Текст книги "Blue"

Автор книги: H. J. Bellus

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Текущая страница: 10 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

Chapter 17 Blue

“For the tenth time he didn’t rape me.”

The nurse glares, and I know she’s had it with me.

“It’s protocol.”

“I’m not an idiot. No.”

She leaves the room, and I hear Sophie let out a loud breath in the corner chair.

“You shouldn’t be so damn stubborn, Blue. They’re just trying to help you.”

“He didn’t rape me.” I sit up in the bed while a sharp pain attacks my right side. “It’s just like I told the cops. He threw me down. I blacked out for a bit, and then got my pepper spray.”

I don’t even want to know what would’ve happened if I didn’t wake up. Actually, I know exactly what he would’ve done. The curtain rustles and Tuck and Lane rush to my bedside. And in the oddest of moments as time stands still, I still can’t make eye contact with Tuck. His voice saved me from my demise. I heard him and then fought, and somehow I associate it with the attack. It should be in a good way like the king on the white horse who saves the kingdom, but for the moment it’s the complete opposite.

I turned to see my attacker, anticipating his face, and then my world turns upside down. I’ve managed to keep the hospital from calling my parents and coaches. Being eighteen and protected by privacy acts have been my only allies. Looking down at my wrapped knees and then rubbing the pad of my finger over the road rash on my jaw, I feel ashamed and embarrassed.

“Blue Williams.” I look up into the face of a doctor with an officer behind him. “We are ready to discharge you. It looks like no broken bones, just a slight fracture in your right rib. You’ll need lots of rest and no strenuous activity for a couple weeks.”

I twist my fists into the sheets, and Tuck must notice, because he steps up and untangles my hand from the bedding and holds it in his.

“I’ll send you home with some painkillers and ointment for your skin.” He pauses and gestures to the officer behind him. “Blue, you really need to file a report.”

I gently shake my head, and the doctor opens his mouth to argue, but Tuck interrupts him.

“I have all the information and will be taking care of her over fall break,” Tuck says while rising to his feet, but not letting go of my hand.

“You have my card.” The officer nods and leaves the room.

The doctor begins speaking again. “Your discharge nurse will be with you in a minute.”

“I’m not going home with you, Tuck.”

I don’t wait until the curtain is swept shut to blurt out my words and make eye contact with him, and strangely, it doesn’t sting as badly as I thought it would. He doesn’t talk to me, but stares down at me with his relentless glare.

“Take me to the dorms, Tuck.”

“Your bags are packed and you have no choice, Blue.” He lowers his large frame to the edge of the bed. “I’ll drag your bratty ass out of here screaming and kicking. I’m not leaving you. I should’ve been there with you.”

“Tuck, you hate me. I disgust you, and you only use me to get your rocks off.”

My fingers are squeezed to near pain in his large palm. “Blue, you have two choices. Go quietly, or fight it the whole way.”

“Transport here.” A doughy-faced young man walks around the curtain, pushing a wheelchair.

“Perfect. My truck is waiting in the u-drive out front.”

Tuck stands and gathers a couple bags that I hadn’t noticed sitting on the edge of the bed, and when I think about it, I don’t remember much since being checked in here, or what day it even is.

“What day is it?” I ask as I sit up in the bed.

“Sunday afternoon.”

“I’ve been here…” I try to wrack my brain.

“We brought you in last night around eleven. They’ve been running tests.”

My feet grace the cold hospital tile floor, and Tuck’s on his knees slipping on my sandals. I hate that he’s the one doing all of this.

“Where’s Sophie?” I want her helping me, not Tuck.

“She and Lane just left.”

“To where?” I ask with a raised eyebrow.

“He’s taking her home for break.”

“She just left me?” A pang of hurt hits me hard, and it’s worse than the sharp pains in my side.

“I made her leave.”

“Uh?” I look down into his dark eyes.

“I see the hurt on your face. I made her leave.”

“Why, Jones?” As his last name slips from my tongue, it sounds odd. I hear his teammates call him by it all the time.

His palm runs up my calf, caressing uninjured skin. “Because, Blue, it’s time you meet the real Tuck.”

After all the hurt, denial, and longing for this man, he just spiraled my lust over the edge for him into straight and pure love.

“Fine.” I place my hand on his and remove it from my skin. He can think what he wants of it, but the truth is it was burning a hole in my flesh, and I’m not ready for that yet.

I push up off the mattress, but before I’m able to stand, Tuck scoops me up in his arms and gently sets me in the wheelchair. His touch is so opposite from his mean look and hard muscles, and it sends shivers down my bruised body.

Everything inside of me wants to tell him off, but my body is pulled to him. I watch my hand reach to his, and he walks by my side as the nurse rolls me down the hallway. We reach the sliding glass doors, and I see he’s not kidding about Lane and Sophie being gone. I scan the parking lot for Lane’s monster truck, but it’s nowhere in sight.

Tuck’s older truck sits in the u-shaped driveway, and I’m almost knocked back into a blackout where I don’t want to believe or feel anything.

“Tuck.”

“Yeah, Blue.” His breath is on my ear as he bends down to hear my whisper.

“Don’t break me again.”

“I won’t.”

“If you do, I won’t recover.”

“It’s your choice from here, Blue Williams. I’m about to open up more to you than I ever have to Noah.”

The melody of his voice and the sweet nothings he pours into my soul soothe an aching part of me, but that little devil on my shoulder doesn’t want to believe a word he has to say.

He lifts me from my wheelchair to his truck effortlessly, and again I’m pressed between the sweetest spot of my life and the hardest brick of chest I’ve ever experienced. His scent fills the single cab of the truck, and every single one of my tensed up muscles unwinds.

It’s the scent I’ve clung to for months…the one urge I’ve fought over and over to not devour, and now it’s surrounding me and I find myself relaxing. When I hear the driver’s door shut, I look up into his still, midnight eyes with his hoodie covering his beanie. But this time his arm and hand are outstretched to me, and it’s one offer I don’t hesitate to accept.

“Careful, Blue, your right side hurts.”

I hear each word, but don’t take the time to process them. I’m a strong, fighting, athletic individual, and this man makes me melt into him every single time.

Tuck Jones, what have you done to me?

Chapter 18

“Tuck.”

“Yeah, Blue, only two more hours.”

“I just wanted to tell you.” Lifting my head, I focus in on his beautifully etched face. “Pissing matches aren’t my style. I prefer to drown out the competition.”

“Oh yeah?” His smirk fills my vision.

I don’t know if it’s the pills he has been feeding me or his fucking charm, but I reply, “Be prepared to drown.”

Then my eyes rest again, finding everything black and safe in their path. Over the past few months at college, black and safe seems to be my polarizing force, which I prefer to bask in.

***

In grade school you learned how to tuck, duck, and roll, but this seems like the earthquake drill