Hurt You

by Abby Mccarthy

  The water was set to the hottest temperature, surrounding me with steam. I can’t believe Antonio put his hands on me, then his mouth. And marriage? Can I marry a man I don’t love or even like, to protect my family? Yes. Yes, I could. I would do it for them. A tear trickled down my face, mixing with the spray of the water and then another. I have to be strong and do whatever it takes for my family. I did my best to pull myself together. You can do this Jenny. Don't let him break you. You have time.

  “You surprise me.” Jules’ words float through my head. What was that? He was so hot and cold. Kind and open, yet guarded. A complete bad-ass, but sympathetic. I wasn’t sure what to make of him. He was a conundrum. The only thing I knew was that he was watching out for me. Tonight was nothing like I imagined it would be. I’m hurt and angry, and a small part of me was also shocked by Jules. Those thoughts stopped my tears, and I decided to hold on to that, at least for tonight. I finished my shower, wrapped myself in my large white terrycloth robe and went to bed.

  Because I drank last night, I woke up way too early. I stretched my arms overhead and then felt the sting on my shoulder. Everything from last night hit me at once. I was screwed. I went to the bathroom. My mouth was foul tasting, in that I drank last night kind of way. I brushed my teeth and took an inventory of my hair. It was a hot mess. I went to sleep with wet hair which is something no woman should do so I tied it up. After I finished my coffee I decided I was going to hit the beauty supply store and change up my hair. A new hair-do is exactly what would take my mind off of the Antonio situation.

  Chapter 3

  I started my coffee pot and began to pick up a few things around my living room. I really should make it a point to try and keep this place cleaner. There was a knock at my door and I thought that Vito must have the best nose in the history of noses. I’m sure the smell of coffee dragged him out of bed and straight to the yummy aroma of beans wafting through the air.

  “Coming,” I called and took my time heading to the door. I threw open the door and a large red bouquet was nearly shoved into my face, making me take a few steps back.

  “I’ve waited a week Jenny, and nothing.” Eric Cantonese, the sloppy kisser himself, was pushing his way into my apartment. Oh hell no! “I brought you flowers.”

  “Uh yeah, I see that. What are you doing here?”

  “Jenny, you have lips like a Piranha. You got me all worked up, and then nothing.” Whoa, whoa, whoa, a Piranha? Like the fish? Who says that? It's not like I ate his face or anything.

  “Eric, you ever think that you haven’t heard from me because there isn't anything between us?”

  “There is!” His voice was a little raised. What the heck? It was just some drunken make-out?

  “Um no, there really isn’t. Thanks for the flowers, but that night was a one-time thing.”

  He took a step towards me, which I did not like, but he didn’t feel completely threatening either. Plus I practically have known him my whole life.

  “Jenny, please. I’m sorry for whatever I did to make you mad.”

  Whatever he did I think and then decide to ask just that, “Whatever you did?” My voice comes out slightly raised and confused.

  “Yeah, I’m sorry.”

  “You didn’t do anything wrong, but we’re not anything. I think you should go.”

  “Do you know how many years I’ve wasted hoping you would notice me? Then you do, so what was that then?”

  “I have barely taken two sips of my coffee this morning, Eric. I’m sorry if you thought that was more, but you really should go.”

  “Jenny!” His voice sounded manic as he rushed out my name.

  In a flash, Eric was thrown against my coffee table. Red roses broke apart and flew high in the air; petals covered everything. Jules was right there landing punch after punch on him. The leg to the table splintered and angled off to the side.

  I screamed loudly, “Jules, no!”

  I put my hand on his arm trying to stop him from delivering another blow. He grabbed Eric by the throat. Vito and Marcus rushed in; Vito in his boxers, Marcus in jeans and no shirt with a half-dressed woman right behind him.

  “What in the world…?” Vito started to say something, but I needed to get Jules’ attention. Eric was turning blue.

  “Jules,” I said, getting close to him, “Let him go. He didn't do anything wrong.”

  “No?”

  “No.”

