Unbreak Me

by Alicia Cicoria

  I blushed at the comment, though I wasn't sure how it should have made me feel. Bryant pulled me closer to his side and planted a kiss to my temple.

  “Here's the report.” He handed Lucas the copy and we followed him into the living room. Lucas snatched up a beer from his coffee table and took a swig, meticulously scanning over the report.

  “Dude, this isn't your handwriting.”

  I joined Bryant on the couch and Bryant leaned forward, his hands clasped together. He glared at Lucas. “I know that. I need a record of my time sheets from the department. I need proof that I wasn't on that night. Think you can get those for me?”

  Lucas nodded his head and took another drink, placing the sheet of paper on top of a pile already collecting on his table. “That should be easy enough. Is she cool?” Lucas peered at me and then at Bryant again, asking his permission to continue with whatever conversation they were going to go forth with.

  Bryant didn't even take a second to respond. “Yes, she's cool. I told her.”

  I tried to think of how what they were doing could be illegal and couldn't come up with anything. Were the records they were digging through sealed? Time sheets weren't public but surely, they weren't entirely off limits to those working at the department. The police report hadn’t seemed too difficult to get. Cricket had been gathering what she could for months, in preparation for this time in my life when I would need it or want it.

  “I have one of the dispatchers digging into old recordings from the date of that anonymous call. She's going to get me a recording of it, see if maybe we can recognize the voice of who called it in. That'll give us more than what we have now. But, this report is going to get us somewhere when I line it up to your time sheets.”

  “How did you convince one of the dispatchers to do that?” Bryant asked and my curiosity grew right along with his.

  Lucas smirked and kicked his feet up on the coffee table once he had finally taken a seat. “Does it matter?” His words insinuated nothing but his facial expression gave away everything.

  “You're sleeping with her, aren't you?” I blurted out, unable to stop the accusation. That seemed to be a new thing of mine.

  Lucas downed the last of his beer and chuckled. “This chick has wanted me from the beginning. We both get something out of it so it's a win-win situation.”

  I snickered and then protested his rationality. “And when she falls for you and it's time to break it off what then?”

  Lucas lifted himself from the chair he'd been sitting on. “I'll have already figured this all out. I'm not worried and neither should either of you be.”

  I admired his lack of fear. He could lose his job at digging into this for Bryant and it didn't faze him. Though he was cocky, he seemed to care about Bryant’s innocence, which meant I liked him.

  “I like her.” Lucas commented from the kitchen.

  I tugged on Bryant's bicep, bringing him back against the couch with me. “Guess I have his approval.” I quipped.

  Bryant raised his eyebrows and then smacked his lips. “You don't need his, or anyone else's approval.”

  I liked the sound of that. No, I loved the sound of that.

  “I'll let you know when I have something.” Lucas appeared back in the living room.

  Bryant jumped to his feet and then lifted me to mine. “Thanks man. I owe you one.”

  Lucas clapped Bryant on the back. “I know you'd do the same for me but maybe a case of beer next time you're over?”

  Bryant agreed and we walked out into the cold, him opening his door for me. “Take me to your house?” I needed to get my mind on something else. Redirect my focus somehow. Forget tonight had ever happened. Even if it were for an hour. I wanted to be in Bryant's arms because, at this point, I knew he was telling me the truth. I didn't need confirmation. No guilty person would go to the lengths he was going to clear his name for me.

  Bryant's lips turned up into a smile before he shut my door. When he settled into his seat, I scooted closer to him, his arm finding it's natural place around my shoulders. The air in his truck was cool but his warmth was sneaking along my skin, making the cold bearable.

  “Hot cocoa and dance lessons?” He inquired, one of his eyebrows shifting up as though awaiting my answer.

  “Maybe.”

  His jaw dropped. “Maybe? That’s all I get?”

  “Why would you expect more?”

  He started backing out of Lucas’ driveway. “I expect you to say yes. My expectations are high.”

