Forever Came Calling

by B. C. Falls

  “I’m fine,” I tell him.

  “You say that a lot.”

  “You don’t talk much.”

  “I talk to you,” I’m momentarily thrown off because it’s true. He talks to me. We talk nonstop all day long, even if it’s just a couple words here and there, but we talk more than he talks to other people. “Please Royce?”

  “Fine,” I say as I lead him back out of the bathroom, but I go into my closet first. I pull on a red thong this time then head back out to the bedroom. “Where is your shirt?” I ask because I can’t see anything. He tosses me my glasses, which I barely catch, then he points to the chair near the door. “When did you bring our clothes up here?”

  “After you fell asleep.” I pull his shirt on but don’t button it up. I’m drowning in it and it smells just like him.

  I walk back to the bed and find him grinning at me. “Cuff,” I say, holding my hand out. He hands it over to me and I slide my arm through it. “You press the green button once it’s on,” he does it. We wait a good two minutes until it’s done. “It’s a little high, but it’s not dangerously high,” I tell him.

  “Do you need another pill?” he asks.

  “No Dane. It’ll go back down.” I slip the armband off then button up his shirt. “Do you want some food?” I ask, but he just shrugs. I climb into his lap and pull his head up so he’ll look at me. “Will you stop it, please? I’m okay. I’m perfect. Well, not perfect, but my heart is beating and my head is fine. So please stop it.”

  He lifts his head and kisses me. Before I can get lost in the kiss and the way his body feels against mine he lifts me and drops me next to him. “I have to go to work.”

  I grab for his arm but he’s too quick. “Dane.” He doesn’t turn around as he goes into the bathroom and turns the shower on. “Whatever,” I mumble. I go downstairs and try to ignore the urge to fight with him about this morning by getting breakfast together.

  I turn on some music. My headache is slowly going away, but my stomach is dying for food especially since I took my pills. I start cooking the potatoes first, then drop the bacon into the oven because I honestly don’t want to wait for it. More so than not, I cook the bacon on a pan. The music is too loud for me to hear Dane come up behind me. “Smells good,” his arms wrap around me but I shrug him off before he can pull me in. “Royce.” I go to the coffee pot and start it up, luckily I have the smarts to keep it always ready to go.

  “Do you want a cup?” I ask.

  “I have work,” he says.

  “Then go, Dane,” I turn and look at him. He’s watching me closely trying to see how I’ll react to every move he’s going to make.

  “Do you want to fight?” he asks. “I’ll fight with you all damn day if it makes you happy.”

  “I don’t want to fight. I also don’t want you to worry about me every second of every day. I don’t want you to look at me like I’m weak or not kiss m—” he rushes to me and smashes his lips against mine. It’s harsh, rough, and everything I wanted it to be. He lifts me up on the same counter he ate me out on last night and forces my legs to open so he can be as close as possible to me.

  “I’ll never not kiss you or fuck you,” he bites my bottom lip and tugs on it. I moan as I pull on the waist band of his jeans so he’ll understand what I want. He let’s go of my lip long enough to say, “I have to be on shift in twenty minutes, Royce. I can’t right now, but I will be back later.” Then he shoves his tongue into my mouth and I whimper at the contact. I never fucking whimper.

  “You kill me you know that baby?” I ask. His grin let’s me know he likes that I called him baby. He always calls me that, but I’m not one to use pet names all the time. I lean my forehead against his and smile a little, “Don’t treat me differently.”

  “I promise to try not to.”

  “Thank you,” I kiss him just because he’s mine and I can. “Be safe.”

  “I will.” When he pulls away he leaves me on the counter and strides out of my house with nothing but his boots and jeans on. I do a little happy dance at the fact that I won his shirt and the morning.

  Despite my overwhelming need to prove to Dane that I am capable of handling my blood pressure problems, I still give my doctor a call and make an appointment. After a good breakfast, a quick shower, and two hours of waiting I’m finally in one of those lousy rooms they put you in to see the doctor. I hate meeting a new doctor and answering every question under the sun, but it’s important that this all get’s put on record. It could’ve been a lot worse this morning.

