13. Hazel
THIRTEEN
Hazel
“So how come ‘lover boy’ isn’t picking you up?” Olivia makes a face from where she’s gathering my clothes from the day of the attack.
It’s been two miserable days in the hospital, and I’m finally getting released. My head still hurts plenty, and I have a slew of medications I need to take, but at least I get to eat real food again.
“Because he had a work commitment. He’s escorting a woman to her divorce hearing. Her soon-to-be-ex is violent, and I insisted he go help her. I have you, after all.”
Olivia smiles, putting her fingertips to her chest. “Who me? Why, yes, you do. And I suppose I can let that one slide. Good cause and all.”
Chuckling lightly, I sigh. “Thank you. And thank you for understanding about all… this .”
I gesture around myself as I say, “this,” and Olivia finishes shoving the clothes in a bag and walks over to me.
“Look,” she wraps an arm around my shoulder, “I’m not going to pretend this isn’t super weird.
But I’ve known you for a while now, and it pisses me off to no end that I was here in Red Lodge when you were nearly trafficked in LA.
If moving in with your ex-turned-bodyguard keeps that from happening again, I can stomach it. ”
“I appreciate it. Really .” I look down at the bag of clothes Olivia is holding, remembering the feeling of my head being smashed into the wall. “Umm, you can probably throw those out. I…I can’t bring those home.”
Her brow furrows, and Olivia squeezes me against her. “Oh, hun. You sure?”
I nod. “I’m sure.”
“Okay, no problem.” She walks over to the large waste bin that’s labeled hazardous materials in the corner of the room, shoving the bag inside. “Done and done.”
A genuine laugh leaves me this time, and I smile. “Thank you.”
“Any time, babe. Now, let’s get you to the apartment so you can get your stuff over to Easton’s.”
We arrive at my apartment, soon to be my old apartment, and Liv helps me inside to gather up what I need to bring to Easton’s house.
“Alright, girly. You’re not supposed to bend over a bunch, so how about you grab your toothbrush and shit, and I’ll pack a suitcase for you?”
I’m already woozy and tired, so I grin gratefully. “Yes, please.”
“And don’t worry, I’ll be sure to pack the nice panties.”
“Olivia!” I scold, wishing I had the strength to lob something at her.
She just smiles and wanders off down the hall toward my bedroom. I follow after, albeit much slower, and walk past her as she stands in front of my bed with a suitcase, heading for the bathroom.
I have to snag the travel bag from underneath the sink, and even though it’s only a moment, my head does not appreciate the way blood rushes to it.
“Oh, lord.” I wobble on the toilet, where I plunked down, but I manage to get my bag so that I can load it up with toiletries.
“Okay, so I packed enough pants and shorts to last at least a week, so you can just do laundry after that or have Easton swing by and grab more stuff.”
“Thank you, Liv.” My voice sounds thready, and before I realize it, Olivia is in front of me in the bathroom.
“Oh, hun.” She kneels on the floor in front of me, and I offer a weak smile. “Sorry, this is harder than I thought it would be.”
“You’re recovering from a bad concussion, sweetie. Don’t over-exert yourself.”
I feel her hand on my knee as she pats it, my eyes closed. After a moment, I open my lids again, and Olivia is staring at me, clearly worried.
“I’m okay. Really.”
“Except you aren’t. Someone hurt my best friend, and he’s still out there. Nothing in the world about that is okay.”
That persistent feeling of dread I’ve been carrying for years, especially these past few weeks, hangs over me, and I sigh.
“You’re right, but what more can I do?” I shrug. “I’m moving in with Easton to be safe, pretending to be dating him…the police have nothing on the attacker because he wore a mask and gloves. There were no prints or DNA. As much as I hate to admit it, Easton was right. I have to do this.”
Olivia grimaces slightly, her eyes going to the floor before flicking back up to mine. “How are things with Easton? Are you really okay with this? I can take you in any day.”
“I know, Liv. I do. And it’s…as good as it can be. It’s confusing and overwhelming, but I can’t deny that I appreciate the help. Easton is trained to deal with this kind of thing. I won’t lie and say that doesn’t make me feel a bit better.”
“I get that, hun. I do. If this truly is the work of Neil James, which I definitely think it is, too, then you need the help. I’m glad you’re not keeping it to yourself anymore. There’s no telling what that asshole wants, but we both know it ain’t good.”
My guts swirl as I consider everything Neil might want from me. I ruined him, got him locked up, and took away so much money by halting his business. He strikes me as the type of guy to put money at the top of his priority list.
