Chapter 21 #2
Not only that, I haven’t told him that I no longer need insurance through him anymore. I have a job now. I don’t need to depend on him in that way. I’m scared to tell him and then that link we have together is gone. What if I tell him and he says, “Well, then, bye!”?
Just the thought makes my stomach sink. He’s been the most beautiful constant in my journey since the rest of my life went up in flames.
A call from an unknown number startles me.
It’s after five and phone calls at this hour aren’t uncommon now that I’ve been promoted into this role, but they still make me jump when I’m here alone.
Most people avoid picking up calls from phone numbers they don’t recognize, I don’t have such a luxury as a parent.
I always worry it could be a parent with a number I don’t have saved into my phone or an emergency from a hospital calling me regarding Noah.
Picking up in a frenzy, I bring the phone to my ear.
“Hello?” I try to sound calm, although my heart is beating at a hurried pace.
“Hi. Is this Indiana?” a male voice says on the other end.
“Yes, this is she.” I don’t recognize the voice speaking to me.
“Oh, yes, um, this is Malloy. Uh, Tucker Malloy. We met when you came down to the station with your son.”
“Oh my gosh. Is Noah okay? Is he hurt?” I try to keep the lump in my throat from forming.
“Yes, he’s fine. This isn’t about Noah,” he says immediately. “It’s about Hunter. I mean Tyler.”
Tyler? What? Is he hurt?
“What’s wrong with Tyler? Did he get injured at work?” I feel the air in my lungs escape.
“No, not at work. He was injured on his motorcycle. But he’s fine. Just a few scrapes. He’ll be okay. But I thought you should know. I found your number on his phone. We’re at Boston General.” Malloy says.
“Oh, alright. I’m glad he’s okay. But shouldn’t you let his girlfriend know? I mean, Marissa might prefer to be called.” I feel conflicted if me showing up might cause some friction.
“Marissa? Why would Marissa—ouch, Abby don’t hit me.” Malloy must cover the receiver because it’s muffled.
“Malloy? Should I still come over?” I say into the phone, unsure if he’s still on the other end. I wait a few beats until he comes back on.
Finally, he returns, “Of course, yes, I think it’s best you’re here.”
“If you think that’s best.” I really hope Malloy knows what he’s talking about.
I gather my things, wondering what I’m about to walk into, unsure how injured Tyler is from this accident and hopeful Marissa isn’t mad I’m coming to help my husband, who isn’t going to be my husband for long.
I rush into the emergency room entrance of Boston General. The waiting area is packed. I don’t see anyone that I recognize as I search for a familiar face, so I head straight to the reception area.
I reach the front desk, and wait to be noticed. The woman looks me up and down and I can tell she’s already annoyed before I open my mouth.
“What is bothering you today, ma’am?” the woman asks without even looking me in the eye. She’s got her face pointed at her screen, ready to put my complaint into her computer.
“Oh, I’m here to see someone that’s being treated. He’s already in the back,” I state, hoping that will be a relief to her that I’m not a patient and an added stress to her list.
“Sorry, but you can’t go back. You’ll have to wait until they’re discharged or sent up to a room.” She doesn’t even ask for a name or more information from me.
“I’m sorry, but I was told to come down here to see him,” I say, slightly annoyed she won’t even ask me who I’m here to see.
“Sorry, I can’t help you further, but you’ll need to—”
“I want to see my husband right now!” I say, impatience taking over.
I don’t know where that came from. Maybe it’s irritation finally spilling over with everything that’s going on. It could be the boiling point after all this time. Whatever it is, this woman is getting the brunt of my bad mood and I know later I’ll have guilt over it.
“Indy, he’s back here,” Malloy pokes his head out of the double doors that lead to the back rooms of the emergency department. I can see the smirk on his lips and I already know without asking that he heard my little outburst. Fuck my life.
I inwardly groan, wishing I could hide somewhere and not come out, but I’ve got to own up to my behavior.
“Sorry about that,” I say to the woman at the front, and she just gives me an annoyed look before she watches me follow Malloy.
Malloy winks over at the woman. “Sara, thanks so much for all your help.”
“Sure thing, Malloy. You better tell Hunter I want a batch of those snickerdoodle cookies when he’s better.” She smiles at him and I’m trying not to let my jaw hit the floor. This woman is putty in Malloy’s hands compared to the ice queen she seemed to be with me prior to my outburst.
Once I move past the doors, Malloy looks over at me and chuckles. “She’s a bit of a Crabby Patty until you give her sweets. She sort of loves us though.” He nudges my shoulder. “So, you got a bit possessive over there, huh?”
