Chapter 7
CHAPTER
SEVEN
Riley
Laying in bed, I scroll through the Indeed ads for job postings in different cities. As much as I loved my night with the ladies, it can’t change my need to move to a different area. Being found by my father and his club isn’t an option for me. I thought putting some major miles between me and them would keep me safe, but it seems the universe has deemed that I in fact, am not safe and might never be. Could I in theory go to the guys and tell them everything in hopes that they would indeed protect me? Yes.
Will I do that to these amazing people? Absolutely fucking not.
My father’s club is not one that you want to trifle with. They are vicious, nasty, and have no qualms about hurting everyone in a rival club. I mean, why would they when they will do unspeakable things to the ones that belong to their club just because they fucking can? Bringing anyone into that life or world is not something I will do. So, a new job and town are what I’m going to be doing.
My phone dings with a text message and unbridled excitement races down my spine.
Him: You haven’t come to the hospital.
I read that message over and over, not understanding what that means. He completely tore me down and dismissed everything that I have done for him over the last four months. Not just that, he dismissed and degraded my competence and ability as a nurse.
Me: You made it very clear that I should not be there.
It’s not even two seconds later that I receive a message back. I don’t even attempt to stop the sarcastic and bitter laugh.
Him: You know I didn’t really mean it. I was just surprised.
There is no accountability for the vile shit he had to say and the way it cut me. He’s everything that I don’t want or need. I need to cut ties with him and the people that surround him. If I needed just one more incentive to move on from this town, then this is it. I decided to give my response some time, so as to not give away the fact that I’m looking to leave.
Standing from the folded position on my queen-size bed, I stretch long and hard. I make my way over to my closet, pulling out a pair of plain black yoga pants that hug every curve making me feel good. Searching through my drawers, I look for my favorite sports bra. Not finding it, I pull on a bright pink one that was previously too small and can’t hide my smile of pride when it fits perfectly.
“Well, shit. Looks like I’ve lost some weight,” I say to myself smiling as I get my scrubs ready for my night shift at the ER.
With my newfound excitement, I text Avery to see if she wants to go for a walk, maybe even run before lunch. Not three minutes after I send that message, she calls me.
“Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend?” she asks me instead of greeting me with a hello.
“Well, hello to you too. I’m your best friend, and I’m just feeling really good today.” That's only a half lie.
“I figured after a night with the Ole’ Ladies, you would’ve been a hangover hag needing buckets of caffeine to even move.” Avery laughs.
“I was afraid of the same thing but it seems that today, that isn’t the case, and I want to get a small workout in before work tonight. Praying the dopamine dump will help me get through the night,” I inform her while shuffling through my belongings, looking for a tank top to wear.
“Fine, fine. I guess I can do that. Lord knows I need some space from work, school, and this house,” she mumbles.
“Perfect. Meet me at the track in say… twenty minutes?”
“Twenty minutes, and lunch is on you!” Avery laughs, hanging up before I can argue with her.
I shake my head with humor, and finish getting my bags ready for the evening. I pack my scrubs for after our workout, as well as an extra pair because I work in the f-ing ER, my kindle, chargers, and a handful of extra hair ties. Once I’m ready, I lock my bright blue front door and walk over to my car. Pulling up to the track twenty minutes later, I smile wide when I see Avery lounging on her tailgate.
“I swear to God, if you don’t hurry up, I’m bailing and we’re just going to lunch.” She glares, sitting up as I make it close to her.
Ignoring her words I smack her on the leg as I walk by. “Don’t be a twat. Let’s do this.”
Avery jumps off the back of her truck and follows me. We find a great pace that’ll get our heart pumping, and I’m feeling really good until Avery asks the one question I was praying she wouldn’t know anything about.
“Wanna tell me why I found out he was awake from the other girls and not you?” The tone in her voice lets me know that she is hurt from me holding that information back from her.
Her feelings being hurt isn’t something I can handle. To be honest, I was so heartbroken after the conversation with him that I couldn’t bring myself to talk to anyone. I can’t say that to Avery, due to the fact that the same night, the Ole’ Ladies from Hell’s Sacrifice were at my house.
“Truth?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Is that even a question? Who wants their bestie to lie to them? You know that no matter what, I will always want to hear the truth from you,” Avery states, linking her arm with mine and slowing our pace.
“I’m going to be leaving town,” I confess.
“Ummm. The fuck are you talking about? We’ve got a plan! I finish school and you help me run my practice one day,” Avery reminds me, practically yelling at me.
“I know, Avery. I truly don’t want to do this. It’s breaking my heart that this is my only option. I’ve got to do this. My past is catching up with me and I can’t bring that down on the club. Hell, it wouldn’t matter to them anyway. They would most likely turn me over to my enemies than have my dirty laundry sitting at their doorstep.” My words are cut short when Avery starts laughing.
