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I set the bag on the bedside table and pick through the contents. Nothing fancy. Plain gray sweatpants. Sweatshirt. White canvas shoes and socks. Benny probably stopped at the first store he saw and grabbed stuff off the racks. Still, I’m grateful I don’t have to leave Mallory’s side to search for clothes.
My mouth twists into a grin when I reach the bottom of the bag. Benny even tossed in a cheap, over-sized pair of sunglasses and a black baseball cap. I hold them up. “Benny’s got you covered.”
“Aw, that was so sweet.”
“Knock. Knock.” A soft voice draws our attention to the door. The woman holds up Mallory’s purse and another bag of stuff. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get here sooner.”
“That’s okay, Cindy.” Mallory waves her inside.
“Are you all right?” She leans over and pulls Mallory in for a gentle hug. “I was so worried about you. And Sean was a total dick. Wouldn’t tell us anything. He was livid that Pamela took off with you. I should’ve gone too. But he wouldn’t let anyone else leave the set. I’m so sorry.” Her quick, bumbling rush of words is way more information than Mallory needs right now. I gently touch her shoulder and she quiets down. “Sorry. How are you feeling?”
“Better than I was.” Mallory’s face twists into a grimace. “But still in a lot of pain.”
“Well, Sean said they’re going to shoot around your parts, so don’t worry about doing anything but getting better for the rest of the week.”
Week. Fuck that. She’ll take as long as she needs and Sean or whoever Shallow End’s director-of-the-week is can fuck the hell off if he thinks Mallory’s coming back a minute sooner.
After Cindy leaves, a different doctor examines Mallory and declares she’s ready to go home.
While I’m helping Mallory get dressed, an orderly wheels in a chair and promises to return in a few minutes.
“Wait here.” I set Mallory on the edge of the bed and help her put on her sneakers. “I’m going to let Benny know we’re ready to leave so he can get the car.”
She winces. “I’m not going anywhere. Trust me.”
Benny tosses the magazine in his hands to the side when I pop into the waiting room. “We’re ready to leave. Orderly’s got a wheelchair for her.”
“Cool.” He jumps up and I walk him over to the elevator. “Uh, look,” he mumbles, “There were some paparazzi waiting out front when I got here. I’m going to pull the car to the back entrance. Orderly should know where to take you. They’re used to this—”
“Wait a minute. Used to what? Paparazzi? For us?”
“Yeah, I think so.” He glances away.
“Shit.” That’s the last thing Mallory needs. “Okay. I’ll meet you around back. Thanks.” I slap his shoulder and return to Mallory’s room. She’s waiting in the wheelchair, her purse, and a few other plastic bags gathered in her lap while she finishes signing a clipboard full of forms.
She glances up with tired eyes and gives me a half-smile. “I already need a nap.”
“Let’s go.” I nod to the orderly. “We’re getting picked up out back. You know where to go?”
“Yup. That’s probably best, sir. Follow me.”
The day’s long gone. It’s dark. The mild air feels good after being in the stale hospital all afternoon. At the end of the long, curving sidewalk, Benny’s bright, red Toyota 4Runner shimmers under the parking lot lights. He jumps out and hurries to open the back door. The truck’s lifted so I have to give Mallory a boost. She’s stoic and doesn’t make a sound until she’s situated. No one bothers us.
The vehicle’s awkwardly quiet. What the hell are we supposed to talk about? I know Benny from the tour but it’s not like we’re best buds. I end up turning around to check on Mallory about a hundred times.
I’m still facing her when we turn onto our little street.
“Fuck,” Benny mumbles and slaps his palm over the horn. “Move, asshole.”
“What’s going on?” I peer out the window at the small crowd of reporters covering our front lawn. “What the fuck are they doing?”
He shrugs but it’s more of a nervous jiggle. “I, uh, they were all over Andrew’s place earlier too. Guess they found their way down here.”
“Why? What’s their problem?”
He keeps staring straight ahead. “I don’t know.”
A sick feeling settles in my gut.
Benny nudges his truck into our driveway. “Stay there. I’m going to walk you up to the door,” he promises.
“Why are there so many people on our lawn?” Mallory’s sleepy whisper is barely audible over all the noise from outside.
“I don’t know. Stupid tabloid assholes.”
“Because of me? That’s sick. Who does that?” At least she sounds more angry than sad, although I’d prefer neither.
