Beautifully Unbroken

by D. M. Brittle

  “Are you okay?” he panted shakily.

  “They tried to kill me,” I said quietly. “They actually tried to kill me.” I rested my head down onto Cooper’s arm that was still cradled around me as tears streamed from my eyes. “You saved me,” I whispered, closing my eyes tightly. “Thank you.”

  “Did you get the licence plate?” Cooper asked.

  “No. It all happened too quick.”

  “Let’s get you home,” Cooper said as he struggled to his feet. “This time I will not take no for an answer.”

  I turned my head to Cooper as he parked the car. “I’m so sorry that I blamed you for everything.”

  “It’s okay,” he said, turning to face me.

  “No, it isn’t okay, Cooper; all you have been doing is trying to help me, and I’ve been so horrible to you.”

  Cooper smiled. “Yeah, well, you kinda have your reasons for not trusting me.”

  “I’m glad you followed me now,” I joked.

  “I’m glad I followed you too,” he laughed. “I’m gonna walk you upstairs. I’m not taking no for an answer, and there is no ulterior motive; I just want to make sure you get into the apartment okay.”

  “I’m not going to argue with you on that one. Thank you.”

  “Do you think Blake will be okay about this?”

  “I think Blake will be as grateful as I am. You saved my life, Cooper. But I don’t want him to know about anything that has happened until he’s home.”

  “You didn’t tell him about the car being vandalized?”

  “No. He can’t do anything from there except worry. I haven’t told him anything.”

  “Jo,” Cooper sighed.

  “I know what I am doing, Cooper. He will understand.”

  “Are you going to call the police?”

  “I have nothing to go on – no licence plate, no suspects, nothing.”

  “Is there anyone that you think could have done this?”

  I thought for a moment before replying. “Sara,” I said quietly before turning to Cooper. “Could you do a check on her? Is there any way you could check that she is where she is supposed to be? I mean, it sounds crazy, I know, and it’s been a while. I don’t know why she would want to hurt me now after all this time. But she is that only person I think would want to hurt me after how she behaved that night in my apartment. Could you do that?”

  “Of course I will. Leave it with me,” he promised.

  The apartment was quiet for the first time in almost a week when we entered.

  I hoped that by now both Casey and Alex had seen sense and were back on track. I had heard enough of Casey’s crying this week to last me a lifetime, and it wasn’t as if I weren’t going through enough myself as it was.

  Cooper told me to wait in the hallway while he did a sweep of the apartment. He returned a couple of minutes later with a smile on his face. “All clear; there’s just Casey passed out drunk on the sofa.”

  “Ah what?” I said, not hiding my annoyance as I headed past Cooper and into the lounge.

  I grabbed the empty wine bottle and glass from the table before turning to Casey.

  My body shuddered with instant panic when I noticed the bottle of pills that she was clutching in her hand. Dropping the bottle and glass, I grabbed Casey and shook her. “Casey! Casey, wake up! What have you done? What the hell have you done?!”

  “What is it?” Cooper asked as he entered the room.

  Slapping her face was doing nothing to bring her out of her comatose state. “She’s taken some pills and drained that bottle,” I said shakily. “Casey, please talk to me!” I begged as I shook her.

  Cooper checked her pulse. “It’s still strong,” he said. “We must have gotten here just in time. Call 911,” he demanded.

  “Don’t you die! Don’t you dare die on me!” I cried as I grabbed my phone and dialled for the paramedics.

  Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. It felt like an eternity until the paramedics arrived. While we waited, I begged Casey over and over again to acknowledge that I was there, but she was so limp, so weak, so out of it. The paramedics asked us many questions, but I didn’t know any of the answers; I had no idea how many pills she had taken or how much she had drunk. I felt guilty that I hadn’t even been there when it happened.

  I rode in the ambulance alongside Casey to the hospital. Cooper insisted on following behind to make sure that I was okay as well as Casey. I tried Alex’s number over and over again, but to no avail. He should be the one here with Casey, not me, I thought. He was being stubborn, and it was now truly beginning to piss me off.

