To Hold and to Heal (BWWM Interracial Romance) (12 page)

             
“Alden, I told you. I'm fine!” She tried to put strength in her voice.

             
“Stop!” he shouted at her, startling her, “Don't Alden or baby me! You are hurt badly and I need to get you to someone that can help you! I need to get you to a hospital!”

             
“Don't yell at me!” she shouted back and immediately regretted it. He cared about her. His anger wasn't with her. “I'm so sorry. I need to lie down.”

             
He shook his head. “No, come on. I don't care how mad you get, but you are going to the hospital. Trust me on this.” He grabbed her arm gently and pulled her. She stumbled. “Nice, I need you to walk. I can’t do it for both of us right now.”

             
She nodded and willed her feet to move. He half dragged her out of the bar. Pulling out car keys, he unlocked the car door. She noticed through a haze that he’d switched rental cars. He settled her into the passenger side of the Kia and shut the door.

             
He slid stiffly into the driver’s side, grunting softly. When he started the car, hot air hit her in the face.

             
“Tell me where to go. Where's the ER?”

             
She shivered. “It's cold in here.”

             
Alden grunted as he twisted and pulled a jacket from the backseat. He covered her with it. “You’re going into shock. It’s at least ninety-six degrees in here. Where’s the ER?” he asked again. She looked at him blankly. “Fine. I told you, I’m taking you whether you like it or not.” He pulled out his cell phone and searched for the nearest hospital.

             
She watched him, the line of his jaw tense. She reached out and pushed the phone down. “Look at me, Alden.” His eyes flicked up, lingering on the blood soaked towel and then higher to her eyes. “I can't afford to go to the ER. I can't. Please understand. I'll be fine.”

             
He touched the screen on the phone and placed it on dashboard. His voice was soft. “I can't afford to lose you. Either you can tell me how to get there or the phone will.”

             
Defeated, she curled herself around her injured hand and pointed her thumb behind her. “It's that way. The closer one. It's like ten miles away. You have to get on the highway.”

             
He nodded in relief. “Thank you.”

             
He kept talking to her, asking her questions, forcing her responses. He drove on the verge of speeding, panic creeping into every move. She could sense it. She wanted to soothe him, but she was drifting away. He reached out and touched her leg. Reminding her of his heat, his presence.

             
When they arrived, he helped her out of the car. She leaned on him, letting him walk her to the door. “Wait,” she said softly. “When we get in there, don't tell them what happened. Tell them I fell and cut my hand on the bottle. Don't tell them what happened.”

             
“Nice, your face,” he reminded.

             
“If you tell them, they'll arrest him. Please. Don't say anything. Please,” she begged. She felt weak and vulnerable.

             
He let his fingers trail down her arm and captured her hand. “I promise you, I will let you do the talking, But you need to come with me, right now.”

             
She nodded, pulling the jacket closer around her. He tugged on her hand and she started walking with him. The light of the ER a beacon in the darkness. They walked inside hand in hand. He squeezed her shoulder and pulled her closer. The ER was fairly empty and cold. They sat in the waiting room for what seemed like forever with her pressing an icepack to her bruised face. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and let her lean into him. His fingers stroked her hair. She breathed softly, her skin felt clammy.

             
They called her back after a while. Her hand stung, her face ached.  The nurse looked at her condition and then turned to Alden. “I'm sorry sir, but you can't come back with her.”

             
Nice looked at Alden. “I want him with me,” she pleaded, her voice small.

             
“I'm sorry ma'am, but its family only.” The nurse said solemnly with another curt look toward Alden.

             
Nice looked back at Alden. “Either you let him come with me or I’m leaving.”

             
Alden shook his head. “Go on in,” he whispered. “I'll be right here. I won’t leave, I promise.”

             
She shook her head. “No. You made me come here. You’re coming with me. That’s final.”

             
The nurse rolled her eyes and motioned them back. Nice clung to Alden letting him shoulder her weight. The nurse pointed her to the bed. “Put this on,” she said, handing her a gown. Then the nurse left, closing the curtain behind her.

             
“I can't get my shirt off,” Nice said. Alden stepped over quickly and helped her pull it off, moving it gently over her towel-wrapped hand. The once white cloth was dark with blood. Once free of the t-shirt, he helped her pull the gown on. He sucked in his breath when he moved to tie it. His fingers brushed the black bruises previously hid on her neck.

             
He climbed behind her on the hospital bed. The space was awkward with his leg hanging over the side. “You shouldn't…” she whispered.

             
“Don't start worrying about that now. You need me.”

             
She smiled a sad smile and curled into his body, cradling her injured hand. He stroked her face, her hair. Her hand was throbbing. He kissed her forehead. Their silence was broken by the doctor entering the room. “Let's see that hand, young lady.”

             
The doctor was a short round man. She held out her hand without breaking away from Alden's embrace. The doctor unwrapped the towel from her hand, revealing the wound. He mimicked Alden's earlier noise at the sight of it. “How did this happen?”

             
“I fell on some glass,” she replied.

             
The doctor flicked his eyes over Alden. “I'll get a nurse to stitch you up then. Is there anything else that you need me to look at?”

             
She shook her head. The doctor nodded and left the room.