  There is a knock on the door, then it opens just slightly “Royce Puckett?”

  “Yes, come in.” The woman that enters completely throws me off guard. She’s a good five six with a small frame. Her hair is almost bleached blonde, her eyes a deep blue, and I’m pretty sure doctors don’t have tattoos all over their arms, but she sure does. She isn’t wearing a lab coat but a blazer that has the sleeves rolled up. Her pants are black and she’s got on a pair of sneakers.

  “Hi, I’m Doctor Maddie,” she sticks her hand out to me and I shake it. “I know what you are thinking.”

  “You do?” I ask.

  “Yes. Where’s my lab coat?” she nods her head like she totally knows what I’m thinking. “I just came from a meeting and I left it in my car. So you get casual me today,” she smiles brightly.

  “Awesome?” I say, but it’s honestly more of a question.

  “Totally,” she looks down at the folder in her hands. “Okay, so you’ve got high blood pressure and you’ve had a headache this morning with a nose bleed?” she looks up at me. “How are you feeling now?”

  “Good. I took my pills after I woke up and I’ve taken my blood pressure a couple times, it’s a lot lower.”

  “Does this always happen when your blood pressure is high?”

  “No, it’s rare.”

  “Okay. Well, what happened in the last twenty-four hours?”

  I feel my cheeks heat, “Well I started seeing this guy and…”

  “Oh,” she smiles. “Well, I’m happy for you. It’s crazy hard to meet great guys these days,” she says quietly. “Plus, I just moved here.”

  “Me too,” I say with a bright smile. “When did you move here?”

  “Well I moved back. I kind of grew up here. Wait,” she looks at me questioningly, “Do you know Dane Stone?”

  “He’s my boyfriend.”

  “Oh wow. I’m Maddie Stone,” she sticks her hand out to me. “I didn’t realize he was dating.”

  I take her hand again with a laugh, “We started about two months ago, it just got serious though.”

  “Well I’m happy to meet you. He doesn’t talk much.”

  “Oh, I know it.”

  She folds the folder, “Like I told Dane this morning, sometimes the headaches and nose bleeds happen, but it is rare as you already know. I’m glad you came in for a check up. Let’s get some blood work and we’ll put you on a controlled blood pressure measurement. I’d like to see how it ranges from certain times a day. I know that’s a pain, but it’ll help me get a better idea as to what we are dealing with. I’ll also give you another prescription,” she starts writing on her note pad. “This one I believe is a better medication than the one you are on. It helps keep you maintain a more controlled range. Plus, I saw that you’ve been on the same one for about two years now which could also mean that it’s stopped working since you’ve aged.”

  “Oh okay,” I say nervously. “That’s a lot.”

  “I know, but we’ll be keeping you healthier this way. I will also recommend some dietary changes. Don’t eat anything that’ll make your blood pressure rise. I’ll have the nurse email you a list of suggested restrictions. You don’t have to be diligent about them, but cutting back is always good,” she moves over to the table and grabs a blood pressure cuff. “I’m gonna check you one more time before I let you go.”

  “Okay.”

  She puts the cuff on my arm and takes it quickly. “It�
�s a little higher than I’d like, but I bet that’s my fault,” we both laugh. “Let’s have you back in say, two weeks?” she asks.

  “Sure!” She stands and hands me a piece of paper with a prescription written on it. “Now…” she trails off.

  “Now?” I ask.

  “Tell me about yourself.”

  “Uhhh,” I’ve never met a sister before. Jeff didn’t have a lot of family and the little he did have he didn’t talk to. “What do you wanna know?”

  She starts laughing, “I’m just kidding with you, Royce,” she takes a seat in the only chair in the room. “I don’t play little sister very well, but you seem awesome. We should do lunch.”

  “Cheezus, way to put me on the spot,” I run a hand through my hair, “I’d love to do lunch.”

  “How about Wednesday?”

  “I work at the high school if you can get over there. I’ll have an hour for you.”