  “Way too high. You might want to bring them down a notch so I have a fighting chance.” I bantered, laughing when he pinched me on the thigh.

  He drove the truck out onto the highway, dragging me to him so he could kiss me on my forehead. It was the best feeling in the world. “Baby, you are the only chance I want. The best me has his arms around you.” He sang the exact words ringing from the speakers in his truck. I loved it when he sang to me, like he’d never thought to sing to any other woman in this world.

  Thank God, I was his.

  Chapter 28

  Grave

  Bryant

  I hadn't meant to involve Amberly as much as I had. I also hadn't predicted that my being fired from the police station would be followed by so many lies, betrayals and that it would directly affect her. Or, my relationship with her. I could make it easy. I could end things with her and finish digging to the bottom before involving myself with her again. It would mean protection for her but could possibly mean I'd lose any other chance I had to be with her. There would be no smooth break with her. I'd gotten too involved and there would be no clear explanation that would leave either of us satisfied.

  So, I was selfish. What else was new? I wanted Amberly and she'd let me in. I didn't want to destroy that by...... By what? Protecting her? I was more of an idiot than I thought I was, than I'd always been accused of being.

  I went back and forth on my decision, whether or not to keep her involved. What it would mean for her. I had all the time in the world, considering it was Saturday and I was working on a vehicle I had been meaning to get running for a while. Once I fixed it, all it would need was a new paint job and it would be a perfect first car for Delia. I had nine years to get everything into place, but I had become anxious waiting for Lucas to make his way over. He had text earlier in the morning, telling me he'd found all of my time sheets. I went into town and got a six pack for him before pacing my living room. When I couldn't take it anymore, I drug the car out of the run-down barn and started working on it.

  “Shit!” I gritted my teeth when my knuckles hit metal. I'd been twisting the bolts of the rims and somehow lost my grip. I chunked the wrench across the yard and held my hand to my chest. It throbbed as I breathed out obscenities. “Piece of shit!” I yelled at the car, not hearing the slamming of a vehicle door.

  “Easy killer. I don't think the car did anything to deserve that.” Lucas stood in front of me, blocking the sun from my eyes.

  “Yeah it did. It's a piece of shit. That's what it did. Besides, this is all your fault. I’ve been waiting on you to get here so I had to do something with my time.” It made no sense coming from my mouth but yelling at it took my focus off the pain in my hand. “Thirsty?”

  “You know I am.”

  I took the front steps into my house and retrieved two beers from the fridge. I tossed one to him and he caught it with ease, not even disturbing the papers clutched beneath his arm. He joined me on the steps and handed me the folder.

  I popped open the can and chugged down a few gulps of liquid before diving into what he'd brought. “Geez man, how many time sheets did you get?”

  Lucas tapped his fingers against his belt. “I didn't have time to be picky. I had to get whatever I could find and make copies before anyone saw me.”

  I stopped what I was doing and averted my attention to him. “Fuck man, is this going to get you into trouble?”

  Lucas frowned. “Nah, it might give me a slap on the wrist becaus
e I don't have a reasonable excuse to be browsing through those files.”

  I didn't believe him but there was nothing I could do now. He'd made the copies and it was better we put them to use.

  “Who's that?” Lucas turned around and shielded his eyes from the sun, eyeing the car coming down the driveway.

  I stuffed the papers back into the envelope and shoved them into his chest, already on my way to meet her. “Amberly. She’s going with me to pick out a tree today. This will have to wait.” I tossed the papers back in Lucas’ direction and jogged to Amberly’s car.

  “Hey baby.” I opened Amberly's door for her and lifted her from the driver's seat until she was in my arms. I'd never get tired of calling her baby or hearing the quivering sigh that escaped her lips when it reached her ears. “I love you.” I whispered, kissing her neck.

  "I love you too." She giggled. A sound that weakened me in a way that I would do anything she would ask of me. “Did he find anything?”

  “He got my time sheets. We can look through them together.” I placed my hand around hers, reminding myself I needed to protect her. I felt her stop in her tracks, her body weight a force that halted me.

