"Zach's sister also lives with you?"
"Yes." That was the truth.
"And you moved out of the apartment with Jake? Why is this the first I've heard of it?"
"I figured you'd be disappointed and wouldn't want me living with Zach."
"But his sister does live with you?"
"Her name is Genie and she's great."
Dad took a minute to absorb it all. "You're my daughter so we can have these frank and open discussions, right?"
"Yes."
"Are you having sex with him?"
Oh, God. "Yes."
"Are you using protection?"
"Yes."
"I'm going to tell you something, and I'm not sure how it's going to come out, so hopefully I don't screw it up." He took a few breaths, struggling with what was coming. "You are a gift to me, don't ever forget that. When you were born, I was a mess and if it wasn't for Grandma and Grandpa, I'd be lost. And as much as I love you and can't imagine life without you, do not make the same mistakes I did. Don't let him talk you into doing anything you don't want to do and always keep yourself protected. And remember I love you more than anything in this world even though I might have just sounded like the biggest jackass on the face of this earth."
"I understand what you're saying."
"And if for any reason you find yourself in trouble, you come to me. I will always support you."
"I know."
"Enough said. Are we going to watch this movie, or not?"
That was the perfect opportunity to come clean and I didn't. I was a coward.
Chapter Thirty-two
Emma
Back from spring break with only a little more than a month of classes to go, the first few weeks flew by and with Bianca having finally stopped harassing me, I felt a need to gain a bit of my independence back. I insisted on taking the bus home on Thursdays when Zach's classes ended a few hours before mine. Sometimes he'd wait for me by working out at the gym and other times he'd reluctantly let me go home alone.
Sure, the walk through campus spooked me a bit, but there were so many people around, nothing could possibly happen.
"What do you have on her anyway?" I asked one night as we were lying in bed. He'd just finished telling me that he'd seen her at the gym that day and she hadn't said hello.
"If I tell you, I'd have to kill you," he joked.
"Come on," I said, squeezing his arm.
In an instant he was on top of me, kissing and caressing.
"No, you don't get off that easy," I said between kisses.
"Why do you want to know anyway?"
"Because I'm curious."
He slipped his hand beneath my underwear and started his careful massage. "It's not important," he murmured.
"You're trying to distract me."
"Is it working?"
"Yes," I said, kissing him back.
In seconds we were naked, him inside me, pushing deeper and deeper. Sex with him was so natural, so right. Sometimes in class, my mind would wander off to us in bed, on the sofa, kitchen counter or in the shower and I'd feel my body tingle with anticipation. My body craved him all the time.
"Back to Bianca," I said, after he returned from disposing of the condom.
He groaned. "I hoped you'd forget."
"No," I said, welcoming him back into bed and finding my spot in his arms.
"This is all I'm going to tell you. I may have a video of her doing something that would be very embarrassing to both her and her family if it ever got distributed."
"A sex video? Is it with Jake?"
"I'm not saying what it is and Jake isn't in it. It's before he came along."
"Is she doing drugs in it?"
"I'm not telling."
"How'd you get it?"
"I'm not telling."
I pondered this. "Have you had it for awhile?"
"Yes, and she knows I have it. Why are we still talking about her anyway?"
He was right. Bianca wasn't worth my time. I ran a finger up and down his arm, sleep had no intention of coming. "I've wanted to ask you something for a really long time," I said.
"Oh, yeah? What's that?" he asked, kissing the top of my head.
"When did you know that you liked me?"
He chuckled. "When did you know that you liked me?"
"I asked first."
He caressed my back and didn't answer right away. I waited, growing a little nervous that he hadn't said anything yet. Was I not going to like his answer?"
"I'm not a hundred percent sure. Sometime between opening the door at Brett's cabin and sharing a piece of chocolate cake and a beer with you a few hours later."
I lifted my head and stared at his serene face. I was speechless. For once my mind wasn't analyzing and dissecting. "Really," I finally managed to say.
"Why do you think I kept coming around?"
"I thought you were being nice. Or worse, feeling sorry for me."
"Well, I am nice," he said and winked. "I also liked you a lot."
"Why didn't you–" I stopped myself. I knew the answer. Jake. "I didn't know right away mostly because I couldn't believe you'd like a girl like me. Sometimes I still don't believe it."
"Like a girl like you? Em, you're amazing. I'm a lucky guy to have you in my life."
I kissed him and wrapped my arms around him as tightly as I could. I never wanted to let him go.
~~~~~~~
Helen and I played our weekly Wednesday evening tennis match. She was getting better and even had me sweating for awhile. I tried to keep the matches close because who'd play tennis with me if I beat them all the time?
In the locker room I could tell she had something to say. She couldn't stop fidgeting.
"So Marc came and talked to me before you got here," she said, playing with the laces of one of the tennis shoes she'd just taken off. "And we had a chat about you."
"Only good things, I hope," I said and laughed. Then it hit me. "Is he disqualifying us from our next tournament?"
"No, nothing like that. I know you're in school and don't live in the city, but he wants to ask you to be an instructor here, perhaps coach some of the kids he thinks have a little talent. He asked me to poke around for him. By far you're the best tennis player here."
