Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology

by Anthony, Jane

  Grady was frightened enough in his hospital room but being out in the open and not being able to see who or what was surrounding him was freaking him out.

  “Rylan, do something.”

  Rylan pushed her way ahead of Weston. “I will be taking my gorgeous boyfriend home. Grady needs a few weeks of rest before he can get back to competing.”

  Weston managed to continue with Grady and reach the car before Rylan finished talking to the press.

  Weston led Grady to his bed. “Ok, Buddy, do you need anything before I go?”

  “No.”

  Weston looked at his friend who was sitting on the edge of his bed like a scared child after a nightmare. “Hey, do you want me to stay? I can cancel my dinner plans.”

  “You know I’ve never been afraid of the dark until now.”

  Weston sat down next to Grady. “I wish I could do something to help you.”

  “You can. Go on your date. I need to rest.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah, get out of here.”

  Rylan ordered in dinner, dished it out and then she yelled for Grady. When he didn’t come out to the dining room she went to see if maybe he was asleep. She opened the door and Grady was sitting up in bed with his eyes open.

  “Why didn’t you come when I called you?”

  “Not hungry.”

  “Grady, you have to eat.”

  “I said I’m not hungry.”

  “You haven’t eaten all day.”

  “Fine! I’ll eat.”

  Rylan smiled. “Good.” Rylan started out of the room.

  “Ry, I need help.”

  “Help?”

  “I don’t know how to get to the dining room.”

  “Oh God, Babe, I’m so sorry.” Rylan walked back over to Grady and took his hand. “Come on, we will walk together.”

  Grady tried to eat but aside from not having much of an appetite he was having trouble using the chop sticks that Rylan handed him for his sushi.

  “Grady, you’ve barely eaten a bite.”

  “I’m having trouble.”

  “Trouble?”

  “Can I have a fork.”

  Rylan stared at him for a moment. “Sure, I guess.” Rylan grabbed a fork and placed it down next to Grady.

  Grady felt for the fork and in doing so he knocked down his drink. “Oh God!”

  “I can’t believe…”

  “I’m sorry.”

  Rylan looked at Grady who was sitting there shaking. She gritted her teeth. “I’m sorry. I should have handed you the fork. I guess I just need to be more aware of your needs.”

  Grady pushed out his chair. “This was a mistake.” He stood up and reached for the wall and followed it until he reached his room. Once he was inside, he slammed the door.

  Rylan pushed the door open and was about to yell at Grady for acting like a child and storming away but then she heard him sniffling. “Are you crying?”

  “I want to be alone.”

  Rylan gently hugged Grady. He didn’t hug her back at first but after a few moments he finally did. “I don’t know what to say or do but I know you and you’ll fight to get your sight back. Grady, I know you will.”

  “I don’t know if I can, Ry.”

  “You can.”

  “What if I can’t? Will you leave me?”

  “Grady, you need to think positive.”

  “It’s just so hard.”

  “Why don’t you get undressed and get some sleep. I’m sure you’ll feel much better after you get a good night’s sleep in your own bed.”

  “Maybe you’re right.”

  “Aren’t I always.” Rylan smiled.

  Grady painfully lifted his shirt over his head, slid off his sweats and got back into bed. He pulled up the blanket and closed his eyes. After a few minutes he opened them again. He used to appreciate closing his eyes and sleeping after a long day…now, not so much.

  Rylan cleaned up the mess that Grady made and then she grabbed her plate and sat down on the sofa. She was already regretting her offer to take care of Grady. He was like a needy child. She picked up her phone and dialed her best friend, Leela.

  “Hello!”

  “I need to vent.”

  “What’s up?”

  “It’s Grady. I thought that once he got home that he’d be different but he’s not. He’s acting like a child.”

  “Rylan, don’t you think that maybe you’re being too hard on him. I mean the guy almost died and besides, he is really hot.”

