Chapter Twenty-Eight
Princess Sophia jumps up and licks my face.
Joseph has left my bedroom door open so Princess can come and go as she pleases. Then, I catch the waft of something deliciously enticing. My stomach groans so loudly that I feel the vibration run through me, so I slide out of bed.
Joseph must have brought up my luggage at some point.
I walk over, still only wearing my underwear, and find a long shirt to cover my ass.
I can’t be bothered dressing into anything else, plus it’s only Joseph, and he’s seen me naked, so it doesn’t bother me to show off my legs, and as for Danny, well, he’s not going to care, is he?
I take out my toiletry bag and wander into the ensuite, stopping in front of the mirror.
What in the actual fuck!
The woman staring back at me is a stranger.
Gaunt cheeks, dark circles so deep they look like bruises. Eyes that once held a spark are now lifeless and dull. The self-inflicted cut on my forehead has faded to a sickly yellow-gray, and my lips are cracked and peeling.
And my hair? Let’s not even go there.
That woman right there, the one staring back at me, is definitely not Deliah Norman.
That woman is someone else who has possessed my body and forced all life, joy, and happiness out. I instantly dislike this imposter and scowl at the woman in the mirror.
Shifting my focus, I unzip the toiletry bag to find my toothbrush, consciously deciding not to look at that woman in the mirror again.
I throw the toiletry bag onto the bed and walk to the hall, where the delicious aroma invades my senses.
My stomach growls again, and I inhale and then exhale slowly, readying myself for taking the stairs.
My body’s heavy, and I can’t escape the fog that’s filled my head.
I hold on to the rail and slowly take one step at a time, being careful as I’m weak, while I make my way downstairs to the kitchen.
Finally, my feet touch the cold, tiled floor. I push myself upright, steadying against the wall as I catch my breath. Everything feels off-kilter.
The walk to the dining area is short, but it feels long. When I reach the doorway, Joseph and Danny are already at the table.
Danny notices me first, his kind smile reaching his eyes. He gestures toward the empty seat across from him, where a plate and utensils are already set. I offer a slight, grateful nod in return.
He places a hand on Joseph’s, drawing his attention. Joseph looks up, and when he sees me, his smile beams.
No one says a word as I take my seat.
The table is covered in mountains of Indian food, the rich aromas making my stomach growl loudly. Joseph chuckles. I ignore him, pick up my plate, and take a little of everything, forcing myself to eat as much as I can.
When I finally lean back in my chair, I exhale a heavy breath and glance at Joseph. And with a half-smile, I murmur, “Thank you.”
He reaches out, takes my hand in his, and kisses it softly. “I’m glad you’re here. We were getting concerned about how long you’ve gone without solid food. I knew you couldn’t resist my Indian.” Joseph raises his eyebrows with a smirk.
Suddenly, the doorbell rings.
Joseph moves to stand, but I catch his hand, stopping him. “I’ll go. I’m done eating. You guys finish,” I say.
I make my way to the front door, moving slowly. Even though I’m only wearing a shirt and underwear, I don’t care—everything’s covered.
Flipping on the porch light, I open the door…
… and walk straight into a paparazzi storm.
Blinding flashes.
Shouted questions.
Fucking chaos.
I recoil, stumbling as the disorienting light swallows me whole.
“Miss Norman, is it true you have left Colter Slade to return to your ex-boyfriend?”
“What? No—” I reply, but am cut off by another person yelling at me.
“Is it true that Colter broke your heart, driving you into the arms of another man?”
I shake my head in confusion as more flashes disorient me.
“Dee, over here.”
What the hell? I’m not posing for you, douche wad!
“What are your thoughts on the fact that 12GAUGE-Slayed won’t play their most popular song, “Until the End of Time,” at their concerts anymore? Is that something to do with your brutal breakup?”
Tears prick at my eyes instantly. They burn my throat, threatening to tip over and run down my cheeks. I had no idea Colt wasn’t singing that song—our song.
They continue yelling ridiculous questions at me, and I’m so stunned I simply stand here and cry.
How the hell did they find me?
“Dee, what are your thoughts on the reports of a…” he looks down at his notepad, “… Miss Jessi Bradbrooke carrying Colter’s love child? Is that why you broke up?”
I stumble.
Am I falling?
The whole world is caving in on me.
I’m being buried alive in a ton of misinformation.
But it feels so authentically real right now that I can’t help but take the information in and try to process it.
Jessi’s pregnant?
To Colt?
Oh fuck!
I can’t breathe.
Am I losing my mind?
