Use Me

by Kimberly Knight

  “If he’s going to stalk me—which he won’t—then he’ll do it even if you call him. Hell, it might make him do it more.”

  “I need to do this.”

  “Why?”

  I ran my hands down my face and sighed. “Because he can’t win.”

  “He’s not winning. If anything, you are.” Ashtyn waved her hand in my direction.

  “Just let me do this. I need to do this,” I pleaded.

  She stared at me for a beat and then handed me the phone. “Okay.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. After finding out that he was your bully, I did some research and read that confronting a bully is good for the bullied. Of course, I was never going to tell you that because of who he is. I thought it would be better to just let it be.”

  I didn’t know about that. Having him once again try to ruin my life was the last straw. We weren’t kids anymore.

  Before I talked myself out of it, I took the phone from her hand, found his number in her contacts and hit the button to call him. It rang twice before he answered.

  “Ashtyn! Thank you—”

  “It’s not Ashtyn.”

  “Cole.”

  “Yeah, it’s me. Stop calling my girlfriend!” I started to pace again. This time around the entire living room because I couldn’t stand still.

  “I can call whoever the fuck I want.”

  “Dude, she ain’t interested in you anymore.”

  “You’re just her rebound.”

  “I’m glad you think so, but I know differently.”

  “I’ve known her longer, and she was mine first.”

  “Why do you even care? You moved on with that blonde.”

  He tsked. “I don’t care about her.”

  “Okay, well leave Ashtyn alone or—”

  “Are you threatening me?”

  “Do I need to?”

  He laughed. “I wouldn’t or I’ll—”

  “Or you’ll what? Beat me up like you did in high school? I’m much bigger now, asshole, and like it or not, Ashtyn and I are together.”

  “Not for long.”

  “Yes, for long. Forever.” My gaze met Ashtyn’s, and she smiled. I tried to smile back, but the laughter in my ear caused me to close my eyes in frustration.

  “So she showed you her Pinterest board? You two getting married now?”

  “I don’t know about her damn Pinterest board.” Ashtyn rolled her eyes and sighed, shaking her head. “But yes, to answer your other question, if she’ll let me.”

  “Not if I stop you.” He hung up, and I took the phone away from my ear. I had no idea what he meant, but it felt as though our little game wasn’t over.

  A few weeks ago when I was at the game with my friends, I thought I wanted to have a baby. That was short lived because being able to jump in an airplane and fly to a spa on a whim was more my style. At least for now. My biological clock was ticking, but I loved what I had going with Rhys, and I didn’t want to scare him away.

  Also, how could I bring a baby into this world when there was so much drama? Fucking Corey. I just wanted him to leave me the hell alone. All of his texts were confusing, and after Rhys called him, I thought that maybe Corey was only doing it to break us up.

  “If I’ll let you do what?” I asked.

  “Nothing. What is he talking about Pinterest?”

  I took a deep breath. If he got scared away because I was a planner, then it was better to know now. “I have a wedding board on Pinterest.”

  He was silent for a few seconds. “That’s it?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. Corey—”

  “Fuck, Corey. I don’t want to talk about that asshole again.”

  “Okay. Hand me the phone back.”

  “What are you going to do?” Rhys asked.

  “Block his number.”

  I did just that.

  Over the next few weeks, Rhys and I went and viewed several houses. I didn’t need the hustle or bustle of the city anymore. I wanted the fireplace and pool. Hell, I wanted a fireplace next to the pool. None of the places we looked at were the one, but I went ahead and found a renter for my condo. It was weird knowing some stranger was living in my place, but ever since Philip died in it, I didn’t feel like it was my place at all. The new tenant didn’t seem to mind that a man had been killed in my living room. In fact, she was a paranormal author and seemed to think that it would help her with her writing. To each their own I suppose.

  Some might think that buying a house together after only four months of dating is too fast. Maybe it is for some, but when you know, you just know. It was different with Rhys than with any man I’d dated before. He made me smile, he made me laugh, and I felt safe when I was with him. And he almost took a bullet trying to protect me. If that’s not true love, then I don’t know what is.