  “He looks like crap and I know he’s had it rough but so have I. I had to cut my trip short to rush to his bedside and now I’m playing nurse.”

  “Then break up with him if you’re so miserable.”

  “You know how long it took me to get a date with him. I’m not going to blow two years of work now.”

  “Suck it up then.”

  “I guess. Well, thank you for letting me vent.”

  “Anytime.”

  Rylan hung up and took a sip of her wine.

  5

  Rylan was on her last nerve. Grady spent most of the past week in bed. He barely spoke and didn't want to eat. She decided she would give him one last chance before she packed up and left him. Now that she had met all his teammates it shouldn't be too hard for her to hook up with another rich, hot swimmer. “Grady, you awake?”

  “Yes.”

  Rylan leaned down and kissed Grady. Grady pulled away. “Grady, please, we haven't had sex since before I left last month. Don't you want me anymore?”

  “You know I do.”

  “Then relax.” Rylan kissed Grady again and this time he kissed her back. Rylan slowly moved her lips down Grady's neck and continued to his belly.

  Grady tensed up. “I don't know about this.”

  Rylan didn't care how he felt. She wanted sex and she was going to get it. She pushed down Grady's sweats before saddling up on him.

  Grady laid there for a few minutes while Rylan rode him like a prize stallion. He was finally starting to relax when Rylan let out a moan that sent him into a panic. Grady lifted his arm to stop Rylan and hit her in the face.

  “What the fuck, Grady!”

  “Stop! Stop!”

  Rylan climbed off Grady and grabbed her clothes. “You’re fucked up! I’m done with you!”

  “I’m so sorry, Ry.”

  “You should be. I’ve wasted two years of my life on you and for what…a man who doesn't shave or shower and won't do anything to help himself. You're weak and pathetic, Grady. I’m done! We’re over!”

  Rylan packed up her bags and walked out while Grady remained silent.

  Weston was heading out of the gym when he spotted Rylan cozying up to one of his teammates, Lou, in the parking lot. His first reaction was anger that she was cheating on his best friend but then he suddenly realized that if she was there then who was with Grady? Weston yelled out as he approached Rylan. “Shouldn’t you be home with Grady?”

  Rylan looked over at Weston with disgust. “That loser, I dumped his sorry ass.”

  “I need to get to the pool.” Lou got into his car and took off.

  “Dick! You chased Lou away.”

  “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “Oh please, you of all people know that I never actually loved Grady, so why would I stay with that pathetic excuse of a man.” Rylan shook her head.

  “You’re even worse than I imagined.” Weston shook his head. “You disgust me!” Weston stormed off to his car.

  Grady didn’t know how long it had been since Rylan slammed the door. All he knew was that he was alone…in the darkness that was consuming him. Grady made his way to the bathroom. He couldn’t live like this anymore. Grady slid his hands across the wall until he found the medicine cabinet. He opened the door, took out every bottle containing pills that he could find and tossed them to the floor before grabbing the bottle of mouthwash and dropping himself onto the floor.

  He grabbed the first bottle of pills he could
get his hands on, opened them, dumped the bottle into his mouth and swallowed them down with a swig of mouthwash. The second bottle only had a few pills which he swallowed down as he reached for the next bottle.

  “GRADY! GRADY, WHERE ARE YOU?” Weston was running through the house looking for his friend.

  Grady started pushing pills into his mouth in hopes that he’d have consumed enough to kill himself before Weston found him.

  Weston opened the bathroom door and his heart almost stopped when he saw Grady on the floor with pill bottles surrounding him. “GRADY!” Weston dropped to his knees as he knocked the pills out of Grady’s hand. “How many of these did you already take?”

  “Leave.”

  “Answer me?” Weston started looking to see which bottles were empty. He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed 9.

  Grady heard the keypad. “Stop!”

  “Grady, you need help. I’m not going to kneel here and watch you die. I won’t lose you, Buddy, I love you.”

  “If you do, then you’ll leave.”