“Hahaha. You’ve lost your ever-loving mind if you think, for five seconds, that the club would turn you over to anyone. Much less anyone who is intent on doing you harm. If not the club, then the Ol’ ladies. Hell, Flyboy would burn the universe to the ground to make sure you are happy and safe,” she finishes saying with a chuckle on her lips.
“If you heard half of what Flyboy said to me yesterday, you wouldn’t feel the same way as you do now.” I turn away to try and hide the pain, and the ominous thoughts of anguish those malicious words bring me.
“I don’t care what that man said. He is hurting, scared, and lashing out at the closest bystander. We both know that men, especially men that are vulnerable, say and do things that they don’t really mean.” Avery gives me a pointed look.
“What exactly is that supposed to mean? That him being a complete ass because he is in the hospital and in pain doesn’t make him accountable? That circumstance doesn’t give anyone a right to be disrespectful and vicious.” I know that’s not what she’s trying to say right now, but I just need her to lend me her unwavering support not dish out any advice.
“You know damn good and well that isn’t what I meant. I was just trying to say that maybe, just maybe, he was talking out his ass. My suggestion before you hightail it and run, is to give him a piece of your mind. We both know that once you’ve decided to do something, ain't no changing your mind… ever.” Avery gives me a sad smile.
“You got that right… completely. It’s not happening today, but when I find a new job, I’m going to be moving. Please, don’t say anything to anybody until I’ve got everything lined up,” I demand, giving her a pointed look.
“Whatever. You know I won’t make you any promises that I can’t or am unwilling to keep.” She winks, her all American smile telling me that I won’t get any more than that from her.
“Let’s get this walk done and over with so we can eat and get our asses to work.” Looping my arm with hers, we restart our walk, talking about all things unimportant and mundane.
Once we’re at the hospital, things get crazy. We’re so slammed that I don’t have time to think about leaving much less about the jackass upstairs. Around five o’clock in the morning, things start to slow down to a manageable pace. When I finally sit at the desk littered with paperwork, pins, and iPads, I lean back in my chair laying my head on the headrest. I let my eyes fall closed, trying to relax for just a moment.
“Look out, Bimbo Barbie is headed right for you,” Avery whispers, kicking the legs of my chair as she walks by.
I sit upright in my chair, pulling up the last patient file, and making sure labs, scans, or any further testing hasn’t come back. Seeing nothing that needs my immediate attention, and no call signs for patients in their rooms, I decide now is the time to use the restroom and grab myself a snack. Just as I walk past Bimbo Barbie, she stops me, and I can’t halt my train of thought with the fact that when she smiles at me, nothing moves on her Botoxed face outside of her lips.
“I heard Dr. Yummy is awake and talking,” she sneers down at me.
“I heard the same. Did you give him a special sponge bath?” I mock, moving to the side so I can walk around her.
“You know, he still isn’t going to want you, right?” she questions, grabbing my arm to keep me from escaping her.
“I’m very aware of that. Good thing for you I’m not even trying. You can have him.” The words taste like I’ve just swallowed a gallon of acid and it’s spewing out of my mouth.
“Like you even have a chance.” She flips her hair over her shoulder, clicking her tongue at me. “Just stay out of the way because once he comes back, I’m going to do my best to get him into my bed,” she warns me, and I think with the way her face is lifting, she is trying to smirk at me.
I can’t stop the words if I wanted to, and I know that what I’m about to say will have her raining her wrath down on me like the vile woman she is, yet I just can’t stop the question from spitting free from my lips, “Are you trying to sneer or scowl?”
“You snot nosed little…”
She’s cut off by an emergency announcement that blares over the intercom. “Code Blue. Immediate action required. Code Blue!”
I don’t give that bitch or whatever she was going to say another thought as I race for the room where the code was called from. Hell, if it wasn’t for the fact I was on my way out I would care that I just crossed the line with my direct supervisor. However, right now, I don’t give a damn that I commented on her looks, words, or authority… she’s a snake that needs to go back in her pit of vipers. I’m beyond over taking shit from that woman all because she was jealous of the attention that I would get from Flyboy. The last two hours of my shift are a fucking nightmare, and I want nothing more than to go home and sleep for the next month.
But somehow, I find myself on the elevator to the floor that houses none other than the very jackass I’ve been trying to avoid. When I step off onto one ugly tile floor and onto another, my feet carry me as if I have no control over them. When I make it to the nurse’s station, that looks just like the one that I left, Nurse Beverly looks up, smiling at me. “I heard you guys had a rough night in the emergency room.”
“It was one of the busiest and worst nights I’ve ever had while working on that floor. Hell, I don’t even know why I’m here.” I shrug, leaning on my elbows and propping up my chin on my fists.
“Because you can’t fight the pull of one's heart—” Nurse Beverly says but is cut off when a distressed shout reverberates from down the hall.