I also consider that I am, in fact, choosing to live with my ex-boyfriend, whom I’ve still been hung up on for years. And I’m supposed to be babysitting his niece.
“And there’s Jade to think about in all this.” I meet Olivia’s eyes. “I’m terrified that something will happen to her because of me."
“I know, honey. I’m scared of that, too, to be honest. But…as much as it pains me to say this again , I trust Easton to at least protect you. I just want you to be damn careful—with that Neil asshole and your heart.”
Leaning forward, I pull Liv in for a hug. “I will. I promise. I’m just so glad I have someone like you to help me out, too. You’ve always been there for me, and it means the world that I can be honest with you. I hate lying like this.”
“I know you do, girl. I get it.” She stands, pulling me to my feet after her. “Let’s get packed up and head over. You can get settled in the new place.”
“You’re the best, Liv. I love you.”
She grins at me, pulling me under her arm and out of the bathroom to the bed. “I love you, too.”
By the time Liv drops me off at Easton’s, I walk inside to the smell of him cooking dinner. I seem to remember something about him not being great at it, but my mouth is watering at the scent.
I set my two bags down by the door, and walk into the kitchen to see Easton busy at the stove.
He doesn’t notice me, and for a few seconds, maybe a minute or two, I just allow myself to enjoy how easily he moves through the space, getting what he needs while stirring whatever’s on the stove.
Damn, he’s pretty good at that.
The thought sours slightly as I remember what I’m doing here. I’m supposed to be pretending to be his girlfriend, one he has living with him.
Hell, I’m supposed to be his girlfriend in reality. I mean, aren’t I? Everything was going so wonderfully, and then he had to leave.
Why didn’t you come back?
I could be doing this with him if he’d found me when he got out. I could be actually living here and maybe not getting attacked by one of Neil’s men.
Hell, would Neil have even found me at all if I was with Easton?
Of course, I know the answer. No. He got me because of that fake dating app.
My guts churn, and I feel a wave of exhaustion rush over me. I don’t blame Easton for what happened. I mostly blame myself for being stupid enough to allow myself to get kidnapped.
Still…
It wouldn’t have happened if we were together back then. I hate myself for thinking it, but I can’t help it.
Dammit.
“You’re here.”
I jump slightly, looking up from the floor where I’d apparently glued my attention.
“Oh, hi. Yes. Liv just dropped me off.” Easton runs an appraising gaze across me, a crease forming between his brows. “I’m alright. Just tired.”
“Right.” Easton seems to process everything in less than a second and then rushes through turning off the stove and getting my bags from near the door. “Let’s get you off your feet so you can rest.”
“Okay.”
I nod, offering a slight smile because it’s admittedly hilarious to see Easton running around like a nervous mother hen.
With my bags in his grip, Easton holds out his other hand to guide me down the hallway. I’ve been here nearly every day since I started helping with Jade, so it’s not like I don’t know where I’m going.
Still, as he looks back at me, his foot on the first step to go upstairs, I take his arm.
It’s nice to have someone to lean on, and if I’m honest, I need the support to make the climb.
And I guess I mean that metaphorically, too.
“Okay, I made up the guest room next to mine so if you call out for something, I’ll hear you.”
“Easton, I have a concussion. I’m not an invalid.”
He rolls his eyes at me, walking down the hall with me in tow before stopping at the guest bedroom door.
“You’re also still recovering. You need to take it easy. Don’t make me use the ‘dad’ voice.”
I laugh, swatting at him. We’ve been calling his serious tone the “dad voice.” He only uses it with Jade when he has to, and I need to remind him that I’m not a kid.
“Ugh, you’re insufferable.” I shake my head, still smiling, and wander into the guest room. “Oh, wow.”
I freeze as I step inside. Easton has transformed this room from what I saw before. It’s no longer the simple, bare essentials room for the guests he admitted to never having.
No, it’s like this perfect little suite for helping me recover.
“There’s a first aid kit in the bathroom with fresh bandages, and I’ve made sure to stock plenty of towels and put another hamper in there so you don’t have to go back and forth.”
Stepping further in, I eye the bathroom to my right, seeing the set-up Easton has prepared.
I hear ustling sounds behind me as Easton sets down my bags and walks to the bed on the far wall.
“I also made sure to put a basket of necessities right here. You won’t have to get up and go looking for things.”
Checking out the basket, I see that it’s chock full of stuff—the remote, to both the TV and the fan, magazines, snacks, including my absolute favorite, Bugles.
It’s a family-size bag, so I’m not about to run out any time soon.