Forever Black (10 page)

“OMG,
I’m so sorry, do you want me to come over? You shouldn’t be alone.”

I’m
fine, and I’m staying at Connors tonight; he was with me when I got the call.” 

“Seriously
Elle? What the hell is going on between the two of you? Did you sleep with
him?”

“NO!
We’re just friends, and I’m staying in the guest room.”

“Shut
the fuck up and get into that mans bed, let him make you forget about
everything bad, at least for tonight.”

“LOL,
good night Peyton, I’ll keep in touch.”

“Live
Elle! Have you ever heard of friends with benefits? Nighty night…”

She
was right, when I’m with Connor he does make me forget about everything bad,
but the ironic thing is he’s the one who’s bad for me. One of us will have our
heartbroken by the other, and I cannot have that in my life right now.

I
rolled over and opened my eyes as the sunlight peeked through the sheer
curtains that perfectly hung from the windows. I threw on some yoga pants and a
t-shirt and followed the aroma that led me straight to the kitchen. Connor was
sitting at the table typing away on his laptop.

“Good
morning Ellery, I hope you slept well.”

I
smiled and headed to the cabinet for a coffee mug. “Good morning, I slept very
well in that monstrous bed.”

He
lightly laughed. I poured some coffee and sat at the table across from him.
“There are bagels over there, please have one.”

“Thanks,
but I’m not hungry.”

He
looked at me with his morning green eyes, “You have to eat Ellery.”

I
sighed, “I never eat when I first wake up, but don’t worry dad I’ll have one in
a little bit.”

A
slight irritated smile graced his face, “You’re even a smart ass first thing in
the morning.” I held up my cup and smiled.

“What
are you doing?” I asked as I pointed to his laptop?

“Just
sending some emails and rearranging some meetings.”

“Did
you overschedule or something?”

He
looked at me and cocked his head, “You question everything, don’t you?”

I
looked up at the ceiling, “I guess I do,” I smiled.

I
sat and stared at him as he was looking at his computer screen. He was freshly
showered, and his hair was still damp and perfectly sexy.

“What
are your plans today?” He curiously asked. I set my cup down and wrapped my
hands around the mug.

“I
have to call work and tell my boss I will not be in because of the funeral;
then I think I’ll stop over at the soup kitchen and volunteer this afternoon.”

Connor
looked up from his laptop, “You really enjoy volunteering there don’t you?”

“Yes,
I love it. Even though they are homeless and whatever problems they may have,
they are human beings, and they need help.”

He
looked at me for a second and then continued on his lap top. I took a sip of my
coffee and looked out the enormous window at the view of New York City.

“The
reason I was rearranging my meetings is because I’m taking you to Michigan.”

“What?”
I exclaimed.

He
got up from the table and put his cup on the counter. “It’s not up for
discussion Elle; we are leaving tomorrow morning, and we’re driving.”

“Driving?
That’s a 10 hour drive Connor.”

He
turned around and faced me, “I know how long of a drive it is; consider it a
road trip.”

I
sighed, “A road trip? Flying will get us there in an hour and a half.”

“Do
you have a problem being with me in a car for 10 hours?” he casually asked.

“No,
but…”

He
walked over to where I was sitting and stood over me as if he wanted to touch
or kiss me, but he didn’t, he just said, “No buts, we will go by car.”

“I
don’t think Denny wants to drive us to Michigan.”

He
laughed and walked away, “Denny isn’t driving; I am.”

I
rolled my eyes and heavily sighed, why was he going anyway? I am more than
capable of going back home by myself, and that’s the way I prefer it, ok maybe
not, the thought of being in a car with him for ten hours was exciting. I
smiled and got up from the table.

I
grabbed my bag and stepped into the elevator; Denny was waiting for me outside
by the Limo.

“Morning
Denny, where is Connor?” I asked as I looked, and he was not in the Limo.

“Good
morning Miss Lane. Mr. Black took the Range Rover to work today.”

“Can
I ask you a question Denny?”

“Sure
Miss Lane,” he said as he looked at me through the rearview mirror.

“Did
Mr. Black tell you why he’s driving me to Michigan?”

“No
Miss Lane he did not, he just told me to take the next few days off because he
was going on a road trip. Miss Lane, can I tell you something?”

I
looked curiously at him, “What is it?”

“I’ve
worked for The Black family for the past 10 years. I was his father’s driver,
as well. I have never seen Mr. Black behave in such a way as he has since he's
met you. Maybe I shouldn’t be telling you this.”

I
smiled, “Nah, it’s ok Denny, we’re friends, and maybe that’s all Connor needs
is a really good friend.” It saddened me that it’s the only way things can be.

I
stepped into my apartment and headed to the bathroom to take a hot bath. I
needed to think about everything before I headed back to Michigan. I climbed
into the hot bubbly water and closed my eyes taking in the lavender scented
bubbles. My phone rang just as I was starting to relax.

“Hey
Peyton,” I answered. There was a screech from the other end.

“OMG
Elle, I have the best news.” Even though, I couldn’t see her, I knew she was
jumping up and down.

“Elle,
all three of your painting sold.”

I
sat up, “What? Are you kidding?”

“No,
I would not kid about a thing like that, and the best part is the same person
bought all three and paid triple the amount for them. They said your paintings
are the most beautiful they have ever seen. Elle, Sal wants to talk to you
about becoming a regular artist for the gallery; he wants to contract you for
more paintings. Listen, the money you made off those three alone, you can quit
your job to paint full-time.”

“Who
was the buyer?” I asked.

“I
don’t know, Sal said it was some woman. I have your check; can you meet for
lunch later?”

