Senseless Attraction (22 page)

I
stood out in front of Kane’s house in the driveway like a stunned deer. I didn’t know which way to go or if the buses were still running. I knew I didn't have enough money for the taxi to take me all the way to the Base Hospital.

      I let out a frustrated scream; all I wanted to do was get there to see my Momma, to make sure she was all right, and then yell at her for putting herself in danger.

     My hands hurt, so I looked down at them; they were clenched tightly into balls. I stomped my feet, getting more annoyed with myself.

      
Just move, girl. Just move; get there one way or another.

      I picked up my dress once more and started for the end of the driveway; once there, I stopped short, eyes wide. There was Kane, sitting in a Hummer with the passenger’s door open.

      How did he get there so fast?

     
Because you wasted time standing in the driveway.

     
“What—”

      “Come on, Sky, get in.”

      I quickly jumped in and shut the door with no other thought than this would get me there faster than what I'd had in mind. Kane started to drive off, and I was sure that he was going over the speed limit.

      “Shouldn’t you be back there with Donna?” I asked acidly. I couldn’t help it. Anger was overriding me. If I let go, I’d be no good to Momma or myself. “Just give me the car and you can go back.”

      “No.”

      “What, you don’t trust me with this precious vehicle, or is it you’re worried what Mommy, dearest thinks? Because we both know she doesn’t like me. Damn it, Kane, just pull over; go back to your happy life. I promise I won’t disappear on Dommy; I couldn’t do that to her, but I need you to go back to Donna. You know she’ll make it worth your while.”

      Did he need me to scream it? I didn’t want him here, near me.

      “You finished?” he quietly asked while not taking his eyes off the road.

      When I didn’t answer, he took that as a yes and said, “I’m sorry you heard what you did, and I know you’re angry. But you are stuck with me through this, whether you like it or not.”

      “I don’t want you.” Here, there, or anywhere—never.

      “It doesn’t matter,” he uttered, then reached over and took my hand in his, resting them on my thigh. I didn’t push him away. I should have, but I couldn’t.

       The rest of the drive was silent. Kane pulled up front of the hospital, not bothering with the car park area. I dove out, and so did Kane; he came around to my side, grabbed my hand, and together we ran inside, straight up to the front desk.

      “I need...I—I have to see Jenny James.”

      “Sky.” I turned to find Barbra getting up from a waiting room chair. She looked defeated, absolutely drained.

      “Barb, please tell me she’s okay, please. If anything has happened, I can’t…it’s…No! I’ll—I’ll find this jerk that shot her and shoot him myself,” I yelled. Barbra came over quickly, pulling me into a hug.

      “She’s okay; she’s pulled through. Only they’re keeping her asleep until morning, for the shock and pain.” I nodded into her shoulder.

     
Thank you, God, thank you for taking care of her.

      I still wanted to see her. I left Kane out with Barbra and went through a passageway, down a hall, and into her room.

      And that was all I needed. I just needed to see her, even if she had tubes sticking out of her arms. I just needed to see with my own eyes that she was still breathing. I took a hold of her hand and then kissed her forehead.

      “I love you, Momma. Don’t you ever scare me like this again,” I scolded with a whisper into her ear. I wiped away the one tear that dared to come out. “I’ll see you right here in the morning, so don’t go getting any other ideas. Night, Momma.” I kissed her one last time and walked out of the room.

      Kane looked up as the doors opened. He was sitting with Barbra on those uncomfortable, cold-looking, plastic waiting chairs. He didn’t seemed too scared or worried, so Barbra couldn’t have pestered him with too many bad questions. Not that this was the time. Still, no one could know what would come out of Barbra most of the time.

      “You all right, hon?”

      I nodded and smiled up at her. “I just needed to see her for myself.”

      “Of course you did.”

      “How did it happen, Barb? Did they catch the guy?”

      She sighed loudly, rolled her neck, and then rubbed at it. “Some dipshit came in with a gun, and your Momma was the first register he saw and went to. She was being her stubborn idiotic self and said no when he asked for her money. Her customer at the time told her to hand it over, but still she didn’t. He got pissed and shot her. Her customer tried to jump in front of her, protect her, I guess, but he was shot too.”

      I actually did a girly gasp. “Is he okay? Is he here?”

      “As far as I know, he is. His daughter is in with him now. That’s her guy over there, I think; well, he came in with her.” I looked over to a hulking figure of a guy, dressed in blue jeans and a black tee.  His eyes were a dark green and looked like they could pierce you on the spot, and his hair was jet black. He gave me a small chin lift that I quickly returned. Kane came closer. I could feel him at my right side, his warmth invading my personal space. It felt great.

      “Go on, hon, get home and rest. I know you’ll be here at the crack of dawn. I only stayed to see you, but now that I know you have your beau with you, I don’t need to worry. It was nice meeting you, Kane.”