  “No.”

  Grady reached his hands up and raked them through his hair. “I can’t live like this.”

  “Well you may not be living much longer if I don’t get you some help.”

  “West…”

  Weston had gotten the empty bottles together and was relieved that it seemed they were mostly vitamin C, magnesium, a bottle that at most had four water pills inside and an expired bottle of antibiotics. While he didn’t think Grady was in immediate danger, he needed to get him help. “Look, Grady, if you won’t let me call 9-1-1, at least let me call a doctor.”

  Grady started to sweat profusely. “I, I want you to leave.”

  Weston decided to text for help instead of calling so that Grady wouldn’t know. “I’m not going to leave you alone.”

  Cassidy was half asleep when she heard her phone buzz. She reached across the table from the couch and picked it up.

  Weston: “Hey, it’s Weston, Grady O’Malley’s friend. He just took a bunch of pills. He needs help. I wouldn’t ask but it’s urgent and I’ll compensate you heavily if you’d come to his house right now.”

  Cassidy bolted up from the couch.

  Cassidy: “WHAT! CALL 9-1-1.”

  Weston: “I don’t think it’s anything that can do more than make him sick to his stomach.”

  Cassidy was already slipping on her shoes. She grabbed her medical bag and coat.

  Cassidy: “I’m on my way. Text me his address.”

  Cassidy was a wreck. The mere mention of Grady’s name set her off but the thought of seeing him again and being inside his house was enough to send her nerves into a panic.

  Weston pulled the door open. “Thank you for coming.”

  “Where is he?”

  “In the bathroom. I can’t get him to move.”

  “I was hoping to hear from him but not under these circumstances.”

  “He’s a mess.”

  “Blindness is very difficult to adjust to, not to mention the trauma from the plane crash…”

  “Or that his dumbass bitch of a girlfriend walked out on him today.”

  Cassidy blinked. “Wow! I’m sure that’s what pushed him over the edge.”

  “Luckily most of what he ingested was vitamins, magnesium, diuretics and an expired antibiotic. He did wash them down with mouthwash, but it is the natural kind without any alcohol, so I don’t think that can do much harm, right?”

  “Yes, you’re probably correct.”

  “He’s in there. Good luck.”

  “Good luck?”

  “He doesn’t know I texted you.”

  “Oh, I see. Then maybe I do need some luck.”

  Grady was feeling queasy and dripping in sweat. He thought that he’d have passed out by now. He heard the door open. “West…”

  “It’s not Weston.”

  Grady tensed up and pushed himself against the wall. “Who’s there?”

  “It’s Dr. Scott. We met at the hospital.”

  “Weston called you?”

  “Yes. He’s worried about you.”

  “It’s too late for you or anyone else to help me.”

  “Grady, I can help you.”

  “I can’t live like this anymore.” Grady dropped his face into his hands.

  Cassidy knelt beside Grady. “I know it can be scary and confusing but, Grady, I know that I can help you.” Cassidy placed her hand down onto Grady’s shoulder.

  Grady turned toward Cassidy’s voice, opened his mouth and vomit spewed out.

  “OH MY GOD!” Cassidy pulled back and could see the look of fear on Grady’s face. She leaned him over the tub and rubbed his back. “It’s ok.”

  “What’s going on in here? I heard…” Weston stopped talking when Cassidy looked up and he saw vomit everywhere. “Oh shit! I’ll go get some clean towels.”

  Grady stopped vomiting and gasped. “Is this the end?”

  “Grady, you’re not going to die, I promise. The pills you took were mostly vitamins and they won’t do much more then upset your stomach and at best give you heart palpitations.”

  “Here are some towels.” Weston handed the towels to Cassidy. “Why don’t you go wash up in the bathroom down the hall.”

  “I’ll be right back, Grady. Weston is here.”

  “Why don’t we get you cleaned up too.” Weston took a hold of Grady’s elbow to pull him up.

  “You called her when I asked you not to call anyone.”

