Page 481 of Summer Heat
My steps are wide as I walk in and head for the kitchen. To the tile floor where it will be easy to clean up.
“Was there blood in the alley?” I ask Addison in a pained voice that I can’t control and look behind me as I walk. Nothing’s spilling onto the floor. Not a drop. My shirt is soaked with blood, but hopefully there’s nothing that will lead the cops up to Addison.
“A lot of it,” she answers me as she rips open the cabinet door and pulls out a roll of paper towels.
“Did it lead up the stairs?” I ask her breathlessly and then wince from the pain. Fuck! Make it stop. Please.
She looks at me wide-eyed before realizing I was talking about my blood. Not the asshole who dared to put his hands on her. She visibly swallows while shaking her head frantically. “No, nothing.” She winds the paper towels around her hand before giving me the bundle of them. Her hands are still trembling. My poor Addison.
I take a quick look, as quickly as I can. Looks like the bullet exited cleanly. The wound isn’t the problem. It’ll bleed, but it’ll heal. It’s the infection that’ll kill me if I don’t have one of the guys take a look at it.
“Come sit,” she tells me while also reaching for my shirt. “Sit down,” she commands again. Her hands are shaking and her voice trembles, but she’s trying to be strong.
I reach out and grab her hand to stop her. My blood smears on her soft skin. “I’m fine,” I say to try to comfort her.
Addison shakes her head with tears in her eyes. “Sit down and let me take care of you.” She swallows her tears back and adds, “If you won’t go to the hospital, it’s the least you can do.”
A breath leaves me and makes me feel weak.
Another and my hand releases hers, but she doesn’t look at it. She doesn’t even wipe the blood away; she’s still searching my eyes for approval.
Nodding, I take a step back and push the chair at the kitchen island far back enough to sit.
I watch her face the entire time she helps me pull my shirt off. She cares about me still. I know sh
e does. She’ll forgive me.
“Didn’t you say you’d hate me forever?” I ask her. Maybe I’m delirious. I don’t know why I push her.
“I said I’d never forgive you,” she tells me flatly and doesn’t look me in the eyes. Instead she pulls the wad of paper towels away, which are mostly soaked with blood and she quickly balls up more and presses against the wound.
“But you came down to see me,” I say without thinking. “It had to mean something.” The hope in my chest falters with her silence.
And when she does speak, its light dims.
“It means I was ready to say goodbye.”
“I don’t believe you,” I tell her without hesitation and she looks up at me teary eyed.
“Don’t cry,” I command weakly. “I didn’t want to upset you.”
She sucks in a breath and blinks the tears away, but pain is clearly written on her face.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper as she wipes the tears from her eyes. “I didn’t mean for this-”
“Oh, shut up. You couldn’t have known that this …” her voice breaks before she can finish and she closes her eyes and struggles to calm her breathing.
“It’s fine, Addison,” I try to reassure her, reaching out even though it sends a lance of pain through my chest. I run my hand down her arm and then pull her in closer, positioning her between my legs.
“It’s okay,” I whisper into her hair and then plant a small kiss on her temple as I hear sirens outside. She opens her eyes and looks to the far side of her living room, where the alley is just below.
“They may knock, but you don’t have to answer,” I tell her softly, and she only nods once, her eyes never moving.
“I’m sorry. I can’t say goodbye to you,” I tell her as I wish I hadn’t ever come back to the bar. I wish I hadn’t brought this on her. She doesn’t know. I’m sure she thinks it was a random mugging or attempted rape. She has no idea. But I know there’s no way it’s a coincidence.
“I wish I could say goodbye to you again. I wish I could tell you I’ll let you go, because it really is what a good man would do.”
“Here you go with words about good and bad men when you don’t even know the difference.” Addison’s tone is flat but there’s the hint of a smile waiting for me. I can feel it.