My body tingled from the compliment. "Really?"
"Come on, you can kick my butt in your sleep."
"I don't know if I have the time. Between school and my other job . . ."
She motioned for me to move closer, out of the earshot of other players. "Marc has some really affluent members here with kids and they want those kids to learn tennis. They pay well, I'm sure much better than your coffee shop job, not that I'm disparaging it in anyway, but wouldn't you love to play a little more tennis? Teach kids?"
"Not a bunch of rich kids."
"He has a summer program for low income youth. You could teach that too. Marc wants you all over this place. You're a pretty girl who happens to have a killer forehand and backhand that shames us all. Did I mention your serve? You're the perfect role model for everyone here. They all love you."
"I don't know. Can I think about it?"
"Of course you can. Can I tell Marc you might be interested?"
Her eyes were beaming, begging me to say yes. "Sure, but don't make any promises."
"One last thing. I have something for you," she said, handing me an envelope.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Take it. It's a gift for you. I wanted to thank you for being the best tournament partner a middle-aged woman could have."
I opened the envelope and pulled out the card. Helen had written a few kinds words that nearly brought me to tears. "Thank you," I said, fighting the water works. "And what's this?" I asked, holding up a gift card.
"That's for you. Go buy yourself some nice things. You wouldn't accept my portion of the prize money, so I'm making you accept this gift card. You can't retu
rn gift cards. It's a rule."
I thought to argue with her, but realized I'd be wasting my time. "You're the best partner I've ever had too."
I showered, dressed and pulled out my phone on my walk to the bus. It was an unseasonably warm March evening and I tied my sweater around my waist, one of Genie's old/new sweaters.
Me: Marc wants me to coach at the club! Rich kids and low income youth in the summer. Helen asked me for him, but I think I might be interested. And she gave me a two hundred and fifty dollar gift card. How sweet was that?
I was about to slip my phone into my pocket when I heard a crack, like a bat hitting a baseball. At first I was disoriented until I realized I'd been hit, my head had been the ball. My phone flew out of my hand and through the air while my body hit the pavement with a thud. Only then did the blinding pain set it.
"I warned you bitch." The voice was filled with rage.
Instinct kicked in as I tried to regain my bearings. I tried pushing myself up to my knees, but arms were all over me, pulling at my clothes and hair, using them to drag me off the sidewalk and into the bushes nearby. I panicked. If they got me in a secluded spot, I was doomed. I flailed my arms and legs, screaming at the top of my lungs as a foot connected with my chest knocking the wind out of me. There had to be at least three of them, all girls by the sounds of their voices. One was on ground, trying to pound my head with her fists, connecting a few times as I tried to shield my face with my hands.
"Get her in the head," one screamed. It had to be Bianca. "Fuck her up!"
One peppered blows while another kicked me in the chest and thighs. The last one tried to hold my legs down. I could taste the blood, the metallicness of it filling my mouth. A coughed a few times, trying to scream, but only muffled sobs came out.
"Hey! Hey! What the hell?"
A male voice I didn't know. My attackers bolted, leaving me lying in the grass, partially hidden by the bushes. I started choking from the blood in my mouth, where it came from I didn't know. I spit it out, relieved there was no more. My chest hurt so much I could barely breathe. I tried to stand but my head spun so much I fell back down.
"Are you hurt?" the man asked.
I couldn't speak. I couldn't even find breath. My vision was blurred by tears and searing pain. The man knelt down next to me and pulled out his phone. He dialed three numbers while I used him as support to sit up.
"We need an ambulance. A young woman has been attacked." He gave our location and then sat with me.
"My phone," I stammered.
"Who do you want me to call?" he asked. He was such a nice man, late thirties, his green eyes filled with compassion. That's when I saw his bag and the tennis racket sticking out. I suddenly felt safe with him.
"Zach. Call Zach." I got out the numbers and rested my cheek against the cool coarse grass. My head felt like it was being hammered with pointy nails.
"Is this Zach? Hi, my name is Frank and I'm with . . ." he turned to me.
"Emma," I mumbled.
"I'm with Emma and she was assaulted just outside the Taylor Tennis Club." He paused. Was Zach freaking out? A stabbing pain seared through my side. "Yes, I've already called an ambulance. They should be here shortly. Yes, you can talk to her."
Frank held the phone to my ear. I didn't think I had the energy to do it myself.
"Em, are you okay?" Yes, he was freaking out. His voice pitched and I could hear him restraining his rage.
"I think so. Don't get mad."
"I'm going to kill her!"
"No," I said as tears slipped down my cheeks.
"I'm leaving and I'll be there in a few minutes."
"Talk to Frank."
Frank took the phone back. "Zach, I hear the ambulance. You should just meet us at the hospital. I'll stay with her and let you know where they take her."
I closed my eyes and my mind drifted away.
Chapter Thirty-three
Zach
Never in my life had I been angrier. The entire drive to the hospital I could have killed anyone who crossed my path. I wanted to smash things, but my steering wheel took the brunt of my frustration.
