Tied - Part Three (The Tied Series) (5 page)

“Right now,” I replied. I’d just gotten off the train and was on my way home, but I turned around at the front door and walked right back to the subway station. If he was asking for me, I was sure as hell going to be there as soon as I could.

Josh met me outside his room’s door. “Thanks for texting me,” I said, “How’s he doing?” The antiseptic hospital smell hit me hard. There were no good memories associated with that smell - just misery. Just trauma and tears.

“They’ve got him on some pretty strong painkillers so he’s feeling pretty good,” he said. “Go ahead inside, the family’s gone home. He’s all yours.”

“Thanks, Josh.”

I slipped inside the room. His eyes were glassy when he looked up - but they lit up when he saw that it was me. “Katherine.” He reached for me.

All of my tension melted away. I took his hand and let him pull me to his chest. He was propped up by the hospital bed and able to pull me into a hug without disturbing his leg. It was wrapped in a fresh cast, right up past the knee again.

He nuzzled my neck. His stubble was rough against my skin but it was a comfort and a relief all the same. “I’m glad you came,” he rasped.

“Shh,” I said, “You must be tired.” I squeezed him tight and breathed him in.

He kissed my jaw. “What did the doctors say?” I asked, though I was afraid of the answer.

“I’ll walk,” he said. His shoulders slumped. “But it’ll always be fucked up. I can’t…”

He trailed off.
He can’t fight anymore
. “I know,” I said. I reached for his hand and squeezed it. “I’m sorry.”

He glowered down at his cast. “I’ve been a huge asshole,” he said, “I didn’t want you to see me like this.”

“You’ve just been afraid. I don’t blame you.”

“I’m gonna go home with Lisa and Josh when the hospital releases me,” he said, “But I’ll be home soon.”

“Home,” I smiled, “Good. I miss you. I think your fish misses you, too.”

“Come here.” He pulled me close and kissed me. God, how I’d missed the impassioned touch of his lips. He kissed me like a man drowning and starving for air. His tongue slid against mine with possessive swipes.

I sank against his chest, stroked his arms, slid my fingers up the sleeves of the hospital gown to touch his skin. He groaned against my mouth. “Another minute of this and I’m gonna have to ask you to lock the door.”

I giggled. “I wouldn’t argue.” I backed off, though. Much as I loved the idea of climbing up on the bed and straddling him right there, it probably wasn’t the best idea. Not so soon after an operation, not while his leg was in that huge cast. Still, going by the look in his eyes, he was imagining the same thing.

“Soon,” he promised, his eyes roving up and down my body. “Damn well better be soon. I’ve missed you, too.”

Thank God
. It looked like it would be a long road to recovery, but he was back. He was still with me. He was okay.

CHAPTER 5

It was two weeks before Lockett was able to come back to the apartment. He returned to Lisa and Josh’s house the day after his surgery and drove them mad the entire time.

And there was little I could do to help.

He simply refused the wheelchair and the crutches, insisting on hauling himself around by the walls and hopping up and down their halls, cursing, knocking things over, tripping up the kids.

Lisa finally snapped. I was there tutoring when it happened. He was stamping out of Finn’s room, slowly working his way to the kitchen while Amber and I struggled over plans for a science project. She didn’t want to talk science - she wanted to talk music.

“The talent show is weeks away,” her mother called from her bedroom, “No practicing until you finish your project.”

“Okay, Mom,” she said, rolling her eyes.
Eight years old and already rolling her eyes at her mother
. I gave her an admonishing look before directing her attention back to her science book.

Lockett thudded his way down the hall while we worked. We’d all made the mistake of trying to help him - poor Finn included - and faced his anger that we’d dare suggest that he couldn’t get around.

So Amber and I stayed seated while we listened to him struggle. My stomach lurched with every thump and every scrape along the floor. I felt like I was just waiting for him to fall, waiting for him to hurt himself further, and there was nothing I could do.

“You look pale.” He’d made it to the edge of the dining room. His hair was damp with sweat and he was breathing heavily, but still he would refuse anyone’s assistance.
So damn stubborn
.

“Pale?” I asked. “Maybe it’s because I’m so worried about you.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’m fine.”

I didn’t want to start this argument again, so I looked back down at Amber’s textbook. We ignored him as he made his labored way to the table, one hop, one drag at a time with no wall to support him.

Lisa emerged from her room wearing a practiced expressionless face. “Chinese food tonight?” she asked. “Katherine, you’ll be staying?”

I felt bad constantly eating on their dime, but they insisted, always refusing to take a little cash or to dock my pay. But what other option did I have? Amber always looked up at me with those big hazel eyes of hers and begged me to stick around to practice a few songs with her. And then there was Lockett, smiling through his pain whenever he sat next to me, squeezing my knee beneath the table.

“Sure,” I said to Lisa, “Just soup for me, thanks.”

“Just soup?” she asked, her brows furrowed. “Rob’s right, you are a little pale. Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine,” I nodded.
I’m just my usual ball of worries. I’m just waiting for my boyfriend to take a spill and break some other part of himself. I’m just giving my mother money that I can’t afford to give.

“If you say so,” Lisa said. “I’ll place the order.”

“Let me see the menu,” Lockett said, taking another hop forward. He grabbed for the chair in front of him and missed.

