Chapter Eight
I’m allowed to leave the hospital the following evening under strict orders to stay in bed for a few days. Ian meets me at Mason’s house with a bag of clothes and my phone.
“Good,” Mason tells him. “You’re just in time to help me get her stubborn ass into bed.”
“I’ll sleep in the guest room,” I insist, starting down the hall. I make it about three steps before I’m scooped up and cradled against Mason’s chest.
“My room has an attached bathroom. You’re staying there.” I don’t have the strength to argue anymore as he carries me down the hall to his room.
Ian grins at me, and I flip him off while Mason places me on the bed and tugs off my shoes. Leaning to kiss my cheek, Ian puts my bag beside the bed. “I can see you’re in good hands, Ev, so I’m going to go. I’ll come by after work tomorrow.”
“Okay,” I reply, lying back. Just the trip from the hospital has left me exhausted.
“Call me if you need me. Love ya.”
“Love ya.”
Mason slips his fingers under the waistband of my sweats as soon as Ian’s gone. “Don’t.” I resist, twisting away. The movement sends a sharp pain through my back.
He shakes his head at my gasp. “Evie, you’re going to hurt yourself. I’m just trying to make you comfortable. You’ll burn up in those sweats.”
Giving in again, I allow him to remove my pants and sweatshirt. He pulls one of his t-shirts over my head and covers me with a fluffy comforter. The bed dips as he sits beside me. “Better, love?”
“Mmm Hmm, thanks.” I snuggle into the bed, fighting to keep my eyes open.
“Get some sleep and we’ll talk in the morning. Just call for me if you need anything.”
“I will.” I feel his soft lips against my forehead as my eyes slam shut.
When I wake, the room is dark and my pain is back with a vengeance. My head feels like an overinflated tire, and my back is full of needles. Mason hears my moan when I try to roll over. “You okay, baby?”
“Hurts.”
“Your head?”
“And my back. Fuck, everything. I need to lie on my side, but it hurts too bad to turn over. Why am I getting worse?”
“They doped you up pretty good before we left the hospital, but that was nearly twelve hours ago. The pain meds have worn off. Lie still a minute.” He dashes to the kitchen for a bottle of water, then grabs a container of pills from the bedside table.
Gently, he helps me sit up and scoots to sit behind me so I can lean back against his chest while I swallow two pills.
Strong arms wrap around me and I’m surrounded by his warm scent. “Just relax and give the medicine a few minutes to work.”
I can barely make out his tattoos in the dim room. “Why flowers?” I murmur.
“You don’t like them?”
“They’re beautiful. I just thought there may be a story behind them.”
His chin rests on my shoulder as he responds. “More than one story, love. Each flower stands for something.”
I trace a purple flower on his bicep. “What’s this one stand for?”
“Purple hyacinths are given as an apology.” Oh, what’s he sorry for?
“This is a magnolia.”
“Yeah, it represents perseverance and stamina.”
“Well, you have no shortage of that.”
His deep chuckle makes me grin. “You sure know how to test it. Are you feeling better?”
“Mmm Hmm, high as a giraffe’s tit,” I slur, and Mason laughs aloud. He stretches out beside me, and I lie down on my side, resting my cheek in the crook of his arm. Whew! That pill is kicking my ass. My mind is full of fog and I realize I’m falling asleep again. “I really fucked up.”
“No, baby, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I fell in love with a cheater again.”
* * * *
Mason’s side of the bed is empty when I wake.
Shit. No wonder, it’s nearly noon. Those pills wiped me out.
I feel a little better, my head is bearable, but my whole body still aches.
Slowly, I manage to make my way to the bathroom to pee.
My image in the mirror is disgusting. Nearly three days without a shower has left my hair limp and oily.
A large purple bruise covers my temple, stretching from my cheekbone to my hairline. I’m grateful to find my toothbrush on the counter and waste no time brushing my teeth. After pulling my hair into a ponytail, I hear Mason call my name from the bedroom. “Coming,” I reply.
“You should’ve waited. I’d have helped you.”
“I’m okay. What’s all this?” A large tray laden with food waits on the bedside table.
“You need to eat. Are you hurting?”
“Not as bad as last night.” When he picks up the pill bottle, I shake my head. “I don’t want knocked out again.”
“Lightweight,” he teases. “Put some food in your stomach and then just take one. It won’t fuck you up so bad. Then you can soak in a hot bath to help your sore muscles.”
