Underestimated

by Jettie Woodruff

  I was crying and breathing heavy when Drew was once again right there. He was watching me sleep, something that I was sure he did every night. I once again clung to him, but something was different. He did feel safe as he stroked my hair and calmed me down.

  “Come on, come with me,” he finally said, taking my hand.

  “Come with you where, Drew?”

  “To my bed, maybe it will help with the nightmares.”

  Drew never asked what it was about. I think he was afraid of me remember something that he didn’t want me to remember.

  He walked in before me and quickly closed his laptop, not wanting me to see the image of my bed, I was sure. He lifted the covers, and I crawled into his bed. I hated feeling weak. I may have been that person before my accident, but for whatever reason, I didn’t want to be that person anymore.

  Drew’s legs tangled with mine, feeling like they belonged there. “Did you remember something?” he asked to the back of my head.

  “I hope the hell not. I was being chased by monkeys.” I lied. I have no idea how that story just popped into my head, but it did. I turned my face toward him, and he kissed my eye. “Was I ever chased by monkeys?”

  He snorted. “I’m pretty sure that was just a nightmare. Go to sleep.”

  I did sleep. I slept so sound, and when I woke, I was alone in Drew’s bed. I wondered if he had left for his trip already. He hadn’t.

  I turned the knob to his office door, and it wasn’t locked. He was on the phone. I was glad that Derik wasn’t there. I walked around his desk, still wearing my t-shirt and no shoes. I leaned in front of him on his desk, and he looked at me with a look that I could read. I could read it like a book. He ran his hand up my bare leg, not looking at my face. I was getting to him, and he couldn’t get enough of me.

  “Um…She’s doing much better. She’s actually sitting here in front of me,” he spoke.

  I looked at him with a peculiar look as he looked up to me. Who was he talking to that would have been asking about me?

  “Sure, just a second,” he said, handing me the desk phone.

  “Hello,” I cautiously spoke.

  “Morgan, dear, how are you?”

  I knew that it was Mr. Callaway. I smiled at Drew as both his hands glided up my legs, lifting my shirt higher. “I am doing well sir, much better.”

  “Good, that makes me very happy. Is Drew taking care of you?”

  “Drew has taken very good care of me,” I said as my fingers went through his hair. He wrapped his arms around my waist and laid his head on my lap with closed eyes. I wished I knew what he was thinking. “But he’s leaving me today. I’m not real happy about that,” I admitted. Drew looked up with a crooked grin.

  “Tell him to take you with him,” he demanded.

  “I’m not allowed to fly yet, something about the altitude and my injury not getting along with each other.”

  “Well, if you need anything while he is away. You call me. Is your nurse still with you?”

  “No, only on Tuesdays and Thursdays for therapy, I don’t really need her anymore, but Marta will be here with me.”

  “Good. You tell Drew to hurry home.”

  “I will. Thank you.”

  Drew stood and crushed my mouth with his lips. I kept my hands on the sides of his face.

  Jesus vagina. Did you get a brain injury too?

  Drew lifted my shirt and trailed kisses down my chest, landing on my erect nipple. I moaned. What else was I supposed to do? He slid me out of my panties and released himself from his dress pants.

  I moaned again as he slid into me. There was so much passion between us that it was almost excruciating. I was almost sure that I had never felt that way in my life.

  “Drew,” I called out, dropping my head. It was a little strange, almost like I was asking permission to come or something.

  “Yes, you can come, baby,” he answered, giving me permission. I blew it off. I had other things brewing that took precedence over my investigating mind at the time. Drew thrust deep into me, I let go with him feeling every ounce of passion between us.

  “How long are you going to be gone?” I asked once we were back to normal breathing. He was still inside of me and pulled me close to him.

  “Two days, three at the most.”

  “Make it two,” I demanded, and he smiled.

  “I’ll do my best,” he said to my lips as he delicately brought my feet to the floor.