I give him a murderous look.
“Your secret’s safe with me. I promise.” He smiles, but something about it looks anything but innocent.
“Why don’t I believe you?” I tell him, giving him a side-eye.
We reach the room, where I find River, Clay, and Abby waiting outside. I can’t help the look of confusion that crosses my face.
“Where’s Marissa?” I see River and Clay look at one another with questioning expressions, while Abby looks down at the ground.
“Hunter fell off his bike, getting a few scrapes. He’ll be fine. The bike was one he was fixing up. It wasn’t the one he usually rides, which is good. He’s inside if you want to go in.” Malloy completely ignores my question about Marissa.
I look around them and nod. As I make my way into the room, I swear I hear River whisper, “You owe me fifty, Clay,” but I could simply be hearing things.
The moment I move into the room, I slide the glass door closed and Tyler looks up from his phone. His eyes lock onto mine and we stand in silence, staring at one another. I notice a crack down the center of his phone, but besides that, the phone seems to be working.
I expected him to be in a hospital gown, but that’s not Tyler’s style.
He’s opted out of wearing it and is simply topless, his tattoos now on full display.
I get to see his toned physique, and, indeed, he’s tatted like I saw on his social media posts.
But in person, it’s a whole new level. Indiana, do not drool over a newly injured man.
There is something significantly wrong with me.
I can’t help the way my eyes roam along his chest, moving down his abdomen. Malloy was right, his injuries are minimal, but I can see he has some stitches along his forearm, in addition to some scrapes along his shoulders.
“Hey,” Tyler whispers. “Who called you?”
“Malloy,” I say. “How bad is it?”
“Nothing that won’t heal.”
I stay rooted in place. “You want me to call anyone else? You need Marissa?” I ask him.
He shakes his head. “Everyone I’ll ever need is standing right in front of me.”
At his words, my heart skips a beat. Why is he saying this to me? Why did he break my heart years ago to just come back into my life and ruin me again?
I can’t risk this, especially with a kid this time.
I look down at the ground, worried the trance will suck me in and I’ll never be able to pull myself out.
“Indiana,” Tyler says my name in that way that makes me melt into a puddle.
“Yes,” I answer, my gaze planted at my feet, looking at the linoleum of the hospital floor. The speckles of blue, gray, and green enough to keep me occupied for now.
“Please look at me,” he begs.
“I think it’s best I don’t for now,” I answer honestly.
“I think it’s best we have an honest conversation for once.”
“We’ve had many conversations for years and all that got me was heartbreak.” I feel that damn lump in my throat forming.
“I think for all the words we said to one another, we never said what we really felt. At least, I didn’t.” What is he saying to me?
“What does that mean?” I ask him.
“It means that I said a lot, but I didn’t say the most important thing,” he tells me.
“And what was that?” I ask, the curiosity pulling me further into him, my gaze remaining planted to the ground though.
“Indiana, are you still with Roger?” he asks me and I can’t help my head shooting up to meet his gaze, my expression pained. “I won’t compete with another man.”
“Funny coming from a man that had another woman by his side last time I saw him,” I say on a laugh, no humor behind my words.
“Marissa is back in California with her girlfriend.” I can’t help the slight gasp that escapes my lips at his confession, while his smirk grows.
I wonder how many people know this side of Tyler.
I’ve seen his social media page where everyone has fallen in love with the carefree version of him.
But I know the real Tyler Hunter that is all cocky.
This side of him, where he throws these smiles my way, casting glances at me that feel like he’s undressing me with a simple look.
“I see. Well, Roger is still very much my boyfriend,” I tell him.
“Sounds like you have a decision to make then,” he says, biting down on his lower lip and scratching his eight pack. It’s hard not to follow his movement and he knows it.
“What decision is that?” I ask him, knowing full well I’m falling for this trap he’s set up.
“Between me being your ex-husband or your husband.” Then he crooks his finger for me to come closer and I abide to his request. Once I’m seated on the bed, only inches away from him, he continues, “If it’s the latter, just know, I won’t play this game anymore with you.
You’re one hundred percent my wife. No more walking around my feelings. ”
“Walking around your feelings?” I ask just above a whisper.
He catches his thumb over my chin and locks his eyes on mine. “That was my mistake last time. I was a coward. I’ll tell you everything. And yes, no more half-truths anymore. I’d give you everything this time around. Every fucking piece of my heart would be yours, Indy.”