Sucker Punched (Resilient Hearts Series Book One 1) (10 page)

Pulling up at the hospital, I run her into the emergency room. My prosthesis is killing me, but at this point, I couldn’t care less. Everything is a blur. I’m shouting for help as the nurses come rushing over. A gurney is brought to us, and I place Caitlin down just as she’s whisked away. I try to go with her, but I’m halted by a nurse who asks me what happened. After telling her all I know, the nurse assures me she’ll let me know how she is once they’ve checked her over. I’m left in the waiting room, alone. Sitting down, I place my head in my hands. I feel absolutely defeated. Why the fuck didn’t I listen to her? Please God, let her be okay.

TWELVE

Caitlin

I fade in and out until I’m finally able to fight the darkness long enough to remain mostly conscious. I try moving my head, but a sharp pain hammers through my skull and makes my stomach lurch. Where am I, and what’s happened? The answer doesn’t readily come to me, but I sense something is wrong. Reluctantly, I attempt to sit upright, but my head spins violently, and I slump back down. I lie still, trying to work out what’s happened. My perception of time is distorted, and I have no idea how long I’ve been doing this. There has been movement around me, and I think maybe some voices, but I’m not certain because everything is hazy.

After a while, I begin to feel marginally better, as if the fog’s slowly lifting. My queasiness eases, and I slowly regaining snippets of my faded memories. I can remember the bar. Did Ethan take me to his apartment? I’m certain I went to Vertex, and I clearly see disappointment across Ethan’s usually happy face. There’s dancing and that bloody blonde. It’s all a bit jumbled though, like I’m missing important pieces to the puzzle. A small sliver of light shines in from the hallway, otherwise the room would be in total darkness. I assume I’m in a hospital, but I have no idea why or how I’ve come to be here. Rolling onto my side, I make out a chair with someone sitting in it. “Hello,” I try to say, but barely a croak sounds out. My throat is parched, and I cough to clear it. The person in the chair startles, quickly standing. He’s unsteady on his feet and sits back down with a thump and a grunt.

“Caitlin,” the male voice says. It’s familiar, yet I can’t place it due to the mental fogginess that remains. After a few moments, he walks over, brushes a lock of hair from my face, and places a soft kiss to my forehead. ”Hi, Caitlin, how are you feeling?”

A dim light from the bedside lamp clicks on, and as soon as I see his face I know who he is. “Ethan,” I rasp out.

“Hold on, baby.” He helps me sit up and offers a few sips of refreshing water.

“What’s going on?” I ask easier this time, the water soothing my dry throat.

“It’s okay. You’re in the hospital.” I lie back down with his help, and Ethan’s finger tenderly strokes at my hand. “Do you remember being at the club last night? Your drink was spiked, but don’t worry, I’ve got you now.”

My drink was spiked?
“Who did it?”

“Let’s talk about this later when your head is clearer.”

“No, Ethan. I want to know now. Who would spike my drink and why?” I grow agitated but can’t help it.

“Shush. Shush.  It’s okay. Calm down, and I’ll tell you, alright?” I start to calm a little. “It was Clay, the guy you had problems with from the bar.”

Clay? Who the hell is Clay?
Then it hits me like a punch to the gut. The bar. His smell. His grabbing me at the bar. I remember Ethan helping me, but then Ethan’s mad, really mad. Nicola, why the hell was Nicola there? It takes a moment to put it all together, but it eventually rushes back to me. Oh shit! She told me to leave, and Ethan encouraged it, even after I asked him for help.

“You refused to help me,” I say, crushed at the memory. “I needed you, and you sent me away.”

He rubs his face. “Ah, Caitlin, it wasn’t like that. I was pissed at you for pushing me away again. You rejected me and never said what was wrong. If I had known Clay was there, you know I would’ve helped you, pissed or not.” But right now I DON’T know that. I’m not sure about anything.

I turn away from him. “Can you just leave me, please?”

“What? No! No way. You’re not pushing me away this time,” he says firmly.

I turn my head back to him. “That’s not what this is about. I just need to get my head straight. Something feels wrong somehow.”

“With us? That is something we can discuss later, but I’m not leaving you. Get that out of your head right now. I’ll give you some time, but that’s as far as it goes. I’ll leave to get a drink and to phone Kiaya.”

I forgot all about Kiaya! “Is she okay?”
Please let her be okay!

