Too Good

by Kayla Carson

  “And, I just want to go home with my girl.”

  “Cole-”

  “Harper, we aren't breaking up. We're going to eat dinner, get some sleep, and then in the morning, you're going to drive us home.”

  “But-”

  “Sit.” I said, patting the bed before opening the takeout bag, and emptying it's contents.

  She silently sat down beside me, and when I passed her the food she smiled. “Should I be worried?” She asked, taking a sip of her soda.

  “About?” I asked, around a mouth full of food.

  “I tried to break up with you, and you wouldn't let me. Feels pretty damn controlling.”

  I laughed, nearly choking on my french fry. I knew she was being a smart ass, but it still kind of pissed me off. “Is that how you really feel? Sweetheart, if I thought you actually wanted me gone, I wouldn't stick around.”

  “I've been controlled my entire life, but for some reason when you do it.. never mind.”

  I could see her cheeks turning red, and I couldn't help but smile. “What is it Sweetheart?” I teased, rubbing my hand down her back, and letting it rest on her hip. “Does it turn you on?” I whispered close to her ear, causing a shiver to run through her body. Her cheeks changed from blush, to crimson, and I laughed, placing a kiss on her neck.

  “You're such an asshole.” She breathed out in frustration.

  “I never claimed to be anything different.”

  Rolling her eyes, she began to eat her food. Pausing every few seconds to glance in my direction. My head was killing me, but I was trying to hide it. I didn't want her worrying about me. Wondering if I would be tempted to use again, because if I was being honest with myself, I was. Having her here with me helped. It was part of the reason I'd told her to stay. I was worried about her safety of course, but if she was here with me, I knew I could keep it together. My need to protect her was stronger than my urge to take the edge off, especially because I knew it wouldn't end there.

  When we finished our meal, Harper curled into my side. The nurse came in to check my vitals, informing us that she couldn't sleep there. I told her to fuck off, and she didn't come back in after that. I closed my eyes, knowing that Harper wouldn't fall asleep until I did. When I heard her breathing change, and felt her grow limp beside me, I opened them again. I knew I wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight. Instead, I rested my chin on her head, taking in her coconut shampoo.

  I was worried. When Vanessa realized her flunkies had failed to get rid of me, what would she do next? I'd spoken to Wes, while Harper was gone, and he said he'd be by in the morning to help get me home. I told him to fuck off too, but it didn't work. He used Harper, saying that she couldn't possibly get me out into the car, and then into the house on her own. I told his dumb ass that my legs weren't broken, but when I stood earlier to use the restroom, I gave in. It was like a bad case of vertigo. Everything spun, even when I was standing still. Banging my head against the steering wheel may have saved my life, but it left one hell of a headache.

  I must have drifted off at some point during the night, because when I woke, Harper was gone. I tried to sit, but I did it too quickly, causing my head to throb uncontrollably. I instinctively reached up, cradling it in my hands. The monitor next to my bed started beeping, and I could feel my heart rate increasing. A few seconds later, a slew of nurses came barreling into my room. I didn't know what was going on, but when I was being pressed to my back, I didn't fight it.

  My breathing became shallow, and it felt like my heart was going to hammer out of my chest. I tried to speak, to ask where Harper had gone, but I couldn't catch my breath. One of the nurses placed an oxygen mask on me, and told me to take deep slow breaths. I did as she said, and after a few minutes my heart began to slow, and it was getting easier to breathe. I closed my eyes, continuing the deep breaths until I was calm enough to speak.

  “What happened?” I finally breathed out.

  “You had an anxiety attack Mr. Stephens. Have you ever had one before?”

  “What? No.” I said with disbelief.

  “Calm down Mr. Stephens. Your heart rate is just getting back to normal. Did something upset you?”

  It was then, that Harper came back into the room. She was holding a bag of chips, and a bottle of water. Her eyes grew wide with concern, and I closed mine. “Get out.” I said to the nurse, who was checking my blood pressure.

  “Mr. Stephens, I need to check-”

  “Get. Out.” I said again, cutting her off.