             
The nurse came in moments later and cleaned her hand. The woman didn't speak, but looked at Alden with accusing eyes. She stitched Nice's hand quickly. Alden kissed the top of her head and whispered, “My god, Nice. They think I did this to you.”

             
She nodded and twisted her uninjured hand in his shirt. “I would never do this to you.” His voice was choked. “And it's killing me that you would rather everyone believed that I hurt you than for you to just tell the truth about what happened.”

             
“Alden, not right now. Please.” She closed her eyes, trying to hold back tears. They spilled out anyway from under her lids.

             
He brushed them away with his thumb. She lifted her face to look at him, the tears flowing down her face now. He kissed her, gently.

             
She moved her injured hand to touch his face, wincing when she tried to stretch her fingers. He grabbed her wrist and kissed her knuckles gently. “Here, let me help you out of this gown.”

             
He gently untied the gown and pulled it from her. He helped her into the jacket from the car. It was too big for her and he folded up the sleeves. The doctor returned in a rush. “Alright Ms. Jones, you're all stitched up.” He handed her a cup with a two white pills in it. “I've prescribed some antibiotics to ward off infection. That's your first round. You can take Tylenol for the pain.”

             
She nodded. The doctor looked at Alden again and then back to her. “Follow the exit signs to get to discharge. Five days on the antibiotics, twice a day. You'll have to see your family physician in a week to get the stitches out.”

             
She nodded again and swallowed the pills dry. The doctor left the room. Alden helped her out off of the bed and she let him lead her down the hall. His fingers found hers, slipping between them. At discharge she signed all the paperwork. Alden paid the bill using his credit card.

             
He helped her into the car then climbed in on his side. Before he could start the car she asked, “I'm so tired and need to close my eyes for a minute. Can you get back to the bar without my directions?”

             
“I'm not taking you back there, Nice,” he said.

             
“I have to go back. The window is smashed in and there's a mess to clean up. I left my phone. I have to go back.”

             
He shook his head. “I'm not taking you back there.”

             
“Alden, I'm fine. You're making this out to be more than it needs to be,” she said. She swallowed, her throat dry.

             
He picked up her hand, locking his eyes on hers. “Don’t go back there tonight. Tomorrow you can try talking me into it. But right now, tonight, I’m taking you back to my room and putting you to bed. We’ll figure all this out in the morning.”

             
She nodded and squeezed his fingers. “Close your eyes and rest. I'll wake you up when we get there. I’m going to pick up some food on the way for you too.”

Chapter Eight

             
She didn't want the fast food he offered her, but immediately after biting into the burger she was thankful for it. He rubbed her knee and urged her to eat. Her hand throbbed, her neck ached, her back, the side of her face. Everything was a big mass of pain. They ate in the car, chatting softly about nothing. When she was done, she closed her eyes and curled back into a ball.

             
The next time he woke her, they were parked in a garage and he was opening the door for her. She growled softly at him, forcing herself awake. “I can get out of the car myself.”

             
“I know,” he said, holding out his hand to her. “But it’ll be easier if I help.”

             
For once, she let herself be helped without protesting. Her body screamed in pain. She stumbled and he caught her. “Aren’t we a fine pair,” he whispered.

             
They walked slowly to his room. The hotel was nicer than the last one. It was plush and quiet. They took the elevator, avoiding the lobby. In the mirrored elevator, she caught site of her face, her reflection distorted and ugly. She gasped and touched the bruises.

             
Alden kissed the top of her head. “It’ll heal,” he said, pulling her close. The elevator stopped and he stepped out keeping the door open for her.

             
“This is a nice hotel,” she remarked.

             
“I hoped you’d think so. The reviews said the Wi-Fi was great and the pillows were soft. I’ll admit the bed is much nicer.” He slid the key card through the slot, pushing the door open to let her in.

             
The room was much nicer. There was a sofa set and a desk. His laptop was sitting on the coffee table. She walked into the room and looked around. The bedroom was separate, the white glow shining through it from the bathroom.

             
“Come on sweetheart, let’s get you into bed.” He led her towards the king size bed and helped her sit down on the edge. He handed her a t-shirt before helping her out of the jacket. He took off her bra, then her shorts, leaving her in only underwear for a moment before pulling the t-shirt over her head and body as if she were a small child. Her blood had stained his shirt, leaving dried brown splotches.

“Oh no! I ruined your shirt.”

             
“I can buy a new shirt. Here get under the covers,” he said, pulling his shirt off and walking into the bathroom. She slid under the blanket, listening to the sounds of him in the bathroom. He came back with a glass of water and a pill bottle.

             
He put the glass next to her on the nightstand and sat on the bed next to her. He opened the bottle and shook out three pills. He handed her one.

“What’s this?” she asked.

             
“Vicodin. It will help with the pain and put you to sleep for tonight.”

             
“I don't pain pills. I just need some Tylenol,” she said, trying to hand it back to him.

             
He kissed her temple over the bruised side of her face. “For heaven’s sake! Please, Nice just take it. For once in your life, please stop arguing.”

             
She sighed and swallowed the pill, chasing it with a swallow of water.

“What the hell are we doing, Alden?” she asked, pulling her knees up to her chin.