I wipe at my wet face. Crying makes my broken nose burn. I feel like a freaking mess.
“No. I’m okay,” I rasp out, and I can tell he’s not buying my bullshit, but thankfully drops it. “Let me get dressed, and we’ll go see Zo.”
“Yeah, okay.” He nods and then stands, but before he reaches the door turns to me again. “Do you need help getting dressed?” I can tell he’s concerned, yet at the same time, worried about what my reaction will be.
“I’ll be fine. Just give me a few minutes, and I’ll be out.”
He doesn’t say anything else before he leaves the room.
* * *
“How you feelin’, baby girl?” my dad asks as he gently hugs me, knowing that I’m still in pain.
“I’m fine, Daddy.” I look up at him.
“You don’t have to be fine all the time, you know? Why don’t you sit down, and I’ll go make you some coffee?”
I nod, knowing that arguing with him is pointless. If my dad wants to take care of me, he’s going to.
We just arrived at my parents’ house, and when my mom said that Zoey was sleeping, Evan went to check on her. I feel like I’ve been completely selfish in keeping her from him. Not that I ever told him he couldn’t see her, but it’s not the same as being together all the time as a family. I don’t know how to make this right.
“Here you go. Just like you always take it.” Dad hands me the steaming mug of sugary goodness. I blow on it before taking a small sip.
“Thanks.” I give him a half smile. “And thanks for keeping Zo for us.”
“You know that we’d do anything for you and that little princess. We’re just glad you’re alright. You gave us quite a scare. I don’t know what I would have done if you would have been hurt more seriously.” I never see this side of him. It cuts my heart in two, knowing that I did this to him. Okay, I know that technically the attack wasn’t my fault, but I hate knowing that he’s hurting because of me.
“I promise, I’m fine.” I reach my hand across the couch to give his a tight squeeze. “Evan is working with the police, but I promise, the pain isn’t that bad.”
“There’s Momma.” I hear Evan and look up to see him carrying our beautiful girl.
“Hi baby!” I get a big smile from her, and I suddenly feel a lot better. I hate being away from her, much less for two nights. “Here, I’ll take her.” I try standing, but the pain in my ribs is too intense, and I’m halted in my movement.
“She’s super wiggly right now. I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”
“Well, at least sit next to me with her so I can see her.” He complies and sits by me. I’m excited to see my daughter, but having him this close to me again, without touching him, is driving me crazy.
We’re left in the living room alone, and spend the next forty-five minutes as a family reading to Zoey and playing with her toys. Evan and I don’t talk a lot besides interacting with our daughter, but I’m done pushing him away. I need this man, and I need to figure out how to rebuild our marriage.
43
Avery
“You go get ready for bed, and I’ll get Zoey settled for the night,” Evan says as we walk through the garage door. We ended up spending the rest of the day visiting with my parents.
“Okay.” I kiss Zoey on top the head and then head toward our room and strip out of my clothes. I still can’t move fast, so I take my time, trying to avoid causing myself any more pain. Tonight, I really don’t feel like seeing my bruises again, so I decided not to step foot inside the bathroom until I’m dressed. I pull my yoga pants and racerback tank top over my head, sans a bra. Trying to get the damn thing on earlier hurt like hell. I’m kind of surprised that Evan didn’t offer to come in to help me, but I think he wanted to give me a bit of space. I feel like we’ve jumped over a hurdle today, but he knows how bullheaded I am. I really need to work on that.
After I’m dressed, I grab my Kindle off the nightstand and then walk to Zoey’s room.
“She’s already asleep?” I whisper to Evan as he walks out of the nursery.
He gives me a small smile. “Yeah, she must have been exhausted. I’m glad to have her home though.”
I’m glad too. Evan and my dad insisted that Evan continue to stay with me until I’m better, especially since I wanted Zoey home with me. I was too tired to put up a fight, but I have to admit I love having us all under the same roof again.
“Me too.” I carefully settle into the couch and see Evan out of the corner of my eye, watching to make sure I’m alright. “I think I’m just going to lay here and read a bit. I’m pretty tired.”
“Okay. You may have overdone it today. You want me to make you some coffee?” A small smile tugs at my lips. This man and his sweet gestures are about to bring me to my knees.
“Sure.”
“I’ll be right back.” He kisses me on the cheek, and the butterflies take flight in my stomach. His lips linger for a few seconds, and then he stands to leave the room.
Damn, I’ve missed him so much.
I open my Kindle up to a book I bought the other day that I haven’t gotten to start yet. Claire got me hooked on romance books. She published her first book right before her and Ryke got married. Typically, they make me feel better on days I’m feeling like a hot mess, but lately, my life is feeling more and more like the characters I read about. This is real life though. They always get their happily ever after. Will I?
I’m only three pages in when I see Evan carrying my mug of coffee toward me.
“Reading anything good?” he asks as he sets the mug on the coffee table and then lifts my feet so he can sit under them. He starts mindlessly massaging my feet, and I don’t want him to stop.
I try to pull myself up to a sitting position, but a bolt of pain shoots through my ribs.