I got to the hospital before Emma had even been admitted. It was time to make calls. The first was to Dad. Sure, it should have been to Emma's dad, but I had an agenda. I told him what happened and asked him to pull a few strings at the hospital. I wanted her to have her own room and I wanted full access to it. No questions asked.
The second call was the hardest. Mr. Andrews picked up on the second ring.
"Hello, Mr. Andrews," I said, trying to keep my voice calm. "It's Zach."
"Well, hello there, Zach, and I insist you call me Paul. I'm surprised to hear from you." His voice dropped off. "Something happen?"
I took a deep breath. "Paul, Emma was attacked today outside her tennis club. They brought her to the hospital and I'm waiting to hear how she is. I did talk to her, so she's conscious and everything."
"What? No! I'm on my way. Which hospital?"
I gave him the details and told him I'd call once I knew more. I went to the emergency station and clearly Dad had already spoken to someone. I only had to say her name and the nurse nodded. "Ms. Andrews was just admitted. Dr. Lewis is in with her now and I will have him come speak with you when he's finished his exam."
Yes, having a senator for a father had its privileges, ones I didn't call in often, but this was an exception. I left the crowded emergency room to pace a nearby less crowded hallway. I had to keep calm for Emma and to think things through carefully. My first instinct was to go after Bianca, send out the video, but what would it accomplish? Enraging her further? And what if it was linked to me? I couldn't risk it.
I took out my phone and made a third call.
"What do you want?"
I hated Jake and his attitude didn't help. Had he been standing in front of me I would have crushed him into the wall. "I'd like to say this is a courtesy call, but it's not. It's a warning. Emma was attacked today and I can only assume it was Bianca, or she got someone to do it. Emma's at University Hospital. I've called her dad and when he gets here I'm telling him everything. Every last detail, you motherfucker."
I hung up before he could speak and then made my last call to Genie.
"Do you want me to come down?"
"No, not yet. Once I know more I'll call you back."
"I can come if you need me."
"I'll let you know. For now, put a few things together for Emma. I'm sure she'll want a change of clothes, especially if they keep her overnight." The nurse came to get me and motioned for me to follow her. "Genie, I got to go. I'll call you back later." I stuffed my phone into a pocket. My heart was pounding. What if she wasn't all right? My stomach flipped. I loved her. Yeah, I could admit it. The second I laid eyes on her at Brett's cabin, I couldn't get her out of my head. I tried to protect her and when I let my guard down, I'd let her down. I failed her.
"She's in here," the nurse said. "Dr. Lewis will be in shortly."
She had a private room and when I saw her I gasped. Her face was swollen, one eye shut, her lip split and scratches all over her face. I quietly pulled up a chair, but she opened her eyes, or what she could of the left one.
"How are you feeling?" I asked, clasping onto her hand and squeezing.
"Better now. I got drugs," she said, her voice groggy.
"What did the doctor say?"
"Nothing broken, but I have two cracked ribs and a concussion."
"I called your dad and he's on his way."
"He's probably upset."
"He was. I'm going to call him right after the doctor comes in and tell him you'll be back to your usual self in no time."
"I'm sorry, Zach." A tear spilled down her face and I gently wiped it away.
"Why are you sorry? Why are you crying?" Seeing her this way killed me. I wanted to scoop her up and take her away.
"I let this happen."
I shook
my head and kissed her hand. "You didn't do anything wrong."
"I should have just left her alone from the start."
"None of this would have happened if she'd behaved like a normal human being. So I don't want to hear you blaming yourself again."
Dr. Lewis came in interrupting her rebuttal. He shook my hand and gave Emma a warm smile.
"And how are you feeling? The medication kicking in?"
"Yes," she said, every word causing her obvious pain.
"Headache?"
"Yes."
Dr. Lewis turned to me. "We're keeping her overnight as a precaution, but other than a few cracked ribs, a mild concussion and some scrapes and bruises, she should be fine. Emma's a tough one. I've explained this to her already, and because this was an assault, we've contacted the authorities. They will want to interview her."
"Okay."
"Next of kin? Have they been contacted?"
"Her father is on his way."
"All right. I'll check in again later."
Once he was gone, I turned back to Emma. "Em, you need to tell the police the truth."
She let out a halting, tortured breath. Agony was etched on her face. "The truth is that I didn't see anyone. I think it was three girls and one voice sounded like Bianca's. It was dark. I can't lie and say it was her."
"She's going to pay for this."
More tears sprang from her eyes. "No! Please, I want it over. Promise me that's it's over!"
"Emma, she can't get away with it."
"But then what? Tit for tat forever?"
"For now it's over. I'm going to call your dad and I'll be right back."
The truth was that I didn't want to argue with her and upset her even more. I went outside and there was Emma's dad, talking to a nurse at the emergency desk. He'd made good time. He'd probably sped the whole way. I jogged over to him and he saw me coming, relief washing over him. I briefed him then told him I had something else to tell him before he went in to see her.
I persuaded him to join me in the mostly empty cafeteria. I bought us coffees and we took a seat in a quiet corner.
"Zach, you have me worried. What's going on? Do you know who did this to Emma?"
Breath Of The Heart Page 21