In A Heartbeat (20 page)

“What do you mean in the clear? I am feeling fine and should be released in the morning.” Eaven responds to Luke’s strange comment.

“Have the police questioned you yet?” He asks both of us.

“They questioned me some, but she is just recently coherent enough to carry on a conversation.” I start to get a little concerned with the look on Luke’s face.

“Well, I am not sure what is going on, but rumor has it they are waiting for the autopsy results to see if there will
be charges filed.”

“Charges filed? Fucking who are they going to press charges against? She drove the mother fucking car into the river and held Ev at gun point.”

“I know, but the DA is a dick and wants to file charges because of her head and torso injuries.” Luke is infuriating me right now with this nonsense.

“HAVE THEY NEVER HEARD OF SELF-DEFENSE?” I yell and come up off the bed. I start pacing the small room and begin to feel like the room is enclosing on us. That bitch has ruined my life every time I turn around and now she is still managing it after she
is dead. I will not let them do this to Ev.

“Ev, did you ever make contact with her head or torso?” I ask hoping that she will say that there is no way she can be blamed.

“Oh my God. She attacked me when I was pulling her from the car. She was trying to pull me down, so I kicked her with my free leg until she released me. I just kicked until she let me free. I was running out of air in my lungs and it was instinct. Tell me that isn’t what killed her. Tell me she drowned in the river!”

You have got to be kidding me. There is no way they can blame her for this.

“We are calling a lawyer. Ev, you do not speak to anyone without your lawyer. I am going to call my dad. He has a good friend who is a lawyer and will know what to do.”

I call my dad and he tells me that he will come to the hospital immediately. We call Eaven’s dad to see how far out he is and find out he is almost here.

We spend the evening with the dads and Mike, the lawyer. Eaven goes over her entire story. Luke, Taron, Ivy, and I also tell Mike what we witnessed.

Mike assures us that with the phone message she taped we have enough proof that it was self-defense and we will fight it. I can tell Eaven’s dad is stressed to kill. I want to reassure him that everything will be ok, but I have a hard time believing that I will get a happy ending.
Mike decides that we will go to the police station in the morning once she is released. He will make arrangements for the meeting.

I spend the night sitting in my hard ass chair watching Eaven while she sleeps. The nurse gave her something to help her rest. I can’t think about anything but the possibility of her getting arrested tomorrow. She tried to save Nicole’s fucking life even after she tried to kill her and now she is possibly going to jail. The more I think about it, the more pissed off I get.

Eaven’s dad is pacing the halls while
over dosing on caffeine from all of the coffee that he has been ingesting. That man can put down some coffee.

Ivy and Taron are asleep in the chair in the corner. It is the only chair that reclines into a bed, but they don’t have it
pulled out. Taron is sitting in it with Ivy on his lap. Her legs are draped off of the arm and he has his arms wrapped around her while their heads are leaned back together. I wish that was Ev and I.

“Hey you!” She says softly. “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“I can’t sleep.” I whisper.

“Get up here with me. I want you to hold me.” She demands. I
quickly obey and melt into the mattress. I am so fucking tired.

“You really need to consider a shower.” She says as her face comes in contact with my shirt.

I squeeze her tighter. “Do you want me to get up and shower?” I really hope she can deal for the sake of sleep. I haven’t left this room since she was brought in here. My twin brought me a change of clothes, but that is all of the grooming that I have done. In the beginning I wasn’t sure that she would be ok. Now I am just being a selfish nasty ass who would rather spend time with her than take a shower. Three days is definitely not the norm for me and showers, especially when Eaven is around.

“No! Stay here with me.”

Morning rolls around all too quickly.
I haven’t slept that good in days. I know I only got about three hours, but damn I feel better. I wake up to the feeling of being watched.

I open my eyes to see the mean old lady nurse is back on duty and she is glaring at me.
The nurse is not impressed with the fact that both of us fit in the bed. She is the one that made Taron leave for talking inappropriately about his penis being neglected. He was just giving details of what he will do the next time he is with a hot girl. It was just the two of us in the room while Eaven was sleeping. The nurse grabbed him by the ear and yanked his ass up out of this room. She didn’t appreciate it when he told her that he loved a girl who liked to play rough.

“You aren’t the patient. If you don’t mind removing yourself from the bed that you are crowding my patient in, I would appreciate it.” She looks mad as hell. I know not to fuck with this bad ass. I get out of bed and in the process get a whiff of myself. Holy shit I stink.

“Honey, you will be released today. You might want to get up and take a shower before the doctor arrives to check you over once again.” The nurse talks all sweet and loving to Eaven. “Would you like me to clear the room so you can have some privacy?”

“No, I am ok.” Eaven quickly responds since I am the only person in the room right now.

“Do you need assistance in the shower?” The nurse asks as she checks the bathroom for proper supplies.

“No, I am good!” I say to her. Her fake smile drops and she turns her death glare back in my direction.

“Would you like me to escort you out of this hospital?” Wow she can flat scare a boner right out of a guy.

“No ma’am.” That seems to suffice her enough that she leaves the room.

“Will you help me get my leg ready?” Eaven asks. She has to wrap it in a bag and put a towel around the top to keep the moisture out.

I help her wrap it and assist her as she walks to the shower.

