“Go get in the shower Bay, I’ll bring you some ice,” he whispers to me with bright red bloodshot eyes. I have no response for him so I just go to the shower walking very slowly up against the wall trying to use it as a crutch.
I can’t think, I can’t cry, I can’t move. Standing in the shower with the hot water beating down on me I realize that the only thing I have thought in the last, however long I’ve been standing in here, is that my face feels as broken as my heart. Crushed really. I have no clue what I am supposed to do now. Is there something a doctor can do for a crushed cheek bone? Do cheek bones crush under the hand of one man? I have no clue, but unfortunately, I now know what it feels like to have to even ask that question. I manage to rub down with some soap and quickly wash my hair. I get out and dry off. Brushing my teeth is excruciating and although I don’t want them to, tears fall from my eyes. I look into the mirror once the steam evaporates and gasp. My eye is nearly closed shut; a bruise is already forming around my eye and along my upper cheek.
What am I going to do?
I walk into our bedroom and see that the bed is turned down for me. I hate him and he’s performing a turn down service. Noticing he is not in the room, I go into my closet and pull on some pajamas. I leave my hair wet and down and walk over to the bed. He has put my phone on the night stand for me, so I crawl in and cover up, suddenly exhausted.
Hollister comes into the room with a bed tray and the pasta I had ordered for dinner. He sets the tray over my lap and then sits down on the bed next to my legs. He rubs my leg over the blanket but doesn’t say a word. Then he gets up and walks out. I can hear him in the kitchen but don’t know what he was doing. I have no appetite even though the pasta looks delicious. I take a large drink of the wine he poured for me and refuse to cry and sob the way I know my body wants to. He comes back in carrying an icepack and two Advil.
“Here Bay, take these, they’ll help.” He looks around as he speaks softly and then lets out a big huff of air. “You need to put this ice on your eye, it’s pretty swollen already.” I say nothing. I take the Advil and then grab the ice and gasp from the pain that applying the pressure has caused.
“Dammit Bay, I’m so sorry. I know there is nothing I can say to fix this, but I was just so angry, I tried all day to forget our conversation this morning and I just couldn’t. I can’t explain what came over me but it was like I was only seeing red. This force stronger than anything I had ever felt before came over me and I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t stop. I’m so, so sorry, please don’t hate me.” He’s crying. Tears are streaming down his face and I hate him even more. I have no words for this man standing in front of me. I just want to go to sleep, my head is throbbing so much I can’t even see straight at the moment and he wants to have a heart to heart.
“Can you please take the tray away, I’m not hungry. I just want to get some sleep if you don’t mind,” I whisper to him without making eye contact. He just nods his head, picks up my tray and walks ou
t, closing the door behind him.
CHAPTER NINE
BAILEY
I woke late the next morning to a note on my bedside table. My head is still achy but it feels like the swelling around my eye has gone down quite a bit if not all the way. I sit up and stretch my sore arms above my head, taking note of the finger shaped bruises on both arms. I reach over for the note I see Hollister has left.
Bay,
I will never be able to forgive myself for losing control of my temper with you. You mean everything to me and I can’t bear the thought of losing you. I do not deserve it, but I beg you to forgive me. I called Drea and told her you weren’t feeling well so you could take the day off. I’m giving you time and space and will be home on Monday, no more delays, I promise. I love you so much Bailey.
Love,
Hollister
I’m relieved he took the cowardly way out of giving me time and space because I honestly don’t even know what I could say to him at this point. What I do know is that I definitely do not want to stay in this condo any longer. I need to get out. So I call Drea for a favor.
“Bay? Are you alright? Hollister said you were sick.”
“Yeah, I’m fine thanks. But can you do me a quick favor?”
“Sure, what’s up?”
“Can you go into my center desk drawer and get the post-it with Talon’s contact info? Please?”
“Hell yeah, I can. Want to tell me what’s going on?”
“No.”
“BAY!”
“Fine,” I say with a deep sigh. “Hollister and I got into a fight last night, it was pretty bad. He left this morning to give me space after calling you I guess. He’ll be home on Monday and I’m not staying here all week waiting for him. That’s what’s going on.” She doesn’t respond right away. I wait for her to process this information because I know she doesn’t believe that ‘we got into a fight’, she knows all about his temper and she’s probably trying to figure out a way to approach that conversation.
“Did he hurt you Bay? Are you really ok?” Drea whispered.
“Of course he hurt me, that’s what he does. No, I’m really not ok, because he’s an ass and then freaking Prince Charming!!! He runs so hot and cold. I never know who I have anymore!” I finally let the tears of sadness and confusion come out in sobs while talking to my best friend.