Benny opens my door and then the back door, shielding us from anyone who tries to get too close. “Back the fuck off,” he growls. “You’re trespassing.”
Ignoring everything around us, I reach in and slip my arms under Mallory. “Hang on to me.” I press a quick kiss to her cheek and lift her out of the truck.
“Mallory! Are you okay? Do you want to tell us what happened?” a woman shouts.
“Get the fuck out of our way,” Benny barks.
Mallory wraps her arms tight around my neck and buries her head against my shoulder. “Why are they doing this?” she whispers.
“I don’t know.”
Benny shoves photographers right and left, clearing a path for me to follow behind him. Flashbulbs go off. Lawsuits are threatened. A camera cracks and shatters against the sidewalk. Finally, we make it inside the house.
Benny casts a nervous glance at the door. “You need me to stay, Chaser?”
“No, I think we’ll be fine.” I set Mallory down on the couch and she drops her bags on the floor.
“You really might want to think about hiring someone until this dies down,” Benny says. “I know a guy.”
“We’ll be okay. Thanks, though.” I can always call on my MC brothers if this continues.
He slips a card in my hand. “If you need something, call me. Don’t worry about what time it is, okay?”
“I will. Thank you, man. Tell Andrew I said thanks, too. Okay?”
“You know it.”
The noise and questions start up again when we open the door. Benny slips out into the crowd. I slam the door shut, throwing all the locks into place.
Mallory slumps against the couch and closes her eyes.
“Let’s put you to bed,” I offer, picking her up off the couch.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Mallory
Zapped of energy, I can barely move. I’m uncomfortable, though. Need to visit the bathroom and change the stupid pads the hospital gave me. Chaser carrying me around everywhere isn’t helping.
“I need to do a few things, first.” I push at his arm, hoping he’ll take a hint and set me down.
But Chaser’s not a take-the-hint man. He’s all direct words and actions.
“What do you need, little dove? Tell me.”
Heat burns my cheeks. “Female stuff.” I point to one of the bags on the floor I’d brought home from the hospital. “I need some…things. Don’t worry about it.”
He leans in and kisses my forehead. “I’m sorry to tell you but I’m not one of those men who runs screaming from the room at the words ‘female stuff’ and I worry about everything when it comes to you.”
Of course that’s his answer. “Can’t you leave me to wallow in my misery and shame alone?”
“No.” He dips down and scoops up the bag.
Thankfully, he does drop me off at the bathroom and give me privacy. I take care of myself and give th
e shower a longing stare but there’s no way I can stand up for that long.
Chaser knocks on the door. “Ready for bed?”
“Yes.” I open the door and he hands me a glass of water.
“You need to eat something before you take those pain meds.”
I drop my gaze to the cup of yogurt and spoon in his other hand. “Okay.”
I wobble my way into the bedroom on my own and perch on the edge of the bed to spoon down some of the yogurt before accepting the pain pills. “Thank you.”
He tucks me in and as soon as my head hits the pillow, I’m drifting away.
Sometime later, the bed dips and shifts behind me.
“Chaser?”
“Right here.” He gently curls himself around my body and kisses my shoulder.
“Thank you.”
“You never have to thank me.” He nuzzles against my neck. “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t here, Mallory.”
I turn so we’re facing each other and rest my forehead against his chin. “I’m happy you’re here now.”
The day’s events or maybe the pain pills must be making me slow. I tip my head back. “Oh my God, you’re missing shows, aren’t you? I didn’t—”
“Shhh.” He places one finger over my lips. “Today was an off day. It doesn’t matter, anyway. Nick will fill in for me tomorrow night.”
I scowl and pull back. “He’s not half the guitar player you are.”
He chuckles and leans in again, pressing his lips to my forehead. “Nothing in the world is more important than being with my girl, right now.”
Pain wakes me the next morning.
I lurch my way into the bathroom, take care of myself and open the door to find Chaser waiting for me. “This is a little creepy, Chaser.”
“What? That I’m worried about you?”
“I’m too big to fall in the toilet and drown,” I mutter as I shuffle back to bed.
Behind me, he chuckles and follows. “Do you need anything?”
“Sleep. More pain meds.”
I must drift off because a few minutes later, he’s nudging something cool into my hand and asking me to sit up. My stomach lurches at the yogurt. “Ugh, I can’t eat any more of that.”