“She’s fine, but she’s really worried about you. They showed up at the hospital not long after us. You were still unconscious, and the doctor wasn’t sure when you’d come around, so Asher took her home after a few hours. Although, she wasn’t very happy about it.” He sighs, looking weary. “I’ll give you some space for a bit.” He brings my hand up to his lips and places a kiss on it. I watch as he walks out the door. Shortly after he leaves, a nurse comes to check on me.

“Hi Caitlin. I’m Diane, and I’ll be looking after you. How are you feeling?

“I’m not really sure.”

“That’s normal after what you have been through. Your injuries are minor, and your vitals are strong. Now that you’re awake and alert, we’ll monitor you a bit longer,” she says with a friendly smile. “A doctor will be here in a couple of hours, and if he gives you the all-clear, you’ll be free to go home. You should have someone to stay with you until you’re feeling more yourself, and be aware, it can sometimes take a while.”

“What do you mean I’m not badly injured? Wasn’t I slipped a drug and brought here?”

“You were attacked, but fortunately you came away with only a few scratches and bruises. You’re very lucky from the sounds of it. It could have been a lot worse if it wasn’t for your boyfriend stopping the guy. He was frantic when he brought you here.”

Boyfriend?
“You mean Ethan?”

“Yes, the young man who’s been by your side the entire time, the good looking one. Ah, if only I were younger.” She laughs and gives me a wink.

Ethan saved me? Why didn’t he say that? He’s saved me twice in one night! Stephen was always an evil aggressor, and I stayed with him for years. Ethan rescues me, and I push him away. What the hell is wrong with me and my awful sense of judgment?

The simple thought I can’t ignore is that Ethan makes me
feel
again. For so long I’ve turned away from feelings because they hurt far too much. But not all feelings are bad, and I never gave Ethan a fair shot to prove he wouldn’t be like Stephen and hurt me some day. Sure, there was Nicola the bitch, but I encouraged that. Oh, my gosh! Why would I encourage that?

The nurse leaves, but I remain still and try to get my jumbled up brain firing on all cylinders again. I suddenly become so emotional that silent tears stream down my face. Someone enters my room, but I don’t move or make a sound. 

“Caitlin, I’m back. I’ve phoned Kiaya, and she’s going to come see you once you’re released.” He’s now noticed my tear-streaked face and starts to sound worried. “Caitlin?” I’m scooped up and snuggled on his lap. Sobs wrack my body, but he remains quiet. We sit for a long time wrapped up in each other. The recent events have tipped my already frayed emotions over the edge. They’ve been slowly accumulating the last two years, and now I feel broken. My tears dry up eventually, but Ethan still holds me firm. I’m not sure how long we’ve been locked like this, but I’m not ready to let go of him yet.

“Caitlin, you’re worrying me. Are you okay?” My head is against his chest as I nod.

“You saved me from Clay twice, didn’t you?” I whisper.

“Yes.”

That one simple word means everything, and it’s all he has to say. I wrap my arms tighter around his middle, and his only response is to do the same.

                                                    ***

I’m seated in Ethan’s truck, my head still in a muddle while he drives me home. The doctor checked me over and gave the all clear once I begrudgingly agreed to move from the safety of Ethan’s arms.

Ethan tells me the police have spoken to him, and Clay is in custody. He explains Clay had warrants out for his arrest, so he’ll be imprisoned regardless of the charges that come from his assault on me. They will want to talk to me, but I don’t know what I can add to what Ethan and Kiaya have told them.  I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.

Ethan’s been holding my hand, his thumb rubbing circles on the back of mine the whole journey home. I need this connection right now, and I find myself grateful and happy he agreed to stay with me the rest of the day.

When we arrive at my apartment, I get embarrassed. From what I remember, his place is modern and really nice. Mine looks like an old person’s home. I normally wouldn’t care what people think, but I want to impress Ethan. I care what he thinks of me because I like him, really like him. This fact scares the crap out of me, but I decide here and now I will not push against it. I’ll see where this takes us. After parking, we get out, and he leads me to my apartment door. My hands are shaking, so I pass my keys to Ethan. The noise must’ve alerted Grace that I’m home, as she opens her door.

“Caitlin, is that you?”

“Hi, Grace. Yes, it’s me; don’t worry,” I say.

“I’m so relived. I was beginning to worry. It’s nearly lunchtime, and I didn’t hear you come home last night.” She steps into the hall and notices I’m standing with Ethan.