The tears stream as everything spins. The flashes are a constant barrage of bright lights and uncertainty.
Just in time, before I hit the floor, a pair of familiar arms wrap around me.
“Leave her alone! Get off my property. Now! You’re trespassing! If any of you come back, I’ll have you charged. Now piss off the lot of you.” I hear Joseph yell, then the front door slam.
And everything fades to black.
***
“Dee… Dee… for God’s sake, Dee, will you wake up?” I hear, then feel soft slapping on my cheek. My eyes flash wide open. Joseph’s holding me while Danny is fanning me with a magazine.
“There’s my girl. Are you with me?” Joseph asks.
A hollow ache swells inside me, filling the void with sharp, stabbing pain.
Tears spill freely as I curl into myself, my arms wrapping tight around my body.
My fingers twist into my hair, gripping hard as I rock back and forth, trying to hold myself together—trying to breathe through the fucking wreckage of my life.
“How could he?” I yell at no one in particular.
If Jessi’s pregnant, he must have been sleeping with her when we were together. You can’t have sex and find out five days later that you’re pregnant.
It only confirms that he was cheating on me the whole time.
“Fuuuck,” I scream at the top of my lungs.
I cry so hard my stomach heaves.
I can’t see.
I can’t hear.
I can’t feel.
I’m vaguely aware of being carried and gently placed on the cold tile floor of my ensuite, just in time to lurch forward over the bowl.
My stomach heaves violently, constricting so tightly I can barely breathe.
The relentless waves of nausea leave me gasping, my body wracked with shudders. It’s brutal.
“Jesus, Dee.” I barely hear Joseph as he holds my hair for me. “Danny,” he calls out.
My stomach hurts.
My body stings.
My mind burns with torment.
“What can I do?” Danny asks.
“Get Mark over here… now,” Joseph says.
The heaving won’t let up. There’s nothing left except bile burning my throat.
Joseph comforts me while I lean against the toilet bowl.
“Dee, sweetie, are you with me? Goddamn, that bastard! I could murder him for doing this to you,” Joseph hisses through gritted teeth.
Time passes, I have no clue how long, and my heaving doesn’t stop. I cough and splutter into the bowl again as I hear footsteps behind me.
“Dee, my name is Mark. I’m a doctor. I’m going to give you something to help, okay?” he asks as I rest my head on the toilet seat, feeling completely spent.
I can’t answer, and I can’t believe how much time must have passed for the doctor to even be here.
I must be delirious.
My breaths are short and few and far between.
There is some rustling, but at some stage, I close my eyes, so I have no idea what’s going on.
“Okay, a little sting,” someone says, then the pinch of a needle goes into my arm.
The toilet paper holder whirs, and someone wipes my nose and mouth with the tissue.
“The pinch skin test shows she’s severely dehydrated. Coupled with the fact she hasn’t eaten much in five days, I think I’ll set up an IV… and Danny, you can change it when you need to. I’m sure you haven’t forgotten how?” Mark clarifies.
“No, all good, brother,” Danny replies.
“Great! I’m going to prescribe anti-nausea tablets.
I will give her a few anti-anxiety tablets to keep her calm and help her sleep.
She can take them three times a day if needed.
There’s a possibility she’ll need an antidepressant, but I’ll have to conduct further testing when she’s cognizant,” Mark says.
There’s more talking, but the ringing in my ears muffles it.
Finally, I’m floating, and only when I’m placed on the bed do I realize I am being carried.
I’m lying on my back, and there’s a pinch of another needle.
It doesn’t hurt.
Maybe it does.
I don’t know.
None of it matters.
***
I hear something.
What the hell is that noise?
It’s persistent.
Annoying.
I bring my hand up to rub my eyes, and something falls on my face. My eyes open, and there’s a drip line inserted in my hand. I think I must be in the hospital for a brief moment, but then I realize I’m still in the guest room of Joseph’s condo.
The vibration starts again and takes my attention. My gaze follows the god-awful noise to my ringing cell. I turn to take hold of it, but a cramp shoots through my stomach.
Man, that hurts!
I pick up my phone through the pain and look at the caller ID.
To my surprise, it’s Daddy.
Great!
News of me answering the door at my ex’s place has probably got him all excited. Daddy will be thrilled to know he was right about him all along.
I let it go to voicemail because I can’t deal with Daddy’s shit right now.
I rest the phone on my chest, and it vibrates again, making me thankful I still have it on silent.
I look at the caller ID, and his picture flashes before my eyes.
My breathing increases, and I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping the image will disappear.
When the vibration stops, I take a deep breath.