Chapter 7
Macie
I'm not expecting for it to hurt as much as it does when I put weight on my body. I'm used to standing for hours at a time, and it taking a toll, but I'm able to recover pretty quickly. This is something else entirely. Which I guess makes sense, since I've never had the shit beat out of me before.
"One second," I hiss, stopping for a second to catch my breath. I definitely have some bruised ribs, if not something more.
"Let me help you." His voice is full of worry and concern.
"I have to walk on my own, what am I going to do in a couple of days when I need to go to work?"
Looking up, I can see the way he's working his jaw, grinding his molars. "You're not rushing this recovery, Mace. A man much bigger than you, abused you. It's going to take time to be okay, and that itself is okay."
Again I want to cry. I know part of that is because my emotions are so close to the surface.
The fact that someone did this to me, to me.
The girl who carries pepper spray, has a stun gun, begs others to be careful when they're out at night, and swears if a man ever raised a hand to me, we'd be over.
Yet here I am, beaten and bruised by a man whose name I don't even know.
I'm struggling. Emotionally, physically, mentally, and it all fucking hurts.
"Goddamn that guy," Darren mumbles, before reaching down to grab under my knees. "Put your arms around my neck, and hang on."
I don't think I've ever been carried in my life.
Not to bed, not over a threshold, none of that.
So him picking me up, is unexpected. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I hang on as he brings me to the bathroom, and puts me down carefully.
"I can get my shorts off to use the restroom," I assure him. "Then I can get in the shower."
His lips are in a firm line as he looks at me. "I don't want to leave you in here by yourself, but I need to go check on Nic. I'll bring you something to drink and some pain relievers, okay?"
"Yeah." I nod, because if I say anything else, I might completely lose it.
"Just yell if you need something."
Again I nod, and when he leaves the room, I sag in relief.
Thankful that I don't have to pretend like I'm not hurting as much as I am.
Some of those tears? I let go of, and don't bother wiping them off my face.
I let them fall, not bothering to lick them away when they pass over my lips.
For a few moments, I allow myself those tears.
Then I firm up my chin, stand up, and take care of my business.
Within a few minutes, I've limped over to the shower, and been able to turn it on. I take off all my clothes and wait until steam starts billowing in the room. Then, I hop in, and groan as the warm water works wonders on my sore muscles.
I'm just turning the water off when there's a knock at the door. "You doing okay, Mace?"
"Yeah, I just didn't grab a towel. I wasn't sure where they are."
"Can I come in?"
I quickly shut the shower curtain, and let him know that he can.
The door opens, and my heart pounds. I'm more aware of everything today than I was last night.
He's in the room with me while I'm naked, and there's a part of me that's kind of excited about that.
My cheeks heat as I think about him holding the towel open for me last night. He'd not even bothered to sneak a peek.
"Here you go."
A hand comes around the curtain, with a towel in it. "Thank you."
"Do you need some help getting out of there?"
I hadn't needed it to get in, but getting out might be a different story. "Just stick around for a second."
With shaking hands, I wrap the towel around my body, tucking it in at my chest. Then I pull the curtain back and try to balance as I lift one foot, but it's hard.
Lifting in this direction engages the side of my body that got beat up the most, and Darren sees it before I can tell him.
He's at my side, holding my hand, and grasping me around the waist.
"I got you."
And he does. He always seems to be there when I need him. "Thank you," I say again. "I feel like I'm going to be telling you that a lot."
"You don't have to keep thanking me." He scratches at the back of his neck. "I'm going to help you whenever you need it. Let's just realize that, and move on from it."
"Okay." In between the time he woke me up, and he went to get his daughter, he's put on a shirt, and I'm sad as hell about it. He puts me down on my feet, and I'm pleasantly surprised when I put weight down and it doesn't hurt.
"Everything good?"
"Yeah, I feel a lot better. Where did you put the clothes from your mom?"
He walks out into his bedroom and grabs the bag, before bringing it back in. "Do you need anything else?"
"Toothbrush?" I raise my eyebrows as I ask the question. "I know it's asking a lot."
He laughs. "No one wants you running around with morning breath, Mace. I have a toothbrush that's never been opened."
I don't say thank you again, because he's going to rebuff it, so I just say it in my head. He walks over to the closet beside the sink and grabs it out, handing it to me.
"Anything else you need?"
"No, I'll be quick."
"Take your time. I'll be in the living room with Nic. Yell if you need help."
When he leaves, I can't help but enjoy the view. The t-shirt he's wearing kisses his strong back as he moves. I wish with everything I have that he was still shirtless, and we weren't here in a different situation.
It took me almost twenty minutes, according to my Apple Watch, to get dressed.
Which is so much longer than it normally takes, but I'm trying to give myself grace.
Now that I'm dressed, have brushed my teeth, and have taken the medicine that Darren left on the table next to his bed, I'm ready to take on the world.
But there's an intimidation to it. To knowing that his daughter is out there with him, and although she's little, she may have questions. Because I'm not sure if either of us have answers. When I leave the bedroom, I hear a noise, and the laughter of a little girl.
Walking toward it, I get to the living room, where I spent most of my night last night. "Hey," I wave at the two of them.
"Hey," Darren grins. "Nic, this is Daddy's friend, Macie. Can you say hi?" She waves her little hand at me, and I'm pretty sure this is the moment she steals my heart.
"Hi," I wave back.
"Are you hungry?" He reaches over, and pulls Nicole so that she sits in his lap, making room for me on the love seat they're sitting on.
My stomach picks that moment to growl, and my cheeks heat with embarrassment. "You could say that," I laugh.
"C'mon, let's go get you something to eat."
He stands up, putting his daughter on his hip, and I'm not sure there's ever been anything as hot as the picture they make. His hotness just amped up at least fifty more percent. "You don't have to make me anything. If you just tell me where everything is, I can handle it."
Those eyes of his lock in on mine, and I can see how irritated he is that I've even suggested it. "I take care of you, Mace. You might not be used to it, but it's what I do."
While I love what he's trying to say, I've taken care of myself for a very long time. "There's no reason I can't help. I'm not used to sitting around while someone does everything for me. It's never been the type of person I am. I appreciate it, but you have to let me help, Officer."
I've never called him that before, but I'm this close to calling him an asshole because he definitely thinks I can't handle things on my own.
The way his eyes heat, it either pisses him off, or turns him on.
I'm interested in both of those options.
He reaches up with his free hand, and rubs at his chin, before speaking.
"I don't have to let you do anything, but I'll respect your wishes. "
It's obvious it's hard for him to let others take care of the things he feels like he can. This is one of those moments where I need to show him who I am, if not, he'll continue.
"Look, I appreciate you. I know you're an older brother, single dad, officer of the law, who is used to being in charge of every single thing you do. But being a team is hot, Darren. If we hope to have some sort of relationship, we have to do it together. Now, let me know what I can do."
He blows out a breath. "You can crack some eggs for the bomb ass omelet I'm about to make you."
I can't help it, I laugh. "You are huh?"
He nods, a smile spreading across his face. "I am, and when I'm done, when you're eating it? You're going to ask me where the hell I've been your entire life. How you've eaten regular food not touched by my hands. I'm going to impress the fuck outta you."
Amusement makes my chest lighter, and for the first time since I showed up last night, I feel like everything is going to be okay.