  She took the cuff from my arm, and shoved it back into the tray on her cart. She nodded towards the others in the room, and they exited just ahead of her. “I'll be back.” She warned.

  “Where the hell were you?” I asked, my anger directed towards Harper this time.

  “I was hungry.” She said, casting her eyes downward.

  “Fuck, Harper.”

  “What? You were sleeping peacefully, and my stomach was grumbling so loud, I thought I'd wake you.”

  “I had a fucking panic attack.” I sighed.

  “What?” She asked, placing her snacks on the bed side table. “Why?”

  “Gee I don't fucking know. Maybe it's because I woke up at four AM in a fucking hospital, to find my girlfriend fucking missing!”

  “Vanessa won't hurt me.”

  “How can you be so fucking sure? After everything she's done?”

  “What would you have done anyway? You're holed up in a hospital bed! If she were to come in here right now, you've got no way to protect me!” Her anger was rising, and her eyes began to fill with tears. “I just wanted a damn snack.” She sobbed.

  Once again, I felt like the biggest ass on the planet, and once again I found myself patting the space beside me. She came without hesitation, tears still spilling from her eyes. When she was safely tucked back into my side, I kissed the top her head. “I'm sorry Sweetheart. I've just never felt this way before.”

  “What way?” She sniffled.

  “Helpless.”

  Chapter 7

  The next morning, Wes showed up just after I'd finished dressing. Thankfully, Harper brought me a change of clothes, but putting them on was harder than I thought it would be, and I was glad that Wes had missed the struggle. It bothered me, being seen as weak in his eyes. I always felt like I had something to prove to him, and it had absolutely nothing to do with him, and everything to do with me.

  “Ready?” He asked, pushing a wheel chair towards me.

  “I'm not getting in that damn thing.” I said, gritting my teeth as I stood. I could feel my head start spinning, and I closed my eyes taking a deep breath.

  “Cole?”

  I could faintly hear Harper's voice calling my name, but it was drowned out by the bass like throbbing inside of my head. I wanted to respond, but instead, I sat back down on the bed. Before I had a chance to try again, Wes was at my side helping me into the wheel chair. “Fuck off.” I said, under my breath.

  “How have you been dealing with this asshole?” He asked Harper, laughing as he wheeled me out of the room, and into the hall. It was a rhetorical question, but I half expected her to give him an answer anyway. When we made it out to Harper's car, he paused. “You sure you can get into that thing? It's the size of a pea.”

  “As opposed to what? The back of your fucking bike?”

  “Oh that's right, you've been too busy almost dying to notice.” He grabbed a key fob from his pocket, and hit the unlock button. The lights on the large SUV directly in front of us blinked in response. “Apparently, babies can't ride on the back of motorcycles. Something about them needing car seats.”

  I started laughing, but the sound quickly turned to whining, as I clutched my head in pain. “Fuck.” I seethed out. “Quit making me laugh with your God damned dad mobile Wes!”

  He apologized through his own laughter, before helping me ease into Harper's car. “I'll follow you back to the house to help you get him inside.” He said, nodding towards Harper.

  �
�Thanks Wes.” She smiled politely, before getting into the driver's seat.

  “Thanks Wes.” I mocked.

  “You're such an ass.” She said, rolling her eyes, and starting the engine. “Remind me to hire someone to deal with you when you're old. There is no way I'm dealing with.. whatever this is.” She teased.

  “Relationship goals Sweetheart, you're talking about the future.”

  “Don't you need to take a nap or something?”

  “I love you too Sweetheart.”

  It was a twenty minute drive back home from the hospital, and when Harper pulled the car into the garage, I felt my stomach drop. I took a deep breath, when I noticed Wes pull in behind us. He exited his SUV, and came around to my door. I let him help me into the wheel chair, and together he, and Harper got me up the few stairs leading into the kitchen.

  “I made up the downstairs guest room.” She said, as she wheeled me into the room. “I know it isn't our room, but we'll have to make do for now. The doctors said you need to take it easy, and stairs don't mix well with vertigo.”