“Oh!” She looks shocked, glancing from me to him.

“Hello, I’m Ethan, a friend of Caitlin’s.” Stepping forward he shakes her hand, making Grace giggle.

“What a nice young man, making sure you get home okay,” she says to me.

I laugh. “Yes, he’s just wonderful.” I can’t help but roll my eyes. So typical. He says a few words, and she’s succumbed to his charms.

Ethan smiles while opening my door. “Caitlin, you need to rest.”

Grace’s face reddens. “I’ll leave you to it then. Goodbye.” She walks into her apartment, shutting the door.

Looking up at Ethan, I hiss out, “Well great, now she thinks I need rest because we’ve been up all night having sex!”

Ethan laughs, still holding open the door. “That would have been a nicer way to spend last night. Relax. I doubt that’s what she’s thinking. Come on, in you go.”

“I really need a shower. Help yourself to some food and drink if you like.” I say, as I step inside.

“Okay. Look, I promise I won’t come in the bathroom, so please don’t lock the door. You still seem a bit shaky on your feet, and I want to get to you if need be.”

“Promise you won’t come in?” He’s seen me naked, but the attack has left me feeling self-conscious for some reason.

He laughs. “Yes, just don’t fall. How about I make us some lunch? You must be hungry.”

“You don’t need to do that,” I say.             

“I know. I want to do it.” He shrugs.

“Okay then, thanks. I’ll have some tea and a sandwich. I don’t have much of an appetite.”

He lightly kisses the top of my head. “Go have your shower. I’ll see you shortly.”

The warm water feels amazing as it cascades over my aching body and slowly relaxes my tender muscles. Knowing just an unlocked door is between me and Ethan, I’m excited and scared all at the same time. I rush the rest of my shower and get dressed in some shorts and an oversized t-shirt. After towel drying my hair and brushing it through, I make my way to the kitchen. Ethan’s standing at the counter, plating up our food.

As I enter, he turns towards me and smiles. “Hey, you done? Come sit down and eat with me.”

Tucking a piece of hair behind my ear, I sit down on the only other chair at the table. I take a huge bite of my sandwich, and it tastes so good I moan. Ethan gives a confident, sexy smirk. “How are you feeling after everything?”

Sighing, I turn away from him. “I’m okay, I guess.”

He places a finger under my chin, and turns me to face him. “Hey, look at me,” he says. 

“No, I’m okay.” I try to turn away again as a stray tear slips from my eye.

“Hey,” he says a little louder as he wipes the traitorous tear from my cheek. I shut my eyes.

“I’m okay, Ethan,” I repeat, looking down at my food.

“If you say so,” he says, unconvinced. He exhales a long breath.

We continue to eat in silence for a short time, when I notice Ethan glancing from me then to his plate repeatedly. It seems as if he has something to say, but is unsure how to ask. Leaning back in my chair, I focus my eyes on him. It’s not long before he notices he has my attention. His uncomfortable expression makes me chuckle. “Spit it out. Whatever it is you want to say, just say it.”

“Okay.” He sighs before placing his sandwich on his plate, and then rests his elbows on the table. “I don’t want to upset you, but since the attack something has been bothering me.”

“What?”

“Well, Roman has mentioned that you’re far more competent than the other students in his class.” He pauses, again seeming reluctant to continue. I think I know where he’s going with the conversation, and it makes me very uncomfortable. Regardless, I gesture for him to continue. “Okay, here goes. I’m pretty sure you could have defended yourself against Clay and gotten you and Kiaya out of trouble without my help.”

“That’s a statement, not a question,” I snap, certain about what’s coming next.

Ethan’s posture stiffens, mirroring my own. “Well, why didn’t you?”

There it is! Am I ready to trust him? The only other people who know my secret are Beth and Stephen. I begin to chew on my lip while considering my options. Our focus remains locked on each other, while my mind races, thinking of what I should say. Ethan remains patient while I decide. Finally I realize I can’t tell him. I’m not ready to share something so personal with him. He’ll either hate me or pity me, and right now I can’t deal with either. “Ethan, I can’t tell you. You’re right, I probably could have defended myself, but something happened that has left me unable to deal with any form of confrontation, physical or emotional. I just can’t handle it. I’m sorry you feel I let Kiaya down by failing to protect her, but I just couldn’t do anything to stop him. I was completely powerless.” I can’t hide my voice cracking with emotion as I talk.