I must gasp louder than I think because Evan is up in the next second helping me.
“You okay?” He props a pillow behind my back and then brushes my hair away from my eyes. I wish so bad right now that I wasn’t feeling so shitty. His masculine woodsy smell permeates through the air. I’d be half tempted to take him to our bedroom and have my way with him, if I wasn’t feeling like shit. We’ll never work through our issues if we try to solve everything with sex. Although, I can’t say I’d turn him down.
“Yeah.” I lean my head back, trying to ward off the tears. I feel like such an emotional mess right now. Between the pain and being so close to my husband after what seems like forever.
“Here, why don’t you take a drink?” He lifts the hot drink to my lips, and I blow on it before taking a sip.
“Thanks,” I whisper up at him.
“You’re welcome.” I can hear the emotion in his voice, and it’s ripping me apart.
After I take another drink, he takes the mug from me and sets it on the table.
“You don’t have to be alright all the time. You know that?” He strokes at my hair.
I squeeze my eyes shut and then stare up into his handsome brown eyes.
“My dad said the same thing today.”
“He’s a smart man.” He squats next to me and grabs my hand. “Av, I’m so sorry about what happened the other night. I wish more than anything that I could take your pain away and make it all better for you.” I can hear the sincerity in his voice.
I finally stop holding back, and the tears flow freely down my face.
“Let it out, Av. You’ve been through a lot.” He holds me the best he can while I’m lying awkwardly on the couch and he’s crouched next to me on the floor. “I’m so, so sorry.” He coos into my ear, and it makes me feel somewhat better.
The nightmares the last two nights were unbearable. I’m scared to close my eyes again tonight. I know I’m supposed to be resting, but it’s the last thing I want to do.
“Thanks, Ev,” I say when the tears finally start to let up. He wipes at my cheek.
“You have nothing to thank me for. I’m always here.” Those simple words lift the heavy
weight that’s been pulling me down. I was already starting to feel like we were getting somewhere earlier in the day, but I needed to hear that from him. I want to believe him. That he really does always want to take care of me, but what if the damage is too severe?
I can’t find the words to say, so I respond with a light smile. I swear I’m more hormonal now than I was during my entire pregnancy.
“Want me to help you to the bed? I’ll stay out here again.” I think he’s trying to make me feel better, but the pain is back in my chest. I don’t want him to leave me, but I’m scared to tell him that.
“Actually, I thought maybe we could find something to watch on Netflix. Unless you’re tired.” It’s a good excuse to spend more time with him, but also prolongs the inevitable. I know it’s only been a couple days, but I worry that this nightmare will never get better.
“Yeah, that sounds good. You want me to get you anything to eat before we start it up?”
“I’m okay. I ate enough to feed an army at Mom and Dad’s today.”
He throws his head back in laughter. “Good point. If she ever stops feeding us, I’m protesting.”
I love seeing his playful side. I’ve missed seeing him like this.
“Do you want me to help you into your recliner so you’re more comfortable?” He eyes me with concern, and I could get lost in the sea of chocolate that is staring back at me.
“Yeah, that’s a good idea.”
He puts one arm behind me and the other under my legs and carefully lifts me from the couch.
“Oww.” I take a quick breath and close my eyes, trying to ward off the pain.
“Did I hurt you?” I open my eyes at his question and shake my head.
“No. It just hurts anyway. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
He carries me to my chair, and after he sets me down, he pulls the lever to lift my feet off the ground. This is much better than laying on the too-soft couch.
“Better?” he asks as he reclines in the twin seat next to me. We bought these a few years back and always use them when we watch movies. We could just buy a couch that reclines, but we just moved them right next to each other so we can be close.
“Yeah.” I turn and smile at him sleepily. I can feel my pain meds starting to kick in and wonder how long I’ll actually be able to stay awake to watch a movie. “You can choose something.”
He scrolls through Netflix, and I laugh when I see what he settles on.
“Really?” I raise my eyebrows at him. “You’re going to seriously sit here and watch The Wedding Date with me?” He despises chick flicks, almost as much as I can’t stand the weird sci-fi shit he always wants to watch.
He reaches over and pushes a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“If I get to see that beautiful smile light up your face, I’d watch fucking Twilight with you.”
Not letting me respond, he turns the movie on. Just as I expected, I’m asleep before the credits are over.
44
Evan
The coffee maker beeps at me, indicating the pot is finished brewing. The smells of bacon, toast, and freshly ground coffee fill my nostrils. It smells like home. This is my home. Not because it’s the four walls we decided to live in to start our family. No, because it’s where my beautiful wife and daughter are.
I plate our food before I hear little cries coming from Zoey’s room. It’s not her angry cry. No, it’s her attention-seeking cry that she just started in the last month. It makes me laugh, although I’m sure we won’t think it’s cute when she’s older trying to get away with that shit. Good thing she’s my little princess.
I wipe my hands on a towel before making my way to her.
“Hey, princess.” I look down at our girl, and she’s swinging her arms in the air.
I lift Zoey out of the crib, and she reaches for the scruff on my face. I playfully try to bite her finger that she shoves in my mouth. I never realized how much I wanted to be a father until she was born.
