shoulder, I felt this ache in my chest. This should have never happened to him. I shouldn’t have let it happen. The signs had been there. I chose to ignore them. That was on me, but it had been Theon that paid the price.

  Reed had known. He had felt it, that something wasn’t right.

  And Theon had proved me wrong tonight. So damn wrong. I hated myself for thinking that Theon was a threat to Reed or that he only reached out to get at Reed’s money. Because he’d proved to me tonight that he was doing his best to protect Reed. Even from me. Which was pointless but it wasn’t like he knew that. He didn’t know my connection to Reed or the reason why I was here. That didn’t matter though. What I did pick up on was how Theon wouldn’t say who his brother was in front of me. Not even when he was giving his statement to the cops. I was sure it came up while I was out of the room but I did notice how he was very careful to dance around who exactly his brother was.

  Not to mention, the fact that he was trying to solve the problem by himself. I knew he’d never come up with enough money to satisfy this Perry guy. Theon probably knew it too, yet he still tried.

  I had been wrong and this was me admitting it.

  I was about to stand when I saw his body start to shiver.

  With a sigh, I went to remove his shoes and gently shifted him so he was between the sheets. Then, because I couldn’t seem to stop my hand, I brushed the hair off of his head. I had this urge to bend down and kiss his head, but I locked my body to keep from doing it.

  “Cade,” he said in a near whisper. I froze, my fingers still barely touching him. “Don’t leave, please.”

  And I was done.

  All my strength and will to resist crawling in the bed beside him shattered.

  I kicked out of my boots and climbed in on the opposite side. The bed shifted under my weight and then he was plastered up against me. His body wiggled like he was trying to get comfortable and in the process, his head ended up in the crook of my neck while his hand landed on my chest.

  I was afraid to even breathe because I didn’t want to risk the chance of spooking him. I knew he was out and there was little chance he even realized what he’d done. Now it was me that didn’t want him to leave.

  So I told myself I’d be a selfish bastard this one night as I settled my arm around him, holding him to me tightly.

  And I let myself close my eyes.

  14

  Theon

  There was a strange chill that overtook my body.

  It was the reason I jolted awake, my hand reaching out to the other side of the bed. I couldn’t explain that last part though. What the heck was I searching for? The blanket, that had to be it, you know, because I was cold. But I knew somewhere deep in my mind that it hadn’t been the blanket that I was longing to feel.

  Cade.

  For the life of me, I couldn’t recall how I’d gotten back to my apartment or even how I’d ended up in my bed. And without my shoes? I wiggled my toes just to confirm that fact.

  Cade.

  Again his name rang out in my head.

  But if he’d been the one to do all of that, what happened after?

  There was something tickling my memories.

  Had I really asked him to stay?

  Yeah, I’d believe that.

  But had he?

  I rolled over and caught a whiff of his scent. Manly. Strong. Something that reminded me of being outside in the sun.

  A smile hit my lips, but quickly disappeared as I began to remember everything.

  I really wished I hadn’t taken those pills.

  I never did do good with any kind of medicine. Not even over the counter stuff, though those usually just upset my stomach. Whatever the doctor had given me made me slip off into some kind of happy land. I’d never had any kind of alcohol before in my life, but I imagined it had been close to what being drunk might have felt like. Not only did it seem as if it took all my energy just to hold my lids open, but it also felt like I had no control of anything else.

  Like my mouth.

  And all the things that had come out of it.

  Humiliation hit me hard and I reached down to draw the covers over my head.

  Tidbits of the drive home were coming back to me.

  I was pretty sure I’d called him sexy more than once.

  I didn’t think that had even been the worst of what I’d said.

  So, of course, he was nowhere to be found this morning. If he was smart, he would have run the moment he had the chance.

  I was just starting to think that could have been for the best when I heard the door to the apartment open. It wasn’t a second later that it closed again.

  Fear gripped me tight for a second.

  What if it was Cade?

  What if it wasn’t?

  My body ached and I knew I wouldn’t be fighting anyone off in this condition. That said, I wasn’t sure which would be worse— facing Cade after everything I’d said last night or collecting a few more bruises.

  Cade, definitely that one.

  I heard the steps getting closer and closer to my room.

  I closed my lids a little too tightly. If I didn’t move, maybe I’d turn invisible somehow.r />
  “What are you doing?” Came Cade’s voice from the other side of the bed.

  “Who? There’s no one here. You can’t see me.” I whispered.

  “Oh, well, then I’ll just drink this coffee I brought back, since there’s no one here and all. Wouldn’t want it to—”

  “I’m here,” I said as I popped out of my blanket cocoon. Eager to get my hands on the good stuff, I sat up way too quickly. “Ow,” I groaned. “Gimme… please.”

  My whole body ached but I managed to get situated against the headboard. Cade handed me the coffee once I was ready and to my surprise, he took a seat on the bed so he was facing me.

  He sent me a smile and despite the pain, this was the best morning ever.

  “I got your pills,” he said. “And I picked up a muffin so you wouldn’t take them on an empty stomach.”

  I hid my smile behind a sip of coffee.

  “Hazelnut?” I asked and there was no hiding the shock in my voice.

  “I pay attention,” he mumbled, looking much like it shouldn’t have been a big deal, but it was.

  It was to me.

  The fact that it was something I’d never told him but he’d picked up on his own made it even more magical.

  Cade was taking care of me and let me tell you, this was top-notch treatment.

  That fluttering sensation was back in my stomach.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “Now eat so you can take your meds.”

  I took a sip of my coffee and shook my head.

  “No, I don’t want them,” I told him.

  I had no idea how long Cade would be here, but I wasn’t going to ruin it by going all loopy again. Not a chance. Sure, I was in some pain. It wasn’t anything I couldn’t live with and in truth, I’d been worse off before.

  “Theon.” He said my name like that one word alone would tell me there was no room for arguing.

  “I’m fine, Cade. I don’t want to take them.” I swallowed hard because standing up for myself wasn’t something I was used to. It didn’t come easily and I’d never felt comfortable doing it before. However, there was just something about the man sitting in front of me that made me feel like it was okay to be me. To speak my mind. That no matter what I did or said, I’d be accepted. And that included my awkward clumsiness.