  “Thanks baby.”

  When she brought me back into the kitchen, I found Wes sitting at the dining table. “We need to talk about what happened.” He said, crossing his arms over his chest.

  Before I could respond, Harper pulled a key from the front pocket of her jean shorts. Wes, and I watched her with curiosity, as she opened one of the kitchen cupboards. She pulled every glass from it, until it was empty, revealing a small lock box. She sat it on the table, and handed Wes the key.

  “What's this?” He asked, turning the key in his hand.

  “I don't think that Vanessa came here planning to kill Cole. I think he was just in the wrong place, at the wrong time. I found the flash drive in the garage, and I think she was here looking for it. I want you to take it.”

  “Why me?”

  “Like I said, she has files on people, places, things, I don't want any part of that.”

  “Maybe we should just turn it over to the police?” I said, putting my two cents in.

  “We need to go through it with a fine tooth comb. Whatever is on it was worth killing you for brother. Maybe we can find some kind of leverage. Something to take her down.”

  “I get going rogue, but what are you going to do if you find her? Citizen's arrest?” I laughed, wincing at the pain. “Make a copy if you have to, but you need to take it to the police.”

  “Harper?” Wes asked. “What do you think?”

  “Cole's right. Make a copy.”

  Wes stood, taking the key and lock box with him. “Call me if you need anything Harper.”

  “What about me?” I asked, pretending to feel wounded.

  “Fuck off.” He said, flipping me the bird.

  I laughed, causing me to wince again. “Quit making me fucking laugh prick!” I called after his receding back, only making him laugh louder as he shut the door behind him.

  “Do you think Wes will turn the flash drive into the police?” Harper asked, after she finished placing all the glasses back into the cupboard.

  “He will, but not after sending a copy to Jake. He may be out of the game, but he still has friends in very high places.”

  “I'm glad you're OK Cole, in case I haven't said it out loud yet.”

  “Come here Sweetheart.” I said, patting my lap.

  She came to me slowly, easing down as if I were broken. She sat sideways, her arms wrapped around my neck, and mine wrapped around her waist. She laid her head on top of mine, and I gave her a squeeze. “I quit my job today.” She said quietly.

  “You did?”

  “I spoke to Zoe. She's going to help me find a space.”

  “That's great Sweetheart!” I said with enthusiasm.

  “It is.” She agreed, smiling with a hint of mischief in her eyes. “Want to know the best part?”

  “What's that?”

  “I get to stay home and take care of you, and all of your needs.” She whispered into my ear, letting her lips brush the bottom of my lobe.

  “Should I start calling you nurse Harper?” I asked, giving her ass a slight pinch.

  “I guess that means I'm in charge.”

  I laughed, ignoring the pain starting to form in my head. “Didn't we learn that you like being told what to do baby?”

  “I, uh-”

  “Shh.” I said, placing my finger over her lips. “Stand up, and take your shirt off.”

  “Cole-”

  “Stand up. And take. Your. Shirt. Off.”

  She stood then. Her bottom lip was between her teeth, as she backed away from me. I nodded my head, signaling her to do as I asked. In an instant, she pulled her shirt off, and tossed it onto the ground. Her black lacy bra barely held her breasts inside, and I couldn't help but lick my lips.

  “Lose the bra.”

  She only hesitated for a moment, before reaching behind her and unclasping it. She let the straps fall down her shoulders, and then let it fall completely. She stood before me in a pair of blue jean shorts, her breasts on full display. I crooked my finger, and she came to me, her bottom lip still between her teeth. When she was close enough to reach, I pulled her down onto my lap. She gasped, when I brushed my lips over one of her hardened nipples.

  “Cole.” She breathed out, as I expertly flicked my tongue. “You just got home from the hospital.”

  “You're right.” I said releasing her nipple, and running my hand down the side of her face. “I should really be laying down. Help me to the bedroom?”