There is a chair in the shower for her to sit on and the hose for the shower head comes down so that she can hold it. I help her take her gown off and I feel like my gut is punched instantly when I see a
ll of her bruises and scrapes.

“I will be right here if you need anything.” I say as I kiss her f
orehead.

She only uses me to hold the hose for her when she is putting soap on and to wash her back.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Eaven

It is a workout just to take a shower. I wanted to take a shower with Talon, but I saw how disgusted his face was when he saw my body. I just want normalcy back. I want to feel like life will go on and everyone will make it through this hellacious week. I am nervous about going to the police station. I know that what I did, I had to do to survive. It just makes me nervous that I have to do anything at the police station. I don’t like to go there for any reason.

“Are you ready sweetheart?” My dad comes in while Talon is still in the shower.

“Just about. I hope the doctor comes soon so I can get this over with. Will mom be there?”

“Yes she is going to leave Avery with the sitter and meet us at the station.” My dad isn’t really a talker. He is a thinker. I can tell his mind is going strong.

“What’s wrong dad?”

“I am just thinking about everything you have been through recently. I am proud of how strong you have become. You make me very proud.”

“Thanks dad. I don’t feel very strong right now. I am scared out of my mind that something bad will happen today at the police station.”

“Your mother and I will support you one hundred percent. We will fight anything that they try to throw at you. You have such a great support group surrounding you.” He starts to think again with his face looking concerned. “Tell me, do you love Talon?”

“Yes dad.” I say curiously. Why is he asking me this? “Why?”

“I am just checking in on my girl.
I see the way you look at him. He saved your life Ev. I know how bad you were in that river and Ivy told me how close you were to slipping from that rock. I am glad to see you find someone who makes you happy.”

“He does make me happy.” I say just as Talon opens the door to the bathroom.

“Well I am going to see if I can find the doc.” My dad leaves the room and I am left with the fresh scent of hospital soap lingering through the room as Talon makes his way near me.

“
Who is this asshat that makes you happy? Because I’m gonna kick his ass?”

“He is just some sexy guy who has my heart!” Ok that sounded a lot cheesier out loud than it did in my head.

“I’ve been thinking!” I say quickly.

“What about?”

“I would like to take home the cards from all of my gifts and ask the nurses to distribute the flowers and balloons to patients who don’t have any.” I say hoping that doesn’t sound corny.

“I fucking love you,” i
s his only reply.

We get cleared from the doctor with orders to see my primary physician in two weeks. I will have separate appointments for my leg
in four weeks. I have luckily mastered walking with crutches.

We meet everyone at the police station. Mike leads the way through the entire
process. I tell the truth about what happened. They make me listen to the voice message and I explain my thought process along the way. We made a trip out to the river and I had to see where the guard rail is missing and explain what happened. I am not really much help at the river since it was dark when I was there last time and the current pulled me down river so quickly that I was disoriented about my exact location.

Mike finishes our meeting by telling them that if they have any further
questions to notify him. He informs them that we fully intend to cooperate with their investigation, but that he will put all of his resources into making sure I am not convicted if they try to arrest me. I researched Mike Wheeler. He is cut throat and down to business. He is known for winning cases.

It is a couple of days later that we
finally get the call from Mike saying that the DA has decided not to file charges against me and that the evidence proves that it was self-defense. The toxicology reports showed that Nicole had high levels of narcotics and anti-depressants, which helped my case tremendously.

Talon and I are both so relieved that I think we sleep for twenty-four hours straight. I have be
en staying at his house since my apartment is upstairs. I have had so many visitors the last few days wishing me well in recovery and the case.

Ivy instructed the guys on what to move from my apartment. I ask for my laptop and camera so I can edit photos while I am on Talon enforced rest. He is serious when it comes to me resting.

Talon arranges it so that Avery spends a day with us also. She is so energetic. He
takes her outside to paint for a while so I can study some. I am working extra hard to get caught back up on my classes. I am so glad that Ivy is in class with me because she helped me so much. I keep working on study guides so that we can review easily when an exam comes up.

I get released at my two week appointment to go back to class. It is difficult to maneuver around campus on crutches, but I have the help of many each time I move. It is quickly turning into fall and I really want to be out of this cast and to be back to normal.

Talon and I spend every night together in each other’s arms. We have retained a level of intimacy somewhat, but we have been limited. My body is still bruised and Talon is extremely gentle anytime he is near me. This cast is a blocker in itself. I miss our moments together, but I know that we will fall right back into the rhythm once I am completely healed.

I love how much he is taking care of me, but I am ready to be independent again. Tomorrow is my 22
nd
birthday and Talon has invited everyone to Smitty’s for a party in hopes of cheering me up. Ivy and I will be going out for the day so I can get out and have a girl’s day.

Chapter Seventeen

Talon

“Are you sure you are ready for this shit? You have only known her for a couple of months.” Taron is trying to talk me out of
surprising Eaven tonight.

“Yes I am sure. I have never been more
certain of anything in my life.”

“Did you ask her dad and all that
traditional shit too?”

“Yes actually
, I did talk to him in the hospital.”

“You have got to be kidding me.
You are a big whipped pussy.”

“Whatever! I am not locking you into a life
-long commitment so keep your fears to yourself. I am not going to let her go another day without knowing how I feel about her. Shit, she could have died. Life is short brother, you have to live it.”

“That is what I am telling you. You have to live it up!”

“I will live it up with the girl I love!”