  “And I didn’t, I texted her. Now get your stinky ass in the shower.”

  Grady pushed down his sweats and Weston helped him into the shower. “Thanks, West.”

  “If you want to thank me, you’ll talk to her.”

  6

  Cassidy wandered around Grady’s living room admiring all his medals, ribbons, and trophies. She had always dreamed of meeting Grady one day, but never did she imagine she’d be in his home. She reminded herself that if he hadn’t been in such a horrific accident that left him blind that she wouldn’t be there. Someone like Grady would never as much as give her a second look…hell, he’d never give her a first one.

  “He’s all yours.”

  “How’s he doing?”

  “I don’t know. He doesn’t say much since the accident.” Weston’s eyes welled up with tears.

  Cassidy rubbed her hand up and down Weston’s arm. “I know how hard things like this can be on loved ones. I’m here if you need to talk.”

  Weston gave Cassidy a half smile. “Thank you.”

  “Wish me luck, I’m going in.”

  “Last time I wished you luck you got spewed on.”

  “I hated that shirt anyway.” Cassidy winked before she walked away.

  Cassidy poked her head inside the door. Grady was propped up in his bed. His hair was still wet, and he had on a fitted white T-shirt. Cassidy couldn’t help but stare at him for a moment. “Feeling any better?”

  “Weston told me that I vomited on you. I’m sorry. I’ll have your clothing replaced.”

  “It was an old shirt. I tossed it. Luckily, I always have a change of clothes in my bag. Comes in handy when I get stuck at the hospital.”

  “Uh…so, umm, do you have to report me for what I did?”

  “Well, it’s my job to make sure that you seek help.”

  “I understand.”

  “However, if you promise me that you’re not going to try anything like that again AND you agree to get help to work through your problems; then I won’t document your attempted suicide.”

  “Do you really believe that…”

  Cassidy looked at Grady who was in mid-sentence when he suddenly stopped speaking. “Grady, what’s going on?”

  “I’m dizzy.”

  “Grady, when was the last time that you ate something?”

  “Yesterday, maybe.”

  Cassidy reached for her bag. “I’m going to give you a quick exam. Then you need to eat.”

  “I’m not really hungr
y.”

  “After all of that vomiting you need to hydrate too.” Cassidy listened to Grady’s heart and took his blood pressure. “I want to draw some blood, ok?”

  “Ok.”

  Cassidy looked down at Grady. His eyes had dark circles under them. “When was the last time that you slept?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Last night?”

  “No.”

  “The night before?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Oh, Dear, that’s not good. No wonder you’re in such a bad place.” Cassidy placed her hand onto Grady’s cheek.

  “I don’t even know if it’s day or night. I’m so confused.”

  “Listen to me. I want to give you something to make you sleep and I don’t mean a weak sleeping pill. I want to give you something that will keep you down for the count for a good ten to twelve hours. While you’re out, I’d also like to start you on an IV to combat your dehydration and we will work on force feeding you if need be, once you’re awake.”

  “Ok.”

  Cassidy took a vial from her bag and filled a syringe. “I just need you to roll on your side, so I can give you this injection.”

  Grady turned on his side. Cassidy pulled back his blanket and reached for his waistband. She would have paid money to see Grady’s ass if given the chance but now that she could see it for free, she suddenly felt awkward. She exhaled, pulled his shorts down and jabbed him with the needle as quickly as possible.

  “Ugh!”

  “I’m sorry, so sorry.”

  “It was more that I wasn’t prepared.”

  “I should have told you. I’m sorry.”

  “Stop apologizing. You’re trying to help me.”

  “You can get comfortable now. I’ll wait for you to fall asleep to start the IV.”

  Grady felt Cassidy move away from the bed. He swung out his arm. “Dr. Scott.” Grady moved his arm until he caught Cassidy’s wrist. “Don’t go.”

  “I’m not. I’ll be here until your IV is finished.”