  Chapter 8

  I woke the next morning to the sun shining brightly through the window. I squinted, the light causing my head to instantly throb. “Fuck.” I seethed out between clenched teeth. Harper must have been close by, because she seemingly came out of no where, shutting the blinds.

  “I'm sorry.” She said, climbing into the bed beside me. “I got up to put the coffee on, and I wasn't thinking about the sun.”

  “You look sexy in my shirt.” I teased, playing with the ends of the button down.

  Rolling her eyes, she turned away from me, intending to slip back out of the bed. I caught her by the wrist instead, pulling her against me. She squealed, when my arm snaked around her waist. “Did I say you could leave the bed?” I asked, kissing the top of her head playfully.

  “I have to go help Zoe with preparations for the prom today, remember?”

  “That's right. It's in what, ten more days?”

  “Yeah.” She hesitated. “About that... I know you did the whole “prom-posal” thing, but we don't have to go. I mean, you need to take it easy.”

  “Oh no. You're not getting off that easily Sweetheart. We're going, even if I have to go in that damn contraption.” I said, pointing to the wheelchair in the corner of the room.

  “Will you be OK here by yourself today? I can call Wes-”

  “I'm a grown as man Sweetheart, I don't need a fucking babysitter.”

  She rolled her eyes, giving me a swift kiss on the lips. “I'm going to take a shower, do you want some coffee before I hop in?”

  “Just bring the chair over. I'll handle it.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I've got to piss Harper, you going to hold my dick for me too?”

  With a gleam in her eye, she climbed onto my lap, straddling me. “Do you want me to?” She asked, raising a brow suggestively.

  I couldn't help but laugh. I wasn't trying to be a dick, but she knew that. She was used to my attitude by now, and I knew I was damn lucky that she put up with my ungrateful ass. “I'm sorry.” I mumbled.

  “What was that?” She asked, placing her hand over her ear. “Did Cole Stephens just apologize for being an ass?”

  “Keep it up Sweetheart, and I'll show you how much of an ass I can be.”

  This time it was her who laughed. “Your bark is far worse than your bite Sweetheart.” She teased, dipping down to kiss me. It was a soft kiss, but soon turned deeper, when my hands gripped her hips. She moaned into my mouth, an
d I knew she could feel my erection growing beneath her. She broke the kiss then, a smile still plastered on her beautiful face. “I'll be back before dinner.” And just as quickly as she'd come, she'd gone, pushing the wheel chair next to the bed before running out of the room.

  “Harper!” I yelled, as her giggling form disappeared around the corner, and into the bathroom. “You're lucky I can't get up and chase you!” She'd left me with the biggest case of blue balls known to man kind, and all I could think about was joining her in the shower. I sat up slowly, and the room didn't spin quite as much as it did yesterday. Taking a deep breath, I swung my legs around so that they were dangling over the bed. I stood, but I was still a bit dizzy, so I eased down into the wheelchair.

  I'd managed to use the facilities, and pour myself a cup of coffee, without Harper's help, and to be honest, I was feeling better for it. I hated to have to rely on people, especially Harper. I should be the one taking care of her, not the other way around. When she came out of the bathroom dressed in a pair short denim shorts, and a white tank top revealing her stomach, I wanted to stand up, toss her over my shoulder, and drag her ass back to the closet.

  “Are you trying to piss me off?” I asked, taking a slow sip of my coffee.

  “What now?” She asked, annoyed as she breezed past me to pour another cup of coffee for herself.

  “You're going to help make decorations, and paint. Shouldn't you wear a pair of overalls or something?”

  “It's ninety damn degrees out Cole!” She laughed, pulling her long hair up into a messy bun on the top of her head. “Do you want me to have a stroke?”

  “I want you to put some damn clothes on Harper. If you bend over the wrong way, the whole place is going to get a glimpse.”

  “They aren't that short.” She sighed, turning to purposely bend over directly in front of me. “See?”

  “Are you not wearing underwear?” I could feel the mixture of anger, and arousal filling me, and if I could have walked a straight damn line, she would have felt it too.

  “It's a thong Cole.” She said reasonably, as she turned to face me.