  It felt like the longest night of my life waiting for news on my best friend. What if I had got to her too late? What if the person who was trying to take my life had succeeded? Casey would have been left by herself; she would have died. A million different thoughts were running through my mind as we waited in the cold waiting room.

  “She’s going to be okay, Jo,” Cooper said, bringing my attention back to the here and now.

  “What if we hadn’t got to her in time, Cooper? What if I had been hit by that car? We could both be dead now.”

  “But you’re not,” he stated firmly.

  “But we could have been.”

  “Are you always a cup-half-empty kind of girl?” Cooper asked, smiling slightly.

  “At the moment, my cup is completely empty,” I sighed. “I just want to be happy, Cooper. But every time I’m happy, this happens: pain, fear, heartache, everything. All I want is to be happy. Is that too much to ask?”

  Cooper watched me carefully as he considered what I had just told him “No. It’s not too much to ask at all, Jo,” he said sadly. “Look, I need to make a call. I’ll be right back.” He stood and headed to the door.

  “Cooper?” He turned back to look at me. “Thank you,” I said.

  His mouth lifted into a genuine smile. “That’s what friends are for, Jo.”

  The relief that flooded me when the doctor told me that Casey was going to be fine was like the biggest weight being lifted from my shoulders. I had been allowed in to see her briefly, but she needed plenty of rest. I asked Cooper to stop off at the club on the way home, knowing that that was where I would find Alex.

  It was eerily quiet as I stepped into the club. Cleaners went about their work, mopping up spilt drinks and the smell of sweaty bodies that had filled the room only a couple of hours ago. I headed with purpose to Alex’s office. I didn’t knock before I entered to find him sitting at his desk, sipping whiskey and working at his laptop.

  “I wondered when you would show up to give me a pep talk,” he slurred without lifting his eyes to me.

  “Do you have any idea where I have been for the past six hours?” I asked angrily.

  His eyes lifted to me slowly before he sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest.

  “Enlighten me; where have you been?” he said.

  “I have just spent the past six hours sitting in a waiting room while doctors did everything they could to stop my best friend from dying from a booze and pills overdose,” I said as angry tears stung my eyes.

  Alex shot out of his chair. “What!”

  “She tried to kill herself, Alex. Because of you!” I yelled. “Because you were too much of a bastard to commit to the woman who loves you and who you love because you are so stuck in the past that you would rather you both suffer than face your fears.”

  “Is she going to be okay?” he said, frantically reaching for his jacket from the back of his chair.

  “She’s lucky,” I replied quietly. “The doctor said that I found her in time.”

  “I need to be with her,” Alex said, grabbing his keys and heading for the door.

  “You need to do the right thing, Alex; stop living in the past and do what’s right for now.”

  Alex turned to me and nodded once; a silent understanding passed between us. Only a couple of weeks ago, he had stood in front of me and practically told me the same
thing.

  “Thank you,” he said before walking out and heading to the hospital.

  It took us four hours and thirty-five minutes to film my final episode of Perfect Alibi. The audience was again amazing, as was Marcus. He thanked me on stage for being a great co-star, and the audience cheered along. It made me feel amazing but also emotional.

  I had enjoyed my two weeks there; despite how challenging it had been on the outside, this had been my favourite job in my entire career. It was a shame that it had been tarred with so much stress outside of the studio. But I was beginning to see that this was what my life was meant to be like. There were always going to be challenges and upsets; I was just going to have to learn to deal with them head-on, as that was always the better way. Running solved nothing. I was learning that now.

  “You joining us for dinner this evening?” Marcus asked as we stepped off stage and headed down the corridor towards our dressing rooms.

  “Absolutely,” I replied.

  “Great. I’ll come knock for you in twenty minutes.” He smiled, bumping his shoulder into mine before disappearing into his dressing room.