God, he’s being so sweet. “Okay, look, Mason…”
“Eat, baby, then we’ll talk.”
“Okay.”
“If only you were always this agreeable.”
“Give me a day or two to recover, then you won’t be able to boss me around.
” I laugh. Once I start eating, I realize how hungry I am and scarf down the oatmeal, toast, and banana in record time.
I can hear Mason running a bath and a lump forms in my throat.
He’s been right beside me the whole time, just like he promised.
How can he be so caring and sweet, then run to other women?
I don’t argue when he pulls off my t-shirt and pushes my panties to my feet so I can step out of them. “Oh, Evie.” His voice is low and tortured as he takes in the bruise stretching from my back around to the right side of my chest. Another covers my left hip.
“I’m okay.” He holds my hand as I step into the hot water. The tub is massive and the water reaches my chin when I lie back. “You don’t have to babysit me. I’ll be fine.”
“And miss out on this view? Even covered in bruises, you’re stunning, Evie.”
“Mason, please. You’ve been great, but I can’t…”
“Shh. Let me show you something and explain before you finish that sentence.” He produces his phone and holds it up where I can see the photo of him with his arm around a blond woman.
He flips through the remaining pictures that were mailed to me, then zooms in on the blonde’s face. “Look at her. Does she look happy?”
On closer inspection, I see her eyes are red and puffy. “She looks like she’s been crying.”
“How about here?” It’s the one of Mason’s hand on the shoulder of a tall brunette. “Look romantic? Like lovers in the sunshine?”
I close my eyes, soaking in the hot water as it soothes my muscles. “She looks miserable. What’s your point? Are you trying to tell me your stalker caught you breaking up with your harem for me?” Does he really think that’s much better?
He snorts. “No. I was never with them. You know how most of the women feel when they come to Striking Back. They’re heartbroken and terrified.
I meet with each woman in a public place the first time for an intake interview, somewhere they feel safe.
That’s what the pictures show. I’m reassuring them I can protect them. ”
I study the photos again. “None of these women are living at your shelter,” I point out, sitting up carefully so I don’t slosh water onto the floor.
Mason grabs the shampoo as I reach for it and turns on the shower attachment to wet my hair. “The blonde woman is named Tracy Long and she’s at S.B. She moved in the day you were attacked. The tall woman decided she felt safer out of state so we sent her to a sister shelter in Florida.”
“And the last woman?”
“Backed out and went home to her husband.” His hands feel so good lathering my hair while I remain silent, thinking it through.
“You haven’t been with anyone else?”
“No, baby.” He gently washes my back before handing me the cloth so I can finish. “Ready to get out?”
I nod, and he takes my hand, helping me out of the tub. Before I can protest, he dries me off from head to toe with a fluffy towel and helps me dress. I wrap him in a hug. “I’m sorry I accused you.”
His chin rests on my head. “I understand how it looked.”
“But I don’t think I can keep doing this. I just can’t handle a relationship right now. I’ll screw it up, and you’ll end up hating me.”
His large palms cup my jaws and bright blue eyes burrow into mine.
“I could never hate you. This isn’t easy for me either.
We have the same abandonment issues. We just cope differently.
You try to leave before you get left, and I hold onto to what’s precious to me with all my might.
I’m overprotective, and I know it can be smothering, but I don’t cheat. You can trust me.”
His lips part mine with the softest of kisses, and his next words tear down any remaining doubt that I’m in too deep to see out. “I love you, Everly. Please stop running from me.”
My tears overflow and I can’t stop them. “I’m sorry. You’ve been so good to me. I should’ve let you explain.”
“It’s okay, love. You’ve had a terrible week.
Just let me take care of you. Everything will be okay.
I’m right here beside you.” His strong arms wraps around my waist and he leads me to the couch in the living room, already made up with pillows and a blanket.
“We’ll just hang out and watch movies while you rest. Ian will be coming by in a few hours. ”
“Mason.” I grab his arm, pulling him down beside me before he can walk away.
“I love you, too.” His eyes light up and a wide smile blooms across his face.
He pulls me into his lap, kissing me in that long slow way I love, and I feel something inside me loosen and relax.
I’m in love with him. He loves me. We’ll be okay.
We spend the next few days together while I recover.
Mason settles in beside me on the couch, a worried expression on his face. “Everly, I need to talk to you about something. I was going to wait until you were well, but I think you need to know.”
Turning to press my back against the arm of the couch, I pull my knees to my chest. This doesn’t sound like good news.