  “I know that place well. Let’s do it,” she smiles wide and I suddenly see the resemblance. She has the same smile as Dane, but where he is amazingly tan, she is not. They don’t have a lot of similarities, but I see it.

  “Okay then,” I stand up from my place on the table. “Thank you,” I reach my hand out to her again.

  She stands up quickly “Oh, we’ve shaken enough hands. Come here,” she pulls me in for a hug. “Sorry, I’m a hugger.”

  “It’s okay,” I say with a laugh. We both pull back. “You have my number. Just call if plans change with lunch.”

  “Will do,” she smiles wide.

  When I thought about meeting Dane’s family it definitely wasn’t like this. I knew that he had a sister and both of his parents still, but I wasn’t sure about their relationship. Dane is so different from her. He’s quiet and brooding, yet such a great man. Maddie has a sense of humor and is extremely outgoing, but I guess doctors have to be.

  I check out with the nurse and when I step out of the office I’m momentarily shocked. “What are you doing here?” I ask Dane. He’s leaning against his cruiser in uniform with his big arms crossed over his chest totally brooding. Hot brooding.

  I walk up to him, “You said you were fine,” he says with a tone I have never heard come from him before. I’m guessing it’s his cop voice, rough and stern.

  “I am fine. I just came in for a check-up.”

  “Because of this morning?”

  “Yes. It’s rare that it happens, but I needed to check in with your sister anyways.”

  He sits up straight and unfolds his arms, “You met Maddie?”

  “Yes. She’s my doctor,” he runs his hand down his cheek before he scratches it. I’ve seen him do it only a couple of times before when he’s nervous about something. “What?”

  “What what?” he asks.

  “You knew she was a doctor and worked here when you pulled up didn’t you?”

  “Yes. I just didn’t realize she’d be your doctor.”

  “Well she is. Is that a problem?”

  “No I guess not. I just wanted to be able to introduce you to her.”

  I step closer to him and wrap my arms around his neck. “How did you find me?”

  “I was driving by and saw your truck here.”

  “You waited out here for two hours?”

  “No. When I drove by the third time I pulled in.” I laugh at him. “I wasn’t stalking you. This office is on one of the most major streets in the city. I drive by here about thirty times a day.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’m not stalking you,” he says with a sad face. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here?”

  “Because Dane you might be my boyfriend, but you don’t control me.”

  “Royce, I don’t want to control you. I just want to be in the know. I want to know when you go to the doctor or when you have a bad day at work. I want to know if you are sick or feeling better than you have in years. That’s what I want. So please don’t keep all of the everyday shit from me. That shit helps me keep my head on straight,” I simply nod. “Thank you,” I lean up and kiss him quickly, “I have to get back to work.”

  “Did you spend your lunch break waiting for me?” I smile against his mouth.

  “Yes,” he spanks me, I gasp at the rush of pleasure I get from it. “Now go before I take you in the back of my cruiser,” he growls.

  “Don’t make promises you won’t be able to get away with,” I kiss him one more time before I pull away and get to my truck.

  After I pick up my new prescription and some groceries and drop them at home, I head to Danny’s house for dinner. When I get there I find not only Danny there, but also Dallas, who doesn’t look happy at all, and all of my other brothers except for Kayden. They are standing in a circle in the driveway. When I stop my truck they all turn to me. Dallas comes walking over first. I get out quickly, “What happened?” I ask.

  “You didn’t call this morning. After you had a scare,” he pulls me into a tight hug and I roll my eyes.

  “I shouldn’t have to,” I tell him. “Dad stop,” I push him off of me but he doesn’t let me go. “Dad, I’m okay. It happens sometimes.”

  “I didn’t realize it was that big of a deal,” he pulls back.

  “It’s not.” I step back and fold my arms over my chest. “Who called you?”

  “Dane. He wanted to know how much he should worry about it. I had to tell the man you are currently in a relationship with that I didn’t know. That made me feel like a shitty father.”