  “The girls are coming over tonight after work. We’re going to watch the game.”

  Rhys stared at me for a beat as we lay in bed. Something we did a few times a week. It was as though we felt the longer we stayed in bed, the more time would slow so we could have more time together. “Are you trying to be late to work?”

  “What?” I chuckled.

  “You just made me hard again by saying that the girls are coming over to watch the game. I’m pretty sure with that sentence I fell more in love with you.”

  “Well …” I blushed.

  “Next you’re going to be telling me that they’re coming over for poker night.”

  My eyes widened. “Yes! Let’s do that. Let’s have a poker tournament when we buy a house. Like a housewarming party, but with poker.”

  “Do you even know how to play?” He laughed.

  “No, but you can teach me. We have time.”

  Rhys grinned and rolled on top of me. “You, Ashtyn Valor, are going to be the death of me.”

  “I’m going to be late,” I reminded him.

  “You won’t be late. I’ll be quick.” He kissed me feverishly and true to his word, I wasn’t late to work. I made it with a few seconds to spare.

  After work, I was going to stop at the liquor store and grab a couple of bottles of vodka. Since it was a Friday night, the girls and I might drink all of it. I wasn’t driving, and Rhys had the secret breakfast that cured hangovers. Plus, I could talk him into making it in only a towel again.

  As I was brushing mascara on my lashes to freshen up for my broadcast, I saw Abby walk by. “Hey!” I called out.

  She peeked around the corner. “What’s up?”

  “Anything you want to share?”

  She smirked. “About what?”

  I put the tube of mascara down and turned toward her. “You know how Rhys and the guys have poker every week?” I leaned a hip against the makeup vanity and crossed my arms.

  She nodded.

  “And you know how I live there now?”

  She nodded again.

  “Well,” I chuckled and shook my head slightly in amusement, “to give the guys time alone to play, I go in the bedroom and read or do whatever, but I can still hear them.”

  “Okay …”

  “And you know what I heard on Wednesday night?”

  Abby started to smirk slowly as though she knew what I was going to say. “Do tell.”

  “Let’s just say that I know Kenny’s not sleeping at home.”

  She shrugged. “I don’t kiss and tell.”

  I laughed. “Apparently Kenny does.”

  Abby started to walk away. “Men!”

  I turned back to the mirror. After fluffing my hair, I made my way to get mic’d and then I took my seat next to Everett, the current lead anchor for the evening news. Once he retires, I’m in line to take his position just like I had when Barbara signed off.

  “Have big plans this weekend?” Everett asked, smoothing down his suit jacket.

  “Don’t think so. Rhys and I will probably catch up on The Blacklist.”

  “Ah. Good show.”

  “Hey, Everett?” I heard our Pr
oducer, Chantel’s voice in my ear.

  “Yes?” Everett answered back.

  “We have breaking news of a shooting that just happened thirty minutes ago. We’re going to start with that.”

  “Sounds good,” he responded and then looked at me. “Want to take it?”

  “Really?” I grinned.

  “Sure, why not?”

  “Thanks.”

  “We’re live in five,” Chantel said again in my ear.

  I cleared my throat and waited for the signal.

  “Good evening, I’m Everett Johnson.”

  “And I’m Ashtyn Valor.” I read the monitor not knowing what the story would be about, “We start tonight with breaking news out of the River North area. A man driving a red Ford Mustang opened fire on another vehicle before speeding away. Authorities are on the lookout and have asked for you to contact them if you have any details on his whereabouts. The victim driving the black Mazda …” I trailed off as I caught a glimpse of the car with a Blackhawks sticker on the back that was being shown on live TV. My heart started to beat faster.

  “Ashtyn,” Everett whispered.

  I couldn’t speak as I stared at the monitor. The one that was showing footage of Rhys’s car. The one with yellow police tape blocking off part of the street, and the one showing dozens of cops walking around doing their investigation.

