A COWBOYS REDEMPTION

𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐒

It had been a long week in the hospital, and today was finally Wyatt's discharge day. I walked beside him down the bright, sterile hallway, the scent of antiseptic still lingering in the air. His green eyes sparkled a little.

I truly don't think Wyatt wants to leave. I've been doing CT scans on his head the past few days and, and every time I'd clear him to leave, he'd complain about another headache that would somehow keep him here just a little longer.

"So, Miss Milia, it's my last day here. Are you gonna miss me?" Wyatt asked, his Southern accent as smooth as honey.

I couldn't help but laugh, glancing back at him. "Wyatt, please."

He chuckled, looking down at me with a grin that made my heart do a little flip. "It's okay, Miss Milia. I'll miss you enough for the both of us."

"Sign the papers, Buckley," I replied, handing him the discharge form and a pen.

As he signed his name, I bit my lip, trying not to think about how his handwriting was just as sexy as he was. It was neat and bold, a perfect match for his confident demeanor.

Once he finished, I signed my part, officially discharging him from the hospital. "Well... I guess this is where we say our goodbyes," he said, his voice suddenly serious.

I looked up, locking eyes with him, and for a moment, the world around us faded. Those dreamy green eyes held me captive for a moment, and I could feel my cheeks heat up. "I guess it is."

I sighed, feeling a strange sense of sadness wash over me. It kinda sucks that he's leaving. He's made me laugh more this week than Malakai has in years.

I knew it was wrong to say that, but deep down, it was the truth. Malakai could be nice, but he lacked the butterflies that Wyatt gave me. I watched as Wyatt's eyes roamed my whole body before his eyes landed on a specific area.

"Hey, what's that on your arm?" Wyatt asked suddenly, reaching for my arm.

I jerked away, feeling panic flaring up in my chest. "Nothing," I replied a bit too sharply.

Wyatt frowned, confusion forming across his face. "Alright then."

I forced a smile, trying to shake off the tension. "Okay, um... you have a nice day, Mr. Buckley. It was nice meeting you."

"Well, I was thinkin' I—"

My eyes widened as I realized where this conversation might be headed. "Oh, would you look at the time! I'm so sorry, I have to go."

I practically sprinted down the hall, my heart racing with regret. I hated that I couldn't take his number, but I could already imagine how Malakai would react if he ever found out Wyatt and I even conversed.

Just as I was about to clock out, my phone dinged in my pocket. I pulled it out and saw a text from Sienna.

"That's never good," I muttered under my breath, rolling my eyes.

With a sigh, I walked to the break room, already bracing myself for whatever Sienna was about to yell at me about.

??°

I walked into Sienna's business, immediately struck by how luxurious the place had become. The sleek marble floors glistened under the bright lights, and the walls were adorned with elegant gold accents.

New racks of clothes lined the aisles, each piece looking more stylish than the last. The place was filled with customers, all browsing through Sienna's latest collection. I couldn't help but feel proud, seeing how far my best friend had come from the small boutique she started years ago.

"Milia!" I then heard someone yell.

I looked up and saw Sienna standing there, wearing black shades and a luxurious fur coat that matched well with her business. She started squealing, her excitement palpable. I smiled and shook my head, making my way up the stairs toward her. When I reached her, she pulled me in for a tight hug.

"Come on, let's talk in my office," Sienna said, guiding me through the store. We entered her office, and my jaw dropped at the sight. The marbled walls and the long glass table screamed luxury.

"Sienna, this is definitely an upgrade from what you started out with," I said, remembering the beginnings of her business.

Sienna laughed, a rich sound that filled the room. "I know, right? You like it?" she asked, her eyes shining with pride.

"I fucking love it!" I replied, unable to hide my enthusiasm. Sienna squealed again, pulling me into another tight hug, but I winced as pain shot through my shoulder.

Sienna quickly stepped back, concern etched on her face. "Did I hurt you?" she asked, scanning me with a worried look.

I brushed it off, trying to smile through the discomfort. "No, it's fine," I said, but Sienna wasn't convinced.

"Is that so?" she said, squinting at me with suspicion.

I rolled my eyes, attempting to change the subject. "Sienna, what'd you call me here for? You said you wanted to talk."

She crossed her arms, giving me a playful smirk. "Damn, I can't just see my best friend without wanting anything?"

I gave her a knowing side-eye. "Sienna, I know you like a book. Spill it."

She sighed dramatically. "What I wanted to talk about is..." Her voice trailed off as she lifted my sleeve, revealing the bruises. Her eyes widened, and she gasped. I jerked my arm away, but it was too late.

"Milia Amara Zorell!" Sienna shouted, her voice full of anger and concern, making her Southern accent pop out. I bit my lip, bracing myself for the lecture.

She stormed over to her desk, moving her hand through the drawers until she pulled out a gun. She cocked it back, looking back over to me. "I'm going to kill this motherfucker!" she shouted, marching toward the door.

"Sienna, wait!" I rushed to her, grabbing her arm. "Sienna, he didn't do it, I swear."

Her eyes grew wide with disbelief. "Are you seriously fucking lying to me about him right now?" she demanded, her voice shaking.

"Sienna, please," I pleaded, trying to calm her down.