  “Whose car is that?”" Her face was twisted with an unrecognizable emotion. An emotion that had me fearing she would walk away.

  I twisted my head in the direction she was looking and couldn't help but become baffled at what might be going through her head. “It's mine.” I turned back to her, her eyes already dribbling tears. “Baby, what's wrong?”

  “You’re a fucking prick and I’m so stupid!” She ripped her hand from mine and slapped me across my face, not giving me a chance to even react before she ran back to the car and locked the doors. She reversed out of the driveway, leaving me standing and calling after her.

  “Amberly, don't do this. Talk to me!” I called. My pleas fell on deaf ears. She didn't want to hear it. I swung back around to look at the vehicle that had her freaking out, trying to pinpoint what she'd seen that caused her reaction. Within seconds, I heard metal crashing into metal. It exploded like a firecracker without the beautiful colors. I spun around frantically and ran down my driveway after seeing what had happened. Amberly had been hit as soon as she'd pulled out to make a right out of my driveway.

  “Amberly!” I screamed. I didn't notice at which point I dropped my beer but I did. I got to the scene and the driver of the other vehicle got out, profusely apologizing.

  “I didn't see her. I swear!”

  He was a teenager, no more than seventeen years old. There was no questioning whether he'd been speeding down the road. It was a common occurrence because of where I lived. The speed limit was thirty-five but most people did fifty-five or more. You could tell as they passed my home. The sound of their cars cutting through the air made it obvious.

  I crawled into the passenger side door, calling out to Amberly. Blood covered her face and body. Her eyes were closed and she wasn't responding to anything I was saying. I couldn't even tell what I was saying. It all seemed like a false reality. I wished it away.

  “Do you have a phone?” I heard Lucas talking to the boy. “Call the police. Now!”

  It was ironic that Lucas was the police and yet he was having this boy call them. This wasn't his jurisdiction though and he was off duty. There wasn't anything he could do. He didn't have authority and had very little training for first aid.

  “She's not responding. Luke, she isn't responding!” I cried because there was nothing else I could do. I was helpless in this situation. I felt for a pulse but I couldn't tell if she had one or not because I couldn't target where I should be feeling for her pulse. Her neck? Her wrist? Why couldn't I remember? The one thing I knew was I couldn't move her in the event of a broken neck or spine. I’d been well-versed on how to care for the victims in a car crash while waiting for medics to arrive on scene. All those hours of training down the drain because I couldn’t remember. Nothing. My mind was going so fast, I couldn’t get it to slow down to concentrate on what I needed to do.

  “Bryant, move!” Lucas instructed, pulling me from the car. I watched him with intent, not taking my eyes off of her, feeling my heart rate increase. I could feel it in my head. He came out of the car. “She's got a faint pulse but the ambulance needs to hurry.”

  I got back in the car and grabbed her hand, kissing it over and over. “Please Amberly. Hold on. Don't leave. We have so many other plans we need to see through. We haven't even been on our first date.” My words were a jumbled mess because I couldn't think. Everything was a blur to me. All I knew in that moment was that she needed to survive because I couldn't be without her. I couldn't.

  “They're coming, Bryant, I can hear them.” Lucas poked his head in the car. “She's going to be okay.” His hand landed on my shoulder but I couldn't feel it. I couldn't feel anything but terror.

  “How is she?” Cricket and Adam came racing down the hallway. I lifted myself from the chair with what little energy I had.

  “She's got a concussion and a fractured rib. They moved her into ICU and then they found that she was bleeding internally. She's in surgery right now so they can locate where the bleeding is coming from. That's all we know.” I said it but it hadn't felt real. I didn’t think I was strong enough to say the words, someone else had to be saying them for me.

  Cricket wrapped her arms around me and I broke down. Losing it yet again since it happened. “I can't lose her.”

  “I know.” Cricket withdrew herself from me and peered down at the hospital floor.