  This wasn’t happening.

  Everett took over. “The victim driving the black Mazda SUV was rushed to the hospital. There’s no word on their condition at this time.”

  “Red Mustang. Rushed to the hospital,” I said out loud. It was only a whisper, but again I felt Everett look over at me as I continued to stare at the monitor. “I have to go.” I stood and started to take my mic off. Everyone was silent as they continued to air my departure. They stared at me, and I faintly heard Everett talking to the camera, but all I could think about was that Corey had shot Rhys. Or at least I’d assumed given he drove a red Mustang. How the fuck did that happen? I’d just seen Rhys this morning, and now I was reporting that Corey shot him when he was on his way to work. Shot him only a few blocks from my work.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” Abby stopped me as I made my way out of the newsroom.

  “Corey shot Rhys.”

  “What?”

  I moved around her to rush to my desk to grab my purse and car keys. “I have to go Abs.”

  “I’ll call Kenny.”

  I didn’t wait for her even though I could sense she was following me. I briefly heard her talking on the phone, but I didn’t pay any attention. My focus was getting to Rhys. I knew that Carter was a trauma surgeon and he’d once told me that all gun shots go to his trauma center. That was where I needed to go to look for Rhys, but how was I going to manage driving heavy machinery as my heart raced a million miles an hour and I couldn’t get the crime scene out of my head?

  “Kenny had no idea. He said they’ve been trying to call Rhys since he didn’t make it to work.”

  “Because he was shot!” I yelled and snatch my purse out of the bottom drawer of my desk. I had to go.

  “Let me drive you. I’ll drop you off in front of the Emergency Room.”

  “Okay,” I agreed. “Hurry.”

  Abby rushed to her desk while I went to the elevator and pressed the call button repeatedly. Just as it dinged and opened, Abby ran up to me. We got in, and once again I was pressing a button over and over. This one was for the parking garage, and if the car didn’t hurry and descend, I was going to lose my mind.

  “I’m sure he’s okay.”

  My head snapped in her direction. “We don’t know that.”

  “I know, but he has to be.”

  I sighed. “Yeah, he does.”

  We made it to Abby’s car, and we slid inside. As she drove, I thought about what could have happened to make Corey shoot Rhys. Then images of Rhys dying entered my mind. Tears started to stream down my face.

  “Everything will be fine.” Abby patted my knee.

  I didn’t turn to her. Instead, I looked out at the darkening sky and prayed everything would be fine.

  “How do you know it was your ex?”

  I blinked at Abby’s question. “Shit!” I hissed and started rummaging through my purse for my phone. “I need to call my brother.”

  “I’m sure it can wait.”

  “He’s a cop. I need to tell him I think it’s Corey.”

  “Oh. Yeah, call him. We’re almost to the hospital.”

  I hit the button to call Ethan. He answered after a few rings. “Ash …”

  “Are you working the shooting near my work?”

  “No, why?”

  “Rhys is the one shot.”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yes!” I screamed. “And the person driving the Mustang is Corey, my ex.”

  “Are you sure?”

  I sighed heavily. “He drives a fucking Mustang, Ethan, and he and Rhys have a history.”

  “What’s his last name?”

  “Pritchett,” I stated and remembered that Corey had never met my family. He never wanted to meet them.

  “Do you know his address?” I gave him the location of the apartment I’d once been to. I didn’t know the address, but I knew where it was. “How’s Rhys?”

  My throat started to close finally as the adrenaline was starting to diminish. “I don’t know. I’m on my way to the hospital.”

  “Keep me updated, and I’ll look into Corey.”

  “Thanks.”

  I hung up the phone and stared out the window at nothing as a tear slide down my cheek. “Is Kenny on his way?” I sniffled.

  “Yes, of course.”

  I nodded, so many thoughts running through my head. “Good.”

  Abby pulled up to the Emergency Room. “I’ll go park and meet you inside.”