"No, don't do that!" she snapped. "Milia, he fucking beats the shit out of you, and you're defending him!" She waved the gun in the air, and my heart raced.

"Stop waving that gun, please," I said, my voice trembling.

Sienna sighed, placing the gun back on the desk. The room fell silent as she took a deep breath, turning to face me. "I just don't understand, Milia," she whispered, her voice softening.

I stared at her, the weight of her words sinking in. "Milia, you are the prettiest girl I know. Why do you settle for a man who sees other women behind your back?"

"You don't know if that's true," I muttered, avoiding her gaze.

"Milia, if you defend him one more time, I swear I'll knock the shit out of you," she warned, her tone serious.

I fell silent, the reality of my situation hitting me hard. Sienna ran her hands through her perfect blonde hair, shaking her head. "Milia," she said softly, her voice breaking. I watched as tears welled up in her eyes, and she stepped closer. "What more will it take?"

I hated to see her cry. "We've been friends since we were fifteen. I never thought you would settle for something like this. What more will he have to do for you to leave him?"

My chest tightened, and I struggled to find the words.

I felt a tear fall down my cheek as I felt the weight of Sienna's words.

"I-I'm just scared to leave," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I haven't been with any other man since we were freshmen in college, Si.

I just want to be loved, but I want it to be genuine, not this. "

Sienna pulled me into another hug, her warmth comforting. "I promise, Milia, there are more men out there than just this one guy. So many men would die for you to just look in their direction," she said, wiping away my tears.

I nodded, trying to believe her. "You are worth so much more than this," she said firmly. "He's going to kill you if you don't get away."

Her words struck me hard, but I knew she was right. I was terrified of Malakai. He's done so much to me, I wouldn't even be surprised if he did anything more. "You're right. I'll leave, Sienna. I promise I'll leave. I don't know how, but I will," I vowed.

Sienna smiled, relief washing over her face. "And when you do leave, you'll have a home with me, I promise" she said.

At that moment, I realized I was never alone. The walls I had built around my pain crumbled, and I broke down in Sienna's arms, feeling all of the emotions I had pent up just pouring out of me.

??°

"So you're telling me you met a fine ass nurse in the hospital, you flirted with her for a whole week, and she ran just as you were about to ask for her number?" Akhilles asked, his eyes wide with disbelief. I couldn't help but laugh, nodding my head feeling like a fool.

"Damn, brother, you lost all your southern charm," he teased, smirking at me.

I plucked a flower from the ground, one of those pretty little daisies, and smacked him on top of the head with it. "I didn't lose shit! This girl just plays hard to get, and if you know me, Akhilles, you know I like a challenge." I grinned, cutting the bad flowers, feeling a little more confident.

"Buckie, have you ever even dated a black girl before?" Akhilles shot back, raising an eyebrow.

I looked at him, dumbfounded. "What the hell does that matter for? I ain't never discriminated, brother."

He smacked his lips, giving me a side-eye. "You wouldn't even know how to handle that."

"Oh, I'll handle it alright," I scoffed, crossing my arms.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," he said, rolling his eyes at me.

Just then, the door swung open, and we both looked up to see my grandma walking in.

"What are you two knuckleheads talkin' about in here?" she asked, her voice warm and teasing.

I walked over and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Nothin' much, Grandma."

Akhilles scoffed, "Oh, nothing Ms. Heidi, it's just that your grandson is crushing on the nurse from the hospital."

He leaned in to kiss her on the forehead, and she turned her gaze on me, smiling wide. I rolled my eyes and headed back over to the garden, snipping flowers already knowing where this conversation was about to go.

"Oh Buckie, you have a crush? What's this lady's name?" my grandma asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Grandma, she rejected me, so it doesn't matter," I said, trying to brush it off.

Akhilles jumped in, "Her name is Milia."

My grandma gasped. "Oh, that's such a pretty name!"

"Yeah, well, she's a pretty gal," I replied, feeling a mix of pride and embarrassment.

"Oh Wyatt! Maybe you just need to do something nice for her," Grandma suggested, her voice laced with that familiar matchmaking tone.

I rolled my eyes again. "No."

"Come on, Wyatt. Just a few minutes ago, you were drooling over how beautiful she was. Go ahead, send her a couple of flowers," Akhilles encouraged, grinning wide.

"Leave me alone about it, alright?" I snapped, but I couldn't help the smile creeping onto my face.

Grandma laughed, "Buckie, you know we're only kiddin' with you. Come on, Akhilles, I have a project I need you to do. Let's leave Mr. Grumpy alone."

"Yeah, bye Mr. I-got-rejected-now-I'm-giving-up," Akhilles teased, and I felt the heat rush to my cheeks as I stood up, ready to chase him down.

"Watch it, or I'll smack you with a flower again!" I shouted, but he was already bolting out the door, laughter echoing behind him.

I paused, hands still busy with the flowers, my mind racing with thoughts of Milia. She was such a beauty, I couldn't get her out of my head. The way her dark skin glowed, and that vanilla sented lotion she wore. I couldn't stop thinking about her and I'd only known her for a week.

I don't know what it is about her, but she's just...

Different.

I shook my head, snapping out of my thoughts. I looked at all the colors around me, the blooms were bright, and I couldn't help but wonder.

"What's the worst that can happen?"