I cursed and jumped to my feet. He went down heavily, landing with a thud that shook the floor. I rushed to his side, though Lisa beat me there.

“Goddamn stubborn idiot,” she said, pushing on his shoulder to roll him over.

“I’m fine,” he growled.

“Shit,” she said, “How the hell are we gonna get him back up?”

“He’s like a turtle,” Amber giggled.

“Just back off!” Lockett barked. He swatted Lisa’s hand’s away and gestured for me to stay back.

How
were
we going to get him back up? The cast was heavy and his knee was immobilized. Josh wasn’t home - it was up to Lisa and I.

“Maybe if he puts an arm over each of our shoulders we can lift him up enough,” I said to her.

“Will you cooperate?” Lisa asked him, standing above him with her hands on her hips.

“I’ve got this,” he snarled. He grabbed for the edge of the table and curled his good leg under him, intending on pulling himself up.

Instead he tipped the table. Books, pencils, glasses and bowls slid down toward him, some falling before he released the edge and let it drop back onto all four legs.

“Jesus!” Lisa cursed. Amber jumped back with a shriek as the table landed. “Goddammit, Rob, let us help you!”

The kids didn’t call her on her language. They were far past noticing anymore - something I knew that frustrated her to no end.

“I don’t need your help.” He dragged himself backward toward the nearest wall. It was painful to watch, and I couldn’t see how he planned on using it to stand.

“Please,” I said, “I’ll feel better if you let us stand you up. Do it for me?”

“Yeah, Uncle Rob,” Finn said, “I can help, too!”

He didn’t reply. He backed himself up against the wall and remained seated, panting, glaring at all of us. He had to be in pain - why was he being so impossible?

“I can’t do this anymore,” Lisa said, shaking her head, “I can’t. This is ridiculous. You’re ridiculous and you’re stupid and I am
not
going to feel guilty when you end up breaking your other leg.”

“So? Are you kicking me out?” he asked, his eyes dark.

Both of the kids whined, “Mom,” but she waved them into silence.

“I’m going to talk to your brother about it, that’s for damn sure,” she said.

“I’ll go,” he grunted. Palms spread, he placed them behind him and used his leverage against the wall to inch his way onto his foot, sliding his back up along the surface. It was awkward and he was visibly hurting, but he managed it, glaring defiance at all four us.

“You might be more comfortable at home,” I said.

“And if he falls and hurts himself?” Lisa asked, “Then what?”

“Then it’s my fucking problem,” Lockett growled.

She threw her hands up. “Then go! I’ll pack your shit right now!”

Finally,
finally
, the anger drained out of his face as he surveyed the scene before him. It left a darkness behind, and he looked down at the floor. “Shit,” he said, “I’m sorry. Lisa…”

“Yeah. I know.” Her voice softened, too. “But I wasn’t kidding. I do think it’s time to start thinking about getting you out of here.”

I slid forward now that he wasn’t snarling like a wounded animal. “Between Mal and my sister and I, there’s usually someone in the apartment,” I said.

“I’m not an invalid and I don’t need a bunch of nurses and babysitters,” he said, though the bite was gone from his voice.

“But you are stubborn,” I said gently.

“I’ll talk to Josh,” Lisa said, “It’s up to you. You can stay if you want to, we wouldn’t kick you out.”

“I can’t keep disrupting your lives,” he said. He gestured at the kids. “Theirs especially. I’ll be fine. Katherine’s right, I’ll be more comfortable, too.” She nodded. “No hard feelings?”

“Let us help you sit on the damn couch and get whatever the hell it is you stomped out here for in the first place,” Lisa said, “Then we’ll talk about ‘no hard feelings.’”

He frowned, but ultimately he agreed.

We took him home later that night. Josh called a cab when he got out of work and rode back to our apartment with all of Lockett’s things.

Selfishly, I was happy it all shook out that way. I missed his presence in the apartment, and I always felt a little bit in the way when I spent too much time at Lisa’s.

Now, I’d have him all to myself. I could take care of him. He’d have to let me.
I’m his girlfriend, right?

○●○●○●○●○

“I slept in your bed a few times.” I blushed as I admitted it. Lockett was back where he belonged - in his room. In his apartment. His home.
Ours.
Josh left his bags just inside his door before heading right back home. Alexa was at work, Mallet was out with friends - we had the place to ourself. Finally, for the first time in what felt like ages, we were alone.

“You slept here?” he asked. He was seated awkwardly on the edge of the mattress. I stood between his knees, stroking his hair, just savoring the fact that he was there, he was okay, I could hold him and touch him again.

“I missed you,” I said, blushing.

He ran his hands up my sides, tracing my curves. “Sleep here tonight?” he asked.

“With you?” I smiled. He nodded. “Only if you promise to use the crutches,” I said. Josh had left those by the front door.

He shook his head. “No deal.”

“Think of our downstairs neighbors,” I said. “All that hopping and jumping and thudding around, how long do you think they’re gonna tolerate that?”

“I’ll think about it.”
Better than nothing
. His hands slid lower. He cupped my ass and pulled me against his chest. “Stay.”

“Okay.” I leaned down and kissed him softly. “Only because I missed you. I’ll stay for selfish reasons only.”

“I’m okay with that.” He squeezed my ass, massaging the globes of flesh as I leaned in and kissed him again - harder this time, hungrily, desperate for a taste of him.
He’s home and he’s okay
.