“So what are you doing with Talon’s information?”
I clear my throat and take a deep breath. “I made plans with Kali to go to their family home in the Hamptons leaving Thursday morning, but she said Talon may be leaving today. I don’t want to be here right now so I was just going to see if I could catch a ride with him.”
“You sure you want to do that? Not that I oppose the idea at all.”
Without hesitation I reply, “I’m positive.”
“Alright then. I’ll get his info and text it to you.”
“Thanks D. Love you!”
“Love you too. Hey Bay… was it worse this time?” she whispers softly.
“Yes. I’ll talk to you later.”
“Have a good time Bailey.”
I hang up not being able to bear the sadness in her voice anymore. I get myself dressed and style my hair down in hopes of somewhat taking the attention away from my bruised face. I start packing and really, really hope that Talon can take me today. Just as I finish getting ready (in super comfy clothes that I hardly ever wear) my phone alerts me to a text message. It’s from Drea with Talon’s number and email. I decide to call because, well, I just want to hear that super deep and sexy voice.
The phone rings several times with no answer. Just as I am preparing to hear his voicemail greeting, he picks up and so does my heart rate.
“This is Talon.” I take a deep breath because the sound of his voice affects me more than I care to admit.
“Hi Talon, this is Bailey.” My voice barely comes out in a whisper once his voice hits my ears.
I feel like I can hear his smile through the phone. “Hey Bailey! How’s it going?”
“Oh fine, thank you, how are you?”
Geez, I’m nervous.
“I’m good. Just packing up to head out to the Hamptons house, are you still coming?” I don’t know why it takes me by surprise that he asked me that but it does and it also makes me hopeful that he wants me there.
“I am actually. I was wondering though if I could catch a ride with you if you were going up today.”
“Yeah sure. Everything ok?”
“Yup. It’s just been a long couple of days and I don’t have any meetings the rest of the week. So I just decided to start my vacation early if that works for you.”
“Great! When can you be ready?”
“How about an hour?”
“That works for me, just text me your address and I’ll see you in about an hour.”
I do as he asked and then finish packing. I pack everything I think I could possibly need. Then I go through my jewelry and accessorize each outfit.
Fred buzzes in on the intercom to tell me I have a guest. Not wanting Talon inside a world I’m not sure I belong to anymore I ask Fred to come up and assist me with my bags and to tell Talon I will be down in a few minutes. He agreed and then came right up to my condo. I opened the door for him before I remember to slip my oversized glasses on and I see in his eyes that there is no hiding my face. His eyes flicker around my face a bit before greeting me. Knowing the rules of his job and the many years he has put into perfecting his position and status in my building he quickly composes himself and holds back the questions I am sure he wants to ask. I invite him in and he grabs my large duffel and throws it over his shoulder then pulls the two suitcases out into the hall. I lock up after grabbing my purse and small bag.
When I get down to the lobby of the building I suddenly become very aware that I am going to be in a car, alone with Talon, for hours. I have been so focused on getting away from all things Hollister it never occurred to me that I was throwing myself deep into a situation that could very well be dangerous territory. As much as I hate Hollister right now, he is still my boyfriend and I still live with him; two things I do not take very lightly.
Talon is leaning against the dark mahogany concierge desk with his ankles crossed and his arms folded over his chest. He’s wearing a grey t-shirt pulled tight around his biceps and broad chest, black
windbreaker pants, and tennis shoes. His sunglasses are pushed up on top of his head. When I saw him dressed in business attire Monday morning he was beautiful, but this? This is just ridiculously
hot.
He smiles and heads my way when I exit the elevator.
“Hey there, you ready to go?” He’s all confident and suave in his steps toward me. He reaches out a hand to grab the shoulder tote and I see his expression change instantly to a hard and concerned look. I thought I would at least be able to get in the car and possibly manage the trip to the house without him noticing my bruised face. Apparently, I was wrong. Fred shifts his weight uncomfortably before asking if he should load up my bags. So I turn away from Talon after allowing him to grab the bag from my shoulder and tell Fred to go ahead and load up. Talon is outside holding the car door open for me when I get out there. I thank him and Fred and climb in.
I get settled into the car and begin to wonder how I am going to explain this to the one man I do not want to know the truth. For some reason, this bruise makes me feel like it changes me, changes my story, and maybe my personality. I grew up on a farm; I am tough. My dad taught me at a very young age that if someone is bullying me to ‘just knock ‘em in the nose real quick’ and they’ll leave me alone; to stand tall and proud of who I am and not to let anyone treat me any less than perfect because that’s how he views me. I haven’t ever let anyone talk down to me without fighting right back, someone physically fighting me was never a question. I have always been confident that I could take on anyone who came after me. Problem with my current situation is that no one I love has ever come at me with angry hands. The scenarios my dad prepared me for and gave me confidence for were all about bullies, not about a man I love.