  “Can I have your keys?”

  His head snapped up. He didn’t like it.

  “Stay here until I get back.”

  I didn’t like his tone, but I didn’t falter. “Drew, you can’t make me stay in this house for two days without you. I’ll be bananas by the time you get back, and I will have monkeys chasing me. I’ll make Marta go with me.”

  He smiled at the monkey comment. He was giving in. I could see it.

  “Promise me you will not go to the strip, and you’ll stay on this end of town.”

  Yes…Triumph.

  “I promise,” I said, wrapping my arms around his neck. He kissed me and swatted me on the butt.

  “Fine, get out of here so that I can be on my way, and stop running around the house like that,” he demanded, playfully. “And keep your cellphone on you,” he added. I winked at him and left him alone.

  I didn’t go out of the house that day. I really didn’t need to. I hung out with Marta most of the day. I liked Marta. She wasn’t much older than me. We sat by the pool until the heat was ridiculous and then made chocolate chip cookies. I knew that where ever Drew was he was connected to what was going on in the house. Every time Marta and I would be talking about him, my accident, or trying to remember anything, he would call, interrupting our serious conversation.

  We did leave around seven that evening, picked up a pizza and two chic flicks. I had fun with Marta, and we both put on comfortable, sloppy clothes and ate pizza and watched a movie in front of the television.

  Drew called around eleven, and I told Marta that I was going to bed.

  “How was your day?” he asked. I knew that he already knew how my day was, but I played along anyway.

  “It was good. How was your day? Did you get your big deal?”

  “Not quite, but I’m pretty sure that it’s in the bag.”

  “Good, does that mean that you will be home tomorrow?”

  “Probably not until the next day,” he replied.

  Drew and I stayed on the phone talking about unimportant things for almost an hour until I yawned.

  “You get some rest, and I will talk to you tomorrow,” he said, and we said goodnight.

  I woke around three in the morning, drenched in my own sweat. I felt like I was suffocating, and I didn’t have Drew there to show up and rescue me. It was so vivid, and I wondered if it had actually happened or was it just a nightmare. It wasn’t about the no faced Dawson or Drew. It was Derik. We were in the backseat of a limo, and he was doing horrible things to me. I knew there was a reason I hated him, and now wondered had he hurt me before. I wished to God I could remember pre-accident.

  I got up. I couldn’t go back to sleep after that. I was afraid to go back to sleep. I ran a tub of lukewarm water. I wished Drew would call. I knew that if he was awake he would know that I was up, but then again that would blow his cover and I would know that he was watching my every move. I lay awake for a long time after that, not really thinking about anything, just afraid to close my eyes. I finally dozed back off sometime in the early morning. I slept until Marta woke me after nine. She was afraid something was wrong because I had slept in later than I normally did.

  I spent the next couple of days getting to know not only Marta better, but also myself. I was happy and felt content for the first time since my accident. I couldn’t believe how much I missed Drew and couldn’t wait for him to be home.

  Marta and I did go out the next day. We went to the park and walked around, ate at my new favorite little café, and then came home. It
was too hot to stay outdoors for very long. I did go out alone after dark, once it had cooled down some. I walked around barefoot along the property line. The grass there wasn’t dried up and crispy the way it was in the park. There was a timed water sprinkler system that kept it healthy. If felt funny between my toes as I walked.

  I answered my cellphone, already knowing who it was. “Hello,” I answered, smiling.

  “Where are you?” Drew asked. He had a tone, but I didn’t let it phase me. I was learning how to handle his hard attitude.

  “Lying in bed naked, where are you?” I asked. I knew that he knew that I wasn’t in bed or inside the house.

  He chuckled. “You’re such a liar.”

  “I was just walking around outside a little. It’s actually a nice night.”

  “I would rather you be inside this time of night,” he countered.

  “I’m going. I’m going,” I replied. I could see his smile through the phone.