      “You too, Mrs Keating.”

      I didn’t bother informing her of her mistake when she called Kane my beau; instead, I gave her one last hug and watched her leave.

      A hand touched my waist; I jumped, and the hand left. “You ready to leave?” Kane asked.

      I stared at the doors closing after Barb had left. “I know I should, but…I don’t know. I just feel like I should be doing something.”

      “I can’t say I understand what you mean—what you’re going through right now—because I really hate it when people say ‘I understand’ when really they don’t. So all I can say is that when you’re ready, we’ll go. And, Sky…I am here for you.”

      Was he concerned because I hadn’t cried yet? Did he think I’d go mad or something?

      He didn’t need to worry. I’d be doing that later, when my brain stopped thinking and I was alone.

      I didn’t know what to say to him, so all I said was, “Come on.”

      We walked out, side-by-side. I really did want to reach out to him, and fold myself into his heat, into his arms. Still, I didn’t.

      Once outside, we moved to the car that was still waiting near the doors. Kane walked around the front and got in the already-opened door.

      “Didn’t you lock it?” I asked, dumbfounded.

      He gave me a small smiled. “No, and apparently I left the keys in it as well.” With a small laugh, he lifted the keys out of the ignition. I shook my head at him and laughed too.

      “How could you have done that, Kane? Someone could have stolen it.”

      He looked to the front of the car, shrugged, and stared back at me, mildly saying, “I didn’t want you to go in alone, and I knew you wouldn’t wait for me. The car didn’t cross my mind.”

      I had to say something, how nice that was. Hell, he left his car to be stolen and ran after me.

     
Would he have done it for Donna?

      Just that one thought dried up the compassion I was feeling for Kane. I nodded and went to climb into the car, but stopped. I was halfway up, but quickly got back out and took some steps towards the hospital doors.

      “Sky, what is it?” Kane asked. I didn’t know, though—a feeling? A thought?  “Sky?” I heard his door slam; I knew he was coming around the car to me, then I felt and smelt his jacket being place on my shoulders, and I quickly put my arms through the sleeves.

      “I—I don’t know. Kane, I feel like I should be doing something.”

      “Sky, there’s nothing more you can do,” he said with concern in his voice. He placed his hand on my waist and when I didn’t flinch he tried to move me to the car.

      “No wait,” I said. I looked to the doors of the hospital. That guy I’d seen in there was coming out, and in front of him was a short girl wearing glasses, a floral dress, leggings, and a black jacket. I felt myself moving towards her quickly as she moved to me.

      I came to a stop in front of her, my head tilted to the side and I stared at her, just like she was at me. “It was your dad who tried to save my Momma?” She nodded. Maybe this was why I felt I had to meet her, see her?

      I held out my hand. “I’m Skylar.”

  
   She smiled and said, “I’m Alexandra.”

T
he drive felt long, and I cried the whole way. Tristan tried to give me more reassuring words, but when I wouldn’t stop, he left me to cry, still holding my hand in his. When we pulled up into the hospital car park, I drew in a deep breath and got myself together. I went to reach for my bag, but it wasn’t on the floor in front of me.

      “Tristan, I forgot my bag. Stuff it; I left it back at Joe’s.”

       He seemed a little shocked by my surprise recovery, but I knew I had to. “It’s in the back; Sarah gave it to me.”

I blushed, reached over, pulled out some tissues, and blew my nose. Charming, I know, but it is better than having snot running down my face. I cleared my voice, “Thanks for the lift. I’m sorry I was such a mess. You…ah, can get back to Sarah now. I don’t know how long I’m going to be in there, and I really have to go, so thanks again.” I undid the seat belt and got out of the car.

      I walked around the car, head hanging low while I made sure I had everything in my bag and trying to distract my thoughts. I picked up speed, need hitting me to get in there, to find out answers.

      I was near the sliding doors, looking at the black Hummer left out the front with its keys in it. Someone was sure in a hurry, like I should be.

      I went to walk around it when someone placed their hand in mine. I turned too quickly, causing me to lose my footing, but thankfully, Tristan was there to place his hand around my waist and straighten me back up, into his arms.

      For a second, all I wanted to do was stand there with my forehead leaning against his chest and think of nothing else. I was more than reluctant to go in there in case it was bad news waiting for me.      

      Still, now was the time to be brave.

      “What are you doing?” I asked. I hadn’t heard him approach, or even when he got out of the car.

      “You are not doing this on your own. Come on.” He moved his hands from around my waist and placed it in mine, leading me into the hospital.

      We walked up to the counter where the nurse was flirting with the security guy. She was laughing, and that made me feel angry. The security guy gave us a once over and stepped back, but I noticed he didn’t take his eyes off Tristan, who was nearly double his size.