  “What?” I wiped at the tears that kept coming. The tears I couldn't prevent.

  Adam grabbed her by the wrist. “You can't tell him.”

  Cricket pried his fingers off of her. “He deserves to know.” She argued.

  “Tell me what? What the hell are you two keeping from me?” I was becoming angry and bitter. An altered mentality that I hadn't ever experienced before.

  Cricket bit at her bottom lip and then pressed both lips together, her hands on her hips. “Sit down. There's something about Amberly you should know.”

  I struggled with her demand, reluctantly obeying what she was asking of me. “I hope you know, no matter what it is, it won't change my feelings about her.”

  Cricket regarded me with scrutiny, trying to test to see if what I was saying were true.

  “I mean it.” I said again. “It won't change anything. I love her. I'm not going anywhere, and I don't need to hear what you're about to say.”

  "Yes, you do, Bryant." Cricket watched as nurses brushed past us, none of them affected by why we were all here.

  They had to turn everything off because they were there to do a job. They couldn't become so wrapped up in any one patient because when one died, there were a hundred more to save. I hoped with everything I was, Amberly was the one patient they cared about. The one patient God was telling them to save. The one patient that they HAD to save.

  Adam pointed his finger at Cricket, his face scrunched together in absolute anger. “I mean it, Cricket. If you tell him, I'm walking away.”

  Cricket's eyes darted between Adam and I. She seemed to be weighing her options and whether or not losing Adam was worth telling me anything.

  I placed my hands on her shoulders and made her look at me. “Whatever it is, I'm sure there is a reason why Amberly is keeping it from me. She will tell me when she's ready.”

  It didn't ease whatever internal affliction she was battling. She sighed and took a seat next to Adam who had stopped his pacing.

  “What happened?” Cricket asked in almost a whisper, so low I almost didn't hear her.

  I turned around, folding my arms against my chest because it felt like it was damn near ready to explode. I couldn't take the waiting. “I don't know. She came over, saw the car I was working on, asked whose car it was, I told her it was mine, she took off in your car. She wasn't looking and someone hit her.” As I told the story, I could feel my entire body heat up, angry for how fast the driver had bee
n going. No regards to the speed limit signs. The irony on top of it all is the driver walked away without a scratch.

  Cricket made a face of confusion when I finished, the same face I wore when I was trying to figure out Amberly's reaction to the car.

  “What kind of car is it?”

  “Toyota Corolla. Why?”

  Cricket jumped up from her seat and into my face. “What color?” Her words were laced with anger.

  “Black. Will you tell me what the hell is going on?”

  Cricket shoved me so hard, I fell into the wall behind me. It hit right where my shoulder blade was, knocking the air out of me long enough for her to punch me in the face. Whoever had been told they 'hit like a girl' should be proud. I crouched over and held my aching face.

  “What the fuck did you do that for?”

  "What the hell, Cricket?"

  When I looked up again, Adam was holding Cricket back as tears ran down her bright red face. They weren't tears of sadness. No. Those were tears of anger. Tears that you cried when you were so angry there was nothing else for you to do but cry.

  “You asshole! No wonder she ran away from you so fast. I would have too. How could you to this do her? And why? Why would you do this to her? Amberly is one of the least selfish people I've ever known, as well as one of the most kind-hearted people I know. Out of everyone's life you could have fucked with, it had to be hers?!”

  Her voice raised slightly at the end of her rant, and before I could respond, a nurse was running up to me. “You're bleeding all over the hallway. Here.” She handed me a towel. “You need to leave.” She told Cricket.

  “The hell I am. My best friend is in surgery right now, and I'm going to be here when she wakes up. You'll have to physically remove me.” Cricket argued, taking her stance as if she were a boulder no one could move.

  The nurse shook her head. “I don't have time for this. Either you can leave or I can call security to escort you. One way or another, you're leaving.”

  Cricket rolled her eyes and then sighed when Adam whispered something into her ear, gently tugging her down the hallway to the exit sign.