  I stayed on the phone with him as I walked to my suite, and started bath water. He asked what I had done that day, and I told him what Marta and I had done.

  “Why don’t you go down and sleep in my bed tonight?” Drew asked before we said goodnight. I knew it was because of the nightmare the night before, and he wasn’t here for me.

  “Why?” I asked, feigning ignorance.

  “Because I want you to,” was the only answer he gave me. I wondered if there were cameras in his room. I doubted it, but then again, I didn’t think he would be asking if he couldn’t see me.

  “Well, okay, beings you have a good reason and all,” I teased.

  I did sleep better in Drew’s bed. I could smell his scent on his pillow. I felt safer there. I never woke up once, and when I did, I felt rested, relaxed, and excited for Drew to be home.

  I took special care to look nice. I curled my hair, added makeup, and a spritz of perfume. I tried, I really did. I tried to put on one of the expensive outfits from my closet. I just couldn’t do it. I settled on jean shorts, and a nice tight white shirt that was low cut and showed the skin around my waist.

  Marta made supper, and I sent her away. I wanted the house left to just Drew and I.

  I excitedly went to the door when I heard it open, but it wasn’t Drew. It was Derik. He stopped as dead in his tracks as I did.

  “You don’t live here. Do you think maybe you could knock on the door?” I protested. I didn’t want him there. Drew would be there any minute, and I wanted him to leave.

  He smirked, and walked toward me as my heart picked up about twenty extra beats. He didn’t speak, and I knew it was because he knew that Drew could hear anything that he said. Instead, he walked around me. I jerked and shoved his hand when he brushed his thumb over my nipple. I knew my nightmare hadn’t been a nightmare at all, and he had hurt me.

  I’m not sure if my accident had given me a new sense of heroism or what, but I shoved him as hard as I could. He did stumble back a couple of steps, but I was no match for his muscular physique. He hit me so hard I flew clear across the room. I think that I may have even blacked out for a second because when I opened my eyes he was on top of me, and then he wasn’t.

  Drew threw him off of me and had him on the floor.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” he screamed at him.

  Derik came to his feet. “What the fuck are you doing?” he retaliated. “She’s trailer park trash. You’re going to let her ruin everything.”

  “Shut the fuck up, Derik,” he demanded.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you, Drew? She’s nothing, she’s a piece of meat, and you know it. Put the little bitch back in her place and open your fucking eyes before you blow everything.”

  “Get the fuck out of here, Derik,” Drew demanded, forcefully moving him toward the door by his jacket.

  I wasn’t excited to see Drew anymore. What did Derik mean? Drew hurt me too. I knew it. I’ve known it from the beginning.

  Drew helped me up after slamming the door in Derik’s face.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, running his thumb over my battered lip.

  “What the hell was that, Drew? What did he mean by all of that?” I asked, pulling away from him. He didn’t feel so safe and secure anymore.

  “What happened? Why did he hit you?” he asked, ignoring my question.

  “Because I shoved him after he grabbed my boob,” I said, angrily.

  “He did what?” Drew asked. I could see the veins popping in his neck.

  “I’m almost certain that wasn’t the first time. I think he did other things before.”

  “Why do you think that?” he asked. He seemed like he really wanted to know, and I almost felt like he was defending me.

  “I keep having nightmares about it, but I don’t really think they are nightmares at all.”

  I had a new plan. Derik was going to be out of the picture one way or another. I didn’t know how, but I would figure something out. I wanted him dead. I had a good idea of what I was going to do. It might get me killed, but I would take that chance.

  “Where is Marta, have her get you some ice,” Drew said. I had a feeling that he wasn’t going to comment on my suspicions. He didn’t.

  “I sent her home.”

  He raised one eyebrow and looked down at me. “Why?”

  “I didn’t want her here, but now I guess I really don’t care.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing, Drew. I’m going to get some ice.”