She swats at my face, and I grab her hand and kiss it.
“Don’t hit your daddy.”
After Avery fell asleep last night, I carried her to our bed and then slept out on the couch. I wanted to crawl under the sheets with her so badly, but I wasn’t sure if she wanted that. Thankfully, she didn’t wake again with a nightmare. I know better than to think that they’re gone for good. I just want to make sure I’m by her side when the next one wakes her.
“There’s Momma,” I say as we walk into our bedroom. My girl is propped up against the headboard, reading on her Kindle. If it makes her happy, then I’ll buy her all the fucking books in the world.
“Hi, baby,” Avery says as she rubs Zoey’s head. “Here, I’ll take her.” She reaches her arms out to take her from me. I feel like I’m starting to get my wife back one piece at a time, so this is probably not the time to act like an alpha asshole. “Ev, I promise I’ll be careful.” She obviously can read the reluctance on my face.
“If you’re sure.” I set Zoey on her lap and then kiss the top of Avery’s head. “You want some breakfast? I made eggs, bacon, toast, and coffee.”
Her face lights up. “I’d love some. Can you bring me my medicine first though off the bathroom counter?”
“Sure.” I grab her medicine and a glass of water from the kitchen and then head back to our room.
“You feeling okay?” I hand her the tablet and water.
“Yeah, actually much better. I just want to make sure I keep the pain under control.” I nod at her and can’t help but stare at the beautiful woman in front of me, holding our daughter. The product of our love. The child we wanted for years and couldn’t have, but when we were ready to give up, we were finally lucky enough to have this little girl. “I think I just need to take it easy today.”
I don’t tell her that I agree but instead just nod my head. I’m sure she can tell that I’m holding back. When it comes to this woman, I go fucking crazy worrying about her.
“Do you want me to bring your food in here?”
“No, I think it would be good for me to get up for a bit. It makes me sorer if I sit for too long.”
“Okay, let me go put Zoey in the other room, and then I’ll help you up.”
After setting Zoey in her swing, I carefully help Avery off the bed.
“You alright?” I look down at her, worried I may have hurt her again like I did last night.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” She smiles up at me. “I can walk now.”
Once we’re in the kitchen, she settles into a chair at the table.
I pour her a cup of coffee and put her food in front of her. I’ve missed this. Before, I had just thought about how I wanted to be back here with her and Zoey, but I’ve also missed the small things we do together.
“Mmm.” She groans around a fork full of eggs, and my shorts suddenly grow fucking tight. She has no idea how erotic she is being right now.
I want so badly to say something to her about it, or just take her to our room and have my way with her, but that won’t be happening today. Anyway, the next time I make love to her, I want to know that I’m getting her back for good. My damn heart can’t take any more rejection.
“Um…” I start, and now, I’m not sure if this is going to piss her off, so I pause.
She takes a sip from her mug. “What is it?”
“Claire is going to come hang out with you and Zo for a bit this afternoon.”
“Where do you have to go?”
I sigh. “I’m going down to the police station to talk to Anthony some more.”
She nods as she takes a sip of her coffee. “Yeah, okay. Have you heard anything yet?”
“No, not yet.” I take a bite of my eggs. “There were cameras in the parking lot, but whoever did this to you seemed to have known where they all were.”
I see the fear in her eyes, so I squeeze her hand. “Av, I promise you, I will never let someone hurt you or our daughter again.”
She shakes her head. “Yo
u can’t promise that, Evan.” She stands from the table to take her dishes to the sink, and I follow behind her.
I gently run my hands through her hair, not wanting to cause more pain from her injuries. “I know I can’t promise that, but you better believe that I’m going to work my ass off to protect you and our daughter. Do you understand me?”
She looks up at me with watery eyes. I decide there’s no better time than now to bite the bullet. I want to figure out who the hell did this to my wife, and then I just want to move on with our lives. Put this all behind us.
“I didn’t cheat on you, Av,” I say gently as I look down at her.
“I know,” she says as tears start to fall.
I’m sure she can see the shock on my face. “You do?”
She sighs and then looks away from me. “I shouldn’t have doubted you in the first place, but Claire and Sierra both talked some sense into me.”
I give her a small smile. “You know I’d never even dream of doing something like that to you, right?”
She puts her head in her hands, and I hear a sob escape her.
“Av, it must have looked really bad, so I can’t really be upset.” I throw my head back. “Mallory came to my room and tried to be inappropriate, and when she wouldn’t leave, I did. That’s why she answered both the phones, because I got another room and I left my phone in there.”
“I know, and I’m so sorry,” she whispers. “I should have let you explain instead of jumping to conclusions.”
“You don’t need to apologize, okay? I just need you back.”
“Okay, you’ve got me back.” She sighs into my chest, inhaling my scent. “I hate that bitch for doing this to us.”
I chuckle and then kiss her forehead. “Me too.” I stroke at her messy hair. “I’m so sorry for not listening to you about her. I’m such an idiot.”
Renewed: The Unexpected Series Page 19