  I hold my hand up for him to stop. “I have high blood pressure, dad, not a brain tumor. Sometimes I get nose bleeds and headaches because of it and it’s so rare that I don’t have to tell everyone I know about it. I take my medication. I go to the doctor and I keep myself healthy. So please don’t sit here and tell me how shitty you feel that I didn’t share all this with you because honestly dad, it feels pretty shitty to feel like I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. Everyone keeps giving me crap for not saying anything about it. I’m an adult. I know you guys care, but I’ve been taking care of myself for way longer than any of you have been around.”

  He scowls at me, “I know I fucked up Royce. I have most of my life, but right here and now I’m proving to you that I care.”

  “I know you care, Dad. I know all of you do but it’s going to take some time for me to get used to having all of you around.” I look over at my brothers, “I love all of you. It’s hard for me to just hand over trust because every person in my life has left me. I’m trying here, so give me a chance to get used to everything.”

  “I won’t ever leave you,” Dallas says behind me. “Neither will your brothers.”

  “Never,” Danny says first.

  “I know that. I believe it, but don’t get mad at me when I don’t share everything with you guys.”

  “We won’t,” Luke tells me wrapping his arm around me, “We just want you safe. Both you and Kady.” I smile at him.

  “Come on let’s go eat,” Danny wraps his arm around me and pulls me away from Luke.

  I’m sitting next to Dallas with Danny on my left and Kady across from me. Everyone is laughing at the fact that Dallas and Jan are fighting over the last piece of fried chicken. It’s awesome: being here with everyone and seeing the happiness they all have with each other. The only thing that would make it even better is if Dane and Kayden were here.

  I look down at my phone expecting to see a text from Dane. There isn’t anything. I texted him a couple hours ago about him coming over tonight, but he hasn’t responded. He always responds. There’s a knock at the door and Kris get’s up to answer it.

  “Have any of you heard from Kayden or Dane?” I ask randomly everyone stops talking. “It’s just that—”

  “I didn’t text back,” I look behind me. Dane is standing there with his eyes blood shot and his uniform all messed up.

  “Dane!” I gasp getting up from the table and going to him. “What happened?”

  “I-I- umm…” he looks around at ever
yone then down at me. “Can we go?” he asks. I look over at Danny and Kady, “Can Kady come?” he asks.

  I look up at Dane with confusion, but concede what he wants because I trust him. “Kady,” I hold my hand out for her and she comes to me quickly.

  Dane takes my hand and tugs me out the door. I hear a chair scrape across the floor then Dallas follows us out of the door. “What’s going on?” he asks.

  “Dane?” I ask. “What’s happening?”

  “Dane!” Dallas yells, but he doesn’t stop until we’re in the truck. He get’s behind the wheel and I get in the middle with Kady by my side. “Dane!” Dallas knocks on the window.

  “Royce?” Kady asks.

  “Just wait a second,” Dane gets back out and meets Dallas at the front of the truck. They start talking but I can’t hear what’s going on. Eventually they shake hands and Dane comes back. “We’re good,” Dane closes the door and drives us away from everyone.

  I keep quiet until we pull up to my house. Once I get Kady into her room and reassure her that everything is okay, Dane is positive that the house is locked down and he meets me in the living room. “What is going on?” I ask. “You just pull us away from my family like that? We didn’t move here for this.”

  “No you moved here for Blake. To keep her safe,” I step back from him. “I know. I know everything. You want to know why I know everything?” I sit down on the couch. “Because my best friend was just shot at. He was just gunned down because of her. Well him too. He fucking went after it, but still it all revolves around Blake.”

  “Is Trent okay?” I ask in careless voice.

  “Seriously Royce? You don’t even sound surprised.”

  “You don’t know everything then,” I say as he sits down next to me.

  “My best friend was shot. I need to know why.”

  “I can’t,” I tell him.

  He stands up, “Don’t give me that shit, Royce.”

  I take a deep breath. “Can I make a call first?”

  “No. It’s dangerous.”

  “Is that why you took us here? You think we’re in danger?”

  “Yes.” I laugh really freaking hard. “Why are you laughing?”