  “Way I heard, you asked him to leave and he kept approaching you. A lady asks a man to leave and he comes into her space, it’s not okay.”

  “I’ve known him my whole life. He would never hurt me. Let him go,” I said to Jules, trying to relay to him that Eric didn’t hurt me at the same time making sure he knows that I don't want my brothers to know about last night.

  “My sister asked you to leave, and you kept approaching?” Marcus questioned, wanting to get in on the action.

  “He touch you?” Jules asked me and I was pretty sure he was asking if Eric was the guy who put his hands on me.

  I pulled my robe around me tightly, making sure no one in the room could see the marks on me.

  “No, Jules. Let him go. The only thing that he did was bring me flowers and try to find out why I don't want to date him. It’s okay. I’m fine, really.”

  Jules' hand loosened around Eric’s throat and Eric gasped for breath. My brothers picked him up off the table. Vito smacked him upside his head. Marcus sucker punched him in the stomach.

  “You’re too much trouble, Jenny,” Eric said, spitting out blood.

  “How did you even get in here?” Vito asked.

  The lady, who followed in behind Marcus, looked sheepish. “I...I’m sorry I let him in.”

  “Seriously, woman?” Marcus snapped and I felt bad for her.

  “It’s okay,” I said to her as she looked away guiltily.

  “What are you doing here?” Vito asked Jules rather tersely.

  “Bringing Jenny her car. She left it at the bar last night.”

  “Okay, but why are you bringing her car? I would have taken her to go get it,” Marcus said squinting his eyes on Jules, “It wouldn’t have been the first time I had to pick her up when she had too much to drink.” Marcus was not lying. He had brought me to my car on more than one occasion.

  I squeezed my eyes closed, hoping that Jules would let this go and not mention anything to my brothers about last night.

  “If you were my sister, I’d need to know. I know for a fact that Gus would’ve needed to know and he would’ve been the first call I made,” Jules said to me, not answering Marcus’s question.

  I tried to make eye contact with Jules to tell him to stop and not say anything else, but my attempts were futile.

  “What’s he talking about Jenny?” Marcus asked.

  “Last night, some fuck attacked her. Bit her. Far as I can tell he didn't rape her, but she was shaken up.”

  Crap. I give my best death glare to Jules. I can’t believe he told them.

  “What the hell is he talking about Jenny? Someone put their hands on you?” Vito asked me again.

  “It wasn't me man, I swear it,” Eric said.

  “It wasn't him,” I explain again about Eric.

  “So, someone did put their hands on you?” Marcus asked again.

  “Guys, this isn't something I really want to talk about with everyone,” I said looking around the room. My brothers caught my drift that I had an audience. Vito tossed Eric out my door and told him to get lost. Marcus gave a look to the girl he was with and she walked out of the apartment but not before turning to me and mouthing I’m sorry.

  “You leaving?” Marcus asked Jules.

  “Nope. I need a second with Jenny and I figure since I found her last night you might have some questions.”

  I could tell my brothers were at war with themselves on whether or not they wanted to leave Jules here for our conversation, but they eventually relented and closed all four of us into my apartment.

 
; Vito and Marcus walked me over to my couch and sat on each side of me. Jules leaned against the wall and stared at us with a look of compassion in his eyes.

  “What happened?” Vito asked in a calm voice.

  “Nothing. Like I said, Eric just showed up and Jules flipped out,” I was trying to take the heat off of me, but it didn’t work. My brothers saw through me.

  Marcus moved a strand of hair that came loose from my quick crazy up-do and tucked it behind my ear. “Jenny,” he said softly, urging me to talk.

  “Fine. I met up with Maura at Benny's last night. We were dancing and I was hot. Mickey just got there and Maura hadn't seen him for a while so I wanted to give her a minute alone with her dad. I went outside to get some fresh air and some guy I don't know approached me. He got close real quick, grabbed my thigh, bit my shoulder, then took off. It happened so quick, I didn't really have a chance to react. Jules found me, took care of me, then brought me back here.” There it was all out.

  Marcus pulled me into his arms, “You okay?”

  I nodded and felt a tear slip down my cheek. I hated crying, but more than anything I hated lying to my brothers.

  “Some dude bit you like a fuckin' dog? What did he look like?” Vito asked. His voice was raised; I could tell he was only keeping it together for me.

  “He had a hat on. I didn't get a good look at his face, and it was dark,” I lied again.

  “I’m going up there to ask if anyone saw anything. I don't want you going to that place by yourself anymore. Marcus or I will go with you.” I started to protest. I couldn’t have my brothers as my chaperone.

  “I’ll make sure if she is there that I got eyes on her, either mine or a brother's.” Jules said from across the room.

  My brothers nodded, hugged me and told me to call them or come over if I needed anything and then they left.

  “Did you really have to tell them?” I asked as soon as the door shut.

  “Yeah babe, I did. I’m not going to let someone put their hands on you and keep it under wraps.”

  I wanted to argue with him and tell him I was mad that he said something to my brothers, but in reality, I understood him. He told me last night that he watched his stepdad hit his mom and I was not going to put anything else on his shoulders.

  I nodded in acknowledgment, then in a soft voice said, “You keep coming to my rescue.”

  He stalked over to me and moved my robe off of my shoulder ever so gently. The swell of my breast was visible, but that’s it. His thumb grazed the skin around the bite. “It doesn’t look as bad today.” He reached into his pocket, “Here, use this,” he said handing me a small tube. “It’s got Vitamin K and some other stuff in it. It will keep the scarring down. You should probably go to your doctor tomorrow. They will probably give you a tetanus shot.” I wasn't going to go to the doctor. I had a shot last year and I knew I wouldn't need one, but I agreed anyway; another lie.

  “Thank you for bringing my car back, but you didn’t need to pummel Eric.”

  “Yes, I most certainly did.”

  “He didn't hurt me. He was bringing me flowers.”

  “Jenny, I heard him. He was getting desperate and you’re standing here in a robe. I know you’re strong, but you were hurt last night. I get it. You're saying he wasn’t the guy, but it was somebody you know, despite the bullshit you just laid down for your brothers. Your guard is down. It’s what, eight in the morning on a Sunday? You don't come to a woman’s place at eight a.m. unless you are bringing back her car.”

  My lip turned up at his mention of him bringing my car back.

  “You’re up pretty early for a Sunday?” I said more as a question even though I was really being observant.

  “I don't need much sleep,” he said in a calm way.

  “Can I get you a cup of coffee?” I offered to try to take all attention off of talk of me lying. It was an odd thing to offer considering I had a robe on, rose petals were all over my living room and my coffee table was now trashed, but I was trying to be hospitable.

  He shook his head no, rejecting my Joe then said, “You’re going to be okay. Alright?” I wished right then I could say no. No, I will never be okay, but I couldn’t. I just nodded my head yes and did my best to act like none of this bothered me, but I was frazzled. Twelve hours ago I had my future laid out before me and it wasn’t pretty; not even a little.

  ***

  Jules left shortly after, and I got busy cleaning up my apartment. Carlo, my older brother, stopped by just as I was putting a trash bag outside my door.

  “Hey sis, heard about what happened earlier. You okay?” Carlo took on the role as head of the family when we lost Gus. He was my rock. The thought of anything happening to him because of Antonio made my stomach curl.

  “Yeah, it was just some crazy drama,” I replied nonchalantly acting like it was all no big deal.

  “And last night?” he asked and I knew my brothers told him everything.

  “I’m okay with that too. It shook me up, but you know me, nothing's going to get me down,” I smiled, trying to lighten up the situation as much as I could. I did not need Carlo on a rampage.

  He followed me into my apartment and saw my broken coffee table, “This thing is trashed.”

  “I know,” I said shaking my head.

  “Eric is a douche, but I don't think he meant you any harm.”

  “I agree with you there, too.”

  “That said, if you ask any guy to leave, then he should leave.”

  I nodded my head in agreement.

  “I’ll take this out to the trash for you,” he said picking up my broken table with ease. “Do you want me to pick you up a new table?”

  “No, it’s okay. This one was old anyway, and I need to find something to fit in with my taste.”

  Carlo waved his hands around my apartment, “What? Do you mean to match tacky and gaudy?”

  I threw one of my embroidered orange throw pillows at him. “My apartment is not tacky. It’s unique. I love it.”

  “As long as someone does,” he laughed.

  “Plenty of people like my place,” I said in defense.

  “Oh yeah, like who?”

  “Maura likes my pad.”

  “I guess that’s one, but she doesn’t count.”

  “Wait, why doesn’t she count?” I asked.

  “Look at the company she keeps. It’s not like her crowd is big on interior design.” I threw a second pillow at him and he dodged it.

  “That’s mighty judgmental of you. Besides, her place is totally cute.”

  “Right. Well, on that note, I’m heading out. I’m taking Gino to basketball practice. You sure you’re okay?” Carlo is always taking care of my nephew Gino, who moved in with Mom after Gus died. Carlo has stepped in as a father figure, but we all do our share of helping out.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I swear it.”

  “Do you want to come? It might take your mind off of your morning drama.”

  “I think I’m going to pass. I’m going to color my hair.”

  “Oh, the whole, ‘when life gets crazy, get some new highlights’ thing you do?”

  “You know me so well, Carlo.”

  “You coming to dinner tonight?” he asked, referring to our family dinners that we have every Sunday at my mom’s house.

  “I’ll be there, but tell Vito and Marcus, I don't want them filling Ma in with details of my morning dramatics, okay?”

  “Yeah, sis. We’ll keep her in the dark, but promise me that you will not go anywhere like that by yourself. I need you to be smarter. I don't want anything to happen to you.”

  Carlo set the table down and I wrapped my arms around him. “Love you,” I said.

  “Love you too,” he said, kissed the top of my head, picked up the table and headed out.

  Almost as soon as I closed the door, I had black leggings on, a tank top under a zip-up hoodie, my favorite black boots, keys in hand and was locking the door behind me. I couldn’t help but feel like
I needed to be cautious, and watch over my shoulder. I unlocked my car and noticed my coat was laid over the passenger seat. I had forgotten that I left it at the bar last night, and seeing it made me smile. I might have something huge and inevitably ugly hanging over my shoulders, but somehow I had people looking out for me.

  ***

  I drove to the beauty supply store and picked up bleach, developer, three different colors, and a deep-conditioning treatment and headed back to my place to get to work. When you are low, one of the best ways to pick yourself up is to do something just for you. Coloring my hair, it’s like a fresh look; a fresh start. I spent hours on my hair, coloring it black with two shades of purple low lights.

  I had ten minutes left until I needed to take the foil out of the bottom of my hair when my cell rang. I answered, unsure of who it was because I didn't recognize the number.

  “Hello,” I said.

  “What are you doing?” the husky voice asked and I recognized the sound.

  “Jules?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m just finishing up coloring my hair. Why? What’s up?”

  “You alone?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” I responded curious as to why he was calling.

  “Good, I’ll be there in five. I’m calling in that favor,” he said, and then disconnected. What favor?

  I unlocked my front door, the timer dinged and I started taking out my foil just as there was a knock on the door.

  “Jules?” I called out.

  “Yeah!” He called back through the door.

  “Come on in. The door is open,” I said and stuck my head in my kitchen sink using the sprayer to rinse the underside of my hair. I was curious why he was here, but I wasn’t about to overprocess my hair either.

  “I’ll be done in just a minute,” I called through the spray of water. I finished rinsing then I shut off the water, squeezed the last drops from my hair and grabbed a towel, only to find Jules staring at me with a scowl.

  “Why the sour face?” I asked as I was twisting my towel in place.

  “Your door was unlocked.”

  “Uh yeah, how else would you get in?” I have brothers so I understood where he was going with this, so I cut him off before he could get another word in, “Relax. I unlocked it right before you got here, but I knew I’d need to rinse. So what is this favor I supposedly owe you?”