  “Thank you.” I reached for the handle and got out of the car, wiping my tears. I felt as though I was walking in quicksand as I rushed inside the hospital. My legs were trying to move, but my heart was telling them they weren’t fast enough. When I finally made it inside, I went straight to the check-in desk. “I’m looking for my boyfriend. He should have been brought in with a gunshot wound,” I said when the nurse looked up at me.

  She blinked at me as she realized who I was. “Ms. Valor. Who’s your boyfriend?”

  “Rhys Cole.” I started to look around nervously searching for any sign of Rhys. Maybe even Carter. I wasn’t sure if he was working or not, but I knew he worked in the ER.

  She started to type on her computer, and I heard my name being called from behind me. I turned around to see Kenny and Abby running in.

  “Have you heard anything?” Kenny asked.

  I shook my head.

  The lady looked at me sympathetically then said, “Mr. Cole’s in surgery.” I knew that was all I was going to get as far as information. Hell, I was lucky she even told me that much since I was only his girlfriend.

  “Surgery?” Kenny asked.

  “I’m sorry, but that’s all I can tell you unless you’re family. You can go up to the surgical wing and wait if you’d like.”

  “Where’s that?” I asked.

  The nurse gave us directions, and we started to walk in that direction.

  “Let me see if I can get ahold of my brother. He’s a doctor here.”

  They nodded, and we kept walking as I dialed. The phone rang and rang, and he didn’t answer. “He didn’t answer.”

  “Do you think he’s doing the surgery?” Abby asked.

  I sighed. “I have no idea.” I felt as though I knew nothing at that moment and I needed to know everything because I was so scared.

  “Are Claire and Andy on their way?” Kenny asked as we walked into an elevator.

  My eyes widened. “I didn’t call them. Shit, I didn’t call them.”

  “It’s okay, Ash.” Abby touched my arm. “Call them now.”

  “Right.” I pulled my phone out of my purse. My hands were sweaty as I scrol
led through my contacts, looking for Claire’s number. As I pressed the button to call her, the three of us exited on the surgical floor.

  “Ashtyn!” Claire exclaimed. “What happened? I was watching—”

  “Did you recognize the car?”

  She was silent for a moment. “What?”

  “The car in the story I was broadcasting before I ran off.” We made it to the surgical waiting room and took a seat near a wall.

  Claire again took a few moments before she responded. “It looked like Rhys’s car, but he’s at work.”

  “No.” I shook my head, tears forming again in my eyes. It was almost time for his pre-game live show, and no one would know he was missing until Jett went live. “He was the one shot.”

  “That can’t be.”

  The tears dripped onto my blue dress. “It is.” She gasped, and I told her what hospital we were at and that we were waiting in the surgical waiting room. “They won’t tell us anything because we’re not family.”

  “We’re on our way.”

  “Want me—” Abby started to say just as Claire and Andy walked through the sliding doors.

  The three of us stood, and I rushed to Rhys’s parents, engulfing Claire in the biggest hug I could muster. “How did this happen?” she asked, sobbing into my arms.

  It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her it was Corey, but I held off because even though I knew in my gut it was him, I wanted to wait until we knew for sure. Through my own tears, I simply said, “I don’t know.”

  We broke apart, and I looked to see Andy talking to a nurse in the hall. I wasn’t sure where she came from. Maybe he’d stopped her when she was walking by. Finally, he came back to us. “The nurse said Rhys went into surgery not too long ago and that once he’s out a doctor will come give us an update.”

  I hugged Andy, and then Kenny stepped forward, giving them both a hug as I wiped my tears away.

  After Kenny hugged them, he introduced them to Abby, “Andy, Claire, this is my girlfriend, Abby.”

  They shook her hand. “I’m sorry about Rhys,” Abby stated with a tight smile.

  “Boy’s tough. He’ll pull through,” Andy replied a matter-of-factly.

  He was tough. But it still worried me that something so tiny like a bullet could take the biggest thing in my life away from me.