We ride in silence for a while when I notice that Talon looks like he has begun to relax from his tense position. I decide to start a conversation and hope that he understands my bruised face is not up for discussion.
“Did you happen to let Kali know I was coming with you today? It was so last minute I forgot to call her.”
“I did.” His jaw is flexed and his hands are curled around the steering wheel tightly. I hate that he is so upset. I’m conflicted. I want to reach over to smooth his furrowed brow and assure him that I am fine and that the cause of my injury is not what he’s thinking. But I cannot bring myself to lie to him. I am not a liar, and I feel so connected (could just be attraction, but I don’t think so) to him that I want to tell him all of my secrets and trust him with my world that even I cannot understand. So I decide to keep talking in a light and casual way. “Thanks! I appreciate it. So how did you get to take off so early in the work week?”
“I just needed some time alone to get away from it all. I don’t get to get away from the office much.” He has not taken the bait of my light conversation starter and is still as tense as ever.
“Oh, I’m sorry, you should have told me. I didn’t have to come along today.” Now I just feel bad.
“It’s not a problem. Really.” Apparently, he doesn’t like me to feel bad. He breaks his intense gaze off the road for just a second to look my way and rub my arm briefly with just a hint of a grin on his face. I want to take advantage of his lighter mood, but his touch has sent me into somewhat of a frenzy and my brain is not functioning properly. I just smile his way before grabbing my phone out of my bag to search for who knows what. I just need a distraction because that grin of his has me wanting to kiss him more than anything else in the world. He allows me to sit in silence for a long time before he clears his throat and glances in my direction to begin what I have been dreading.
“Bailey?” His voice is soft and caring but not without being laced with a small amount of intensity.
“Hmm?” The tone of his voice is forcing my gaze towards my phone and not allowing me to look at him and find either pity or anger. Doesn’t matter which it is, I don’t want to see either one.
“You can’t hide behind those glasses all weekend. Are you going to tell me what happened?”
“No. I wasn’t planning on it.” I still don’t look up but I can feel the tension again. He doesn’t respond. He just switches on his iPod and continues to drive, no longer relaxed and I hate that I’m the one ruining his relaxing time. So I put my phone back in my bag and lay my head against the cold window and close my eyes while feeling the weight of the world on me.
I wake startled and confused as to where I am. I must have been sleeping really hard because I am scared, shaking, and so nervous. It takes me a minute to realize that Talon’s hand is gently rubbing my thigh and his low voice is saying something calming but I can’t focus on his words because I see my glasses in my lap and know that he can see the extent of the damage done to my face. I grab them quickly with sweaty, shaky hands and gently place them on my face. I was lying on the bruised side and I really want to be crying right now because it hurts so dang bad I can hardly stand it. I begin to wipe the few tears that have fallen down my cheeks as I focus on Talon and what he is saying to me.
“I’m sorry I startled you, I was just letting you know we’re here.” He still has his hand on my thigh and I do not mind at all. It feels comfortable, peaceful. I take in the gorgeous scenery around us. He’s driving up a small hill on an old paved driveway. The colors of the leaves have changed but not all have fallen and I cannot look away. When we come into a clearing from all of the huge old trees and shrubbery, an absolute fantastic house comes into view. It’s massive, but it’s so cozy looking with the light blue siding and brick combo. It has white shutters on all of the windows. There’s a wraparound balcony on the second story with several doors that lead out to it with a few Adirondack chairs and side tables. I would love to be curled up on one of those chairs with my Kindle and a cup of coffee.
Talon walks around the back of the car and comes up beside me as I take in this ‘family home’ as Kali put it. He places his hand on the small of my back and takes my bag out of my hands.
“Come on, let’s get you inside, I’ll come back out for your other bags.” I nod my agreement and let him guide me up the brick stairway to the front porch.
“This place is incredible Talon.” My voice is still shaky.
“You like it?” he asks with his eyebrow raised and a hint of a smile on his lips. He sounds as if he’s truly unsure whether or not I was going to like it.
“Do I like it?” I laugh a little at his uncertainty and a little at my bewilderment. “That’s an understatement. I love it. I’m not sure if you’re going to be able to get me to leave and I haven’t even seen inside yet.”
“Well, we may be able to arrange that.” He’s giving me that sexy grin again and I realize that I have missed it and I definitely do not want to be the cause of it being gone ever again.
“Which part? Seeing inside or me not ever leaving?” I can’t help but smile flirtatiously at him; he brings out my inner flirt.