  Drew let me walk away and disappeared to his office. I wiped the blood from my lip but didn’t use the ice. It wasn’t as bad as it felt. I walked into Drew’s office. He only shook his head at me not knocking. I didn’t bother him and sat on the sofa across from him while he led a conference call. I flipped through my new magazine. After almost an hour of him still being on the phone, I scooted down on the sofa and curled into a little ball. I wished I had a blanket. It was freezing in his office. I dozed off waiting for him to be done working.

  I’m not sure how long I slept, but when I woke, I was covered with a soft, warm blanket, and Drew was on another call. I stared at him, and his eyes met with mine. He continued to talk, something about a new cut. I didn’t care what he was saying. I cared about the feeling I got when he looked at me the way he was. I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth, feeling the puffiness from stupid Derik’s knuckles.

  I sat up and ran my fingers through my tangled hair that I had worked so hard on for him. I got up and walked over to him. He ran his hand up the back of my leg. I kissed the top of his head and left him.

  Chapter 17

  I went to the kitchen and got our plates ready for Marta’s prepared meal. I didn’t set the dining room table and set them on the bar in the kitchen. I set two wine glasses by our plates and took out a bottle of chilled wine.

  I was just putting the food out when he joined me.

  He picked up the wine and twisted the corkscrew into it.

  “Do I like beer, Drew?”

  “Excuse me?” he asked with a frown.

  “Beer. Do I like beer? I was just thinking that I would like to have a cold beer, but there isn’t any here. Did we drink beer?”

  “No. We hate beer.”

  “Oh,” I said, brushing it off. It was probably just my mental state. I didn’t even know what it tasted like, so how could I be craving it?”

  Drew poured our wine, and we ate quietly. I don’t think either of us knew quite what to say after the Derik incident. He knew that I had questions, and I knew that I didn’t want to know the answers. I was afraid of them.

  I cleaned up the kitchen while Drew showered. I walked out to the yard, barefoot of course, and sat in the soft grass about half way out. I’m not sure why I jumped. I knew he would come out to find me, but I did. He laughed as he sat, moving in behind me. My hands went to his calves.

  “Jeans,” I said, and smiled.

  “I figured I may as well dress down too. It’s obvious that you’re going to contin
ue to do it,” he said wrapping his arms around my waist. “What are you doing out here? It’s hot.”

  “I don’t think it’s that bad now,” I said, leaning into him. I sat back up and laughed.

  “Are you laughing at me?”

  “No, your shoes. Do you not own a pair of sneakers?” I asked, looking at the shiny brown leather.

  “What do you think?”

  I moved his foot to my lap and removed his shoes and socks. He didn’t stop me or say a word. If I would have eyes in the back of my head, I would almost bet that he was smiling, amused at me.

  “There, doesn’t that feel better? Put your toes in the grass,” I urged, and he did.

  We sat that way while the Nevada sky changed to a midnight black, neither of us spoke and Drew every so often pulled me tight in his arms or kissed my neck and shoulder.

  “Drew,” I softly said. I was trying not to. I didn’t want to ruin the moment, but it was weighing on my mind, and I needed to know.

  “Please don’t, Morgan.”

  He knew what I was going to say before I ever said it.

  I sat up so that I could turn to look at him. “I need to know, Drew,” I begged.

  “You don’t need to know. You only need to know that you are fine now, and I am going to make sure that you stay that way. Please, just trust me.”

  I turned back around. “Am I different than I used to be?

  “Yeah, in some ways I guess.”

  “Are you different, Drew?”

  “I guess I am,” he answered as if he was just realizing it for the first time.

  “Look up,” I said.

  “What?” he asked surprised at my sudden train of thought. I didn’t want to be serious, not that serious anyway.

  “Look, there are a million stars out tonight,” I said. There was. The sky danced with tiny little twinkles.

  Drew leaned back a little and stared up at the sky. I pushed him back more and moved to his side. I lay in his arm with my leg thrown over his waist, gazing up at the star filled sky.