Page 9 of Full of Wrath

“Baby girl.”

His face waves in front of me as my vision goes fuzzy and a memory of him standing over me comes back to me.

“You…,” I crinkle my brow together to try to grab parts of a conversation I thought I dreamed, “you called me that once before.”

“I called you that a bunch before.”

“You said…,” a sound of pain comes out as my head starts banging and shooting pain streaks through it. The pain is so severe it makes my stomach roll in protest.

“Hey, sweeth…baby, look, you don’t have to remember everything right away. You hit your head pretty hard.”

His words have my hand coming up to find the bandage on my head. “Do you…think I’ll ever get my memory of that night back?”

I swallow the lump in my throat and try to fight back the fear rising up inside of me. He steps closer to me and runs the back of his hand against my cheek. My breath catches, and fear is the last thing I'm feeling.

“I think when you feel safe enough, they’ll come back. It’s important not to force it.” He has my complete attention as he brushes my hair back behind my ear and cups my face in his big hands.

“And if you don’t, it doesn’t matter.” I’m pretty sure it definitely matters, more to some than others, but it still matters. Before I can say anything, his lips gently brush against mine and shock the words right out of my mind. “Because I’m here now, baby girl, and I won’t let anybody hurt you.”

Chapter Nine

Waverly

I’ve been trying to figure out that kiss since it happened, and that was hours ago. I’m not sure why it happened, and I guess that is what is bothering me so much. Is he like this with everyone? Is he trying to make me comfortable -because kissing me isn’t the way to do it? And how the hell did I get here, in his car as he’s driving me home from the hospital? Especially since Sadie was with me and could have easily taken me home.

We pull into the tiny apartment I share with Sadie, and for just a moment all my energy leaves my body. I don’t really want to get out of the car, but I kind of have to. It’s not like I can stay with him forever, constantly being a passenger princess as he solves crimes and fights bad guys. He’s out of the car and by my window before I can finish thinking about what to say to him. He opens the door and helps me out of the car.

“Easy, baby. Just go easy.”

“I’m okay.” I’m really not. My head hurts, my body is sore, and my wrist is aching so bad I feel it with every breath I take.

Instead of backing up, he brushes the hair back out of my face and tucks it behind my ear like he did in the hospital. I find myself waiting for the kiss that followed it last time…and getting hugely let down when he gives me a mischievous grin and takes a step back.

What the hell, Waverly?

Why don’t I just loll my tongue out like one of those cartoon wolves and really send the message home that I’m into him, one of my friend’s brothers, by the way? The voice in my head tells me not to be that bitch and mind my manners, or at least the personal bubble I’ve always acknowledged with every other person I have ever been around. I'm not sure if it’s the meds or Memphis, but I’m one hundred percent sure I’m going to make an ass out of myself if we’re together for longer than a breath mint.

“You don’t have to go up with me. I’m sure you’re busy.”

“Not too busy to make sure you're safe. I want to check out your apartment and make sure no one’s been in it while you were at the hospital.”

Oh God! This man is only trying to do his job and be nice, which I can absolutely tell is a family trait because I know his sister. And I’m over here drooling over him, pretending something is there that isn’t and acting like…well, like Sadie with one of her crushes. Is this what it feels like to crush on someone?

It sucks!

I open my mouth, think better of it, and quickly walk towards my apartment before I can embarrass myself any more than I already have. Can he tell I’ve got a crush on him? How the hell did this happen to me? I don’t crush. On anybody.

“Thank you. For,” I close my eyes and look for the right words, “everything.”

For staying with me in the hospital, for trying to keep me safe, for protecting me especially from that one detective, for driving me home and for just being him. Everything seemed to sum it up faster and leaves me less vulnerable.

Once I open the door, he goes room to room, making sure I’m alright before he turns to me and we awkwardly look at one another.

“If you need anything, call me.”

“Okay, um, do you have a number just for you or do I call the station?”

“I programmed my number in your phone. Just hit it, and I’ll be here in seconds.”