“Lunch
sounds great. I’m going to volunteer at the soup kitchen for a couple of hours
then we can meet after that, I’ll text you.”

I
hung up the phone and laid back against the tub reveling in my good news. I
never dreamed any of my paintings would sell, especially all 3 of them. I couldn’t
wait to tell Connor. I wanted to text him, but he was at work and I’m sure he
was busy, so I figured I shouldn’t bother him. I got out of the tub, pruned
skin and all, and threw on a pair of skinny jeans and a long sweater. I walked
across the hallway as a wave of dizziness came over me and then suddenly
everything turned black.

I
awoke lying on the floor and my head hurting. I laid there dazed and confused
trying to focus and remember what happened. I was pretty sure I fainted. I sat
up as I felt something dripping down my face. I took my fingers and swiped them
across the drips and looked in horror at the blood all over them. I took a deep
breath and got up to look in the mirror. I had a deep cut above my eye, and it
was bleeding pretty badly. I opened the medicine cabinet, took out some gauze
and applied pressure to the wound. I kept begging god to make it stop and not
have to go get stitches. I reached back inside the medicine cabinet. I took out
the box of butterfly bandages that I had left over from when Kyle cut his
finger on a knife. I applied the bandage and hoped for the best. Why now? Why
did this have to happen now? Just an hour ago, I was basking in the glory of
the sale of my paintings, and now I was standing in front of the mirror with a
gash above my eye that may or may not require stitches.

I
went to the cupboard and pulled out the bottle of Motrin. I took two caplets and
headed over to the record company to give my notice. Peyton was right, if Sal
wanted to contract me, then painting would become my full-time job. I just hope
I would make enough money to live on.

I
was walking down the street as I felt the wetness through the bandage. Shit, I
knew I was going to need stitches. I reached in my bag for my cell phone and
dialed Peyton.

“Peyton,
I fell and cut my head. It won’t stop bleeding, so I’m heading over to the
hospital to have it looked at.”

“OMG
are you ok? I’ll meet you there Elle, don’t worry.”

Before
I could tell her not to go, she hung up. I was nowhere near the hospital, so I
tried to catch a cab. Of course, when I desperately needed one, they won’t
stop. As I was standing on the curb with my hand on my head, a Limo driving by
pulled up and rolled down the passenger side window, “Miss Lane are you ok?”
Denny asked with concern. I couldn’t believe he was here at this moment.

“Denny,
thank god, can you drive me to the hospital? I had a little accident, and I
need to get it checked out.”

“Of
course, get in the front seat and let me take a look.”

I
opened the door and climbed in the front seat. Denny removed my hand. His eyes
widened. He opened the glove box and took out a small white towel and folded
it. “Here, keep this over that cut and apply pressure,” he said as he pulled
into traffic and drove me to the hospital.

We
arrived at the hospital, and he helped me out of the car. I thanked him as I
saw Peyton waiting in the lobby for me. He walked me into the ER as I
introduced him to her.

“Thank
you Denny for your help.”

He
smiled, “Not a problem Miss Lane, take care of that and feel better.” I gently
hugged him as he left through the automatic doors.

A
nurse named Carla sat me in a wheel chair and pushed me through the corridor to
a room. She helped me out of the chair and onto the bed where she made me lay
down to prevent any more injuries. Peyton sat down in the chair next to my bed
and cursed at me for not coming to the hospital sooner. I hated hospitals; I
saw and been in enough of them to last me a lifetime.

Carla
was a larger woman, and by the looks of her, she was not one who played around.
She was funny. She had me and Peyton laughing our asses off with the way she
talked about the nursing staff and some of the doctors.

Not
too long after she took my vitals, Dr. Beckett came in. Peyton was in the
middle of a sentence, and when she saw him she fell silent. He was a hot young
resident with short black hair, baby blue eyes and sun-tanned skin.

“Hi,
I’m Dr. Beckett,” he smiled as he held out his hand.

Peyton
jumped up and held out her hand, “Hi, I’m Peyton Bennett,” she flirtatiously
smiled.

I
rolled my eyes, which hurt because of the cut. “So Ellery, tell me how this
happened,” he spoke as he examined the wound.

“I’m
not sure; I took a bath and got dressed. I started to feel a little dizzy as I
was walking down the hallway and I think I passed out. I must have hit my head
on the corner of the wall or molding.”

“Is
it normal for you to get dizzy suddenly?”

I
looked at him, straight into his baby blues and said, “No.”

“Ok,
well I’m going to get my suture kit, put in a few stitches and get you out of
here.” I smiled and nodded my head as Peyton drooled over him.

“OMG,
he is gorgeous, I’m obviously getting his number. Did you see a ring on his
finger Elle? Did you?”

Just
as I was about to answer, the curtain opened, and there stood Connor, looking
as sexy as when I left him this morning. Peyton’s eyes widened, “Oh god,
another one, I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.” I frowned at her and
lightly smacked her on the arm. Connor stood there holding the curtain in his
hand.

“Elle,
my god what happened?” He walked over to me and put his hand on my head. “Are
you ok?” I looked at his face; he genuinely seemed worried. It’s a look I
haven’t seen before.

“Connor,”
I put my hand on his arm, “I’m fine.”

“So,
you’re Connor Black?” Peyton tilted her head and asked.

“I’m
sorry, Connor this is Peyton; Peyton this is Connor.”

“Nice
to finally meet you Peyton, I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Peyton
smiled, “I’ve heard a lot about you to.”

20
shades of red covered my face as he responded, “Is that so?”

Just
before Peyton could embarrass me any further, Dr. Beckett walked in with a
small silver tray. “Let’s get that nasty cut sewn up; I promise to stitch it
well so the scar will barely be noticeable, if at all.”