  Yes, I was really going to miss this. It had been the perfect escape for me while Blake was away, despite that someone had tried to kill me. I smiled to myself as I thought about the saying “You could write a book about it”; that’s how crazy my life had been over the past two weeks.

  I opened the door to my dressing room and stepped inside. My heart pounded hard and my body shook at the sight that awaited me.

  “Hello, beautiful.”

  I gasped in surprise. Every ounce of fear and dread and hurt that had been building up inside me for the past eleven days evaporated like vapour into the air.

  “Blake,” I said with relief. “Oh my God!” Happy tears burst the dams. Closing the distance between us, I took two quick steps and jumped into his open arms, wrapping my legs tightly around his waist.

  Immediately the warmth from his body gripped me as his arms folded tightly around my waist. He was here, in front of me, and I was as close in his arms as I could possibly manage, but I needed to get closer.

  “When did you? … how did you? …” My fingers grazed the short stubble of his chin as I took in the sight of him. “I can’t believe you’re here,” I said in disbelief. “Am I dreaming, or are you really here?” I laughed.

  “I’m really here, beautiful. We finished earlier than expected, and I wanted to surprise you,” he said with a gleam in his smile. “You were fantastic out there, really. Wow.”

  My mouth claimed his. God I had missed him, more than I could ever have imagined. There was so much he didn’t know that I would need to talk to him about, but right now I would enjoy the fact that he was here, in my dressing room, holding me in his arms, in my safe place.

  “You have no idea how happy I am right now,” I said as I pulled away briefly. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you too,” Blake said as he squeezed my backside, pulling me closer to him.

  A sharp knock at the door distracted us both. My body slid out of Blake’s hold. We were both panting hard. I took a moment to steady my breathing, resting my head against Blake’s chest.

  “Don’t move,” I said quietly.

  Blake smiled. “I’m never going anywhere again, beautiful. Not without you.”

  I walked over to the door, feeling slightly nervous. The last thing I wanted now was to find Cooper standing on the other side of the door, waiting to look after me as he had been doing since Blake had been away.

  “Ready to go?” Marcus asked.

  “I think I’m going to take a rain check, I’m afraid.” I opened the door wider and nodded to Blake.

  “Hey, you’re back,” Marcus said, stepping around me and heading to Blake. “How was Miami?”

  He nodded. “It was good, but I couldn’t wait to get back.” Blake’s eyes burnt into me with hunger. Sensing our anticipation to be with each other, Marcus excused himself after making plans with Blake and me for dinner the following week.

  “Please tell me you moved all of your things into my apartment while I was away,” Blake said as I closed the door behind Marcus.

  “About that,” I said carefully as I walked back to where Blake stood. “I’ve been really busy with Casey and Alex and work, and—”

  Blake’s mouth was on mine instantly, silencing me. “You’re not backing out, I hope,” he said against my mouth.

  “Not a chance,” I panted. “I only have a few things left to move. Take me home, and I will get the rest of my things tomorrow; but for now I want to go home and spend the next twenty-four hours making up for lost time.”

  “Don’t you have a bridesmaid fitting early tomorrow?”

  A small groan escaped my lips. “Okay, I want to spend the next twelve hours making up for lost time, and then forever after that.”

  “Forever, huh?”

  I nodded. “Forever.”

  19

  I was back in the safeness that I had become so accustomed to before Blake had gone to work in Miami. He sang happily in the kitchen as I lay in bed waking from a fairly sleepless night, but one that I hadn’t minded whatsoever.

  Having Blake home had eased all of my concern; I had no need to worry about anything now that Blake was back by my side.

  I realized, however, that I wasn’t as strong as I had hoped I could be alone, but that no longer mattered, not now Blake was back to protect me. I realized that at some point that day, there was so much that I needed to tell him. I wasn’t sure how he was going to take the news that I had spent so much time with Cooper against his wishes, but I was sure that as soon as he knew that Cooper had saved my life, he would understand and be as grateful to him as I was.

  Blake came strolling into the bedroom wearing only a pair of pyjama bottoms and carrying a tray full of food.

  “Good morning, my beautiful,” he said, placing the tray on the bedside table before kissing me briefly. “I hope you’re hungry.”

  “Only for you,” I said, wrapping my hand around his neck and pulling him to me. He kissed me again before pulling back. “We have all the time in the world for that,” he said with a chuckle, “but this morning isn’t that time.”

  I pouted, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “And stop pouting,” he said, tugging my lip with his teeth. “Casey and Alex will be here in thirty minutes; Alex and I have been given instructions,” Blake said, wide-eyed in horror. “He’s all hands-on now with this wedding, you know.” Blake brushed the hair from my face with his fingers. “And from what I’ve heard, that’s all thanks to you,” he said, kissing me again. I grinned widely, knowing that somehow, through all of the shit that had happened that week, I had managed to achieve some good.

  “Now eat and get dressed,” he said, climbing off the bed and heading to the bathroom. The truth was that I felt starving, but today was my dress fitting and I was hoping that I had shed the excess weight I had gained as a result of Blake and his persistence to make me eat. I took a couple of bites from one of the pastries to keep me going while I got myself ready for the day ahead.

  “How?” I asked in frustration. “How the hell are my measurements the same when I’ve barely eaten and have exercised as much as I have?” Casey’s giggling only made me more frustrated. “It’s not funny,” I moaned.

  “Come on, Jo, so you gained a little weight. You can’t even tell; you don’t have an ounce of fat on you,” she said, wrapping her arm around me as we walked from the boutique and headed for the florist to check last-minute details.

  While Casey chatted with the florist, I stepped outside to listen to the voicemail that Cooper had left on my mobile a couple of hours before: “Hey, Jo. I hear that Blake got back last night. I hope he’s okay with my being your bodyguard while he’s been away.” I heard the amusement in his voice. “I just wanted to let you know that everything with Sara still checks out. She is still very much in rehab and receiving all of the help that she needs. I hope
that eases your mind somewhat. Although I imagine it’s still confusing as to who would ever try to hurt you.” His voice grew quiet towards the end, as though his mind were elsewhere. “Anyway, I hope I can see you soon. Maybe. Let me know.”

  I decided to return Cooper’s call to thank him for everything he had done for me. His phone went straight to voicemail, so I left him a message.

  “Hi, Cooper, it’s me, Jo.” I rolled my eyes at myself; of course he would know it was me. “I just wanted to thank you for everything that you have done for me while Blake has been away. I’m glad we were able to get back the friendship that we had before … Well, before everything. You have been amazing to me, Cooper, thank you. And as for Sara still being where she is, thank you for looking into that for me. It’s still a mystery who wanted to hurt me, but now Blake is back, I have a feeling I’m going to be okay.” I smiled. “Oh, and just one more thing, Cooper. Thank you for saving my life. I’ll see you soon.”

  Blake was talking on his phone when I walked into the apartment. I dropped my keys and handbag on the dining table before taking a bottle of water from the fridge. I watched as Blake approached me after finishing the call. He looked confused, hurt even.

  “That was Marcus,” he said, tossing his phone onto the table before leaning back against the counter, crossing his arms against his chest. “Anything you want to tell me?” he asked calmly.

  “What about?” I asked nervously.

  “Oh, I don’t know.” He shrugged. “The car being vandalized, your dressing room being trashed …Cooper?”

  “What did Marcus say?” I asked shakily.

  “That doesn’t matter. It’s what you have to say that I’m more interested in hearing.”

  “I was going to tell you everything once you got back, Blake, I swear.”

  “I got back last night, Jo, and yet you haven’t told me anything.”

  “I was so happy to see you last night; you have no idea just how much.” I stepped over to Blake and placed my hands on his chest. His arms stayed crossed. “I didn’t want to spoil that. I swear I was going to tell you everything today.” My voice became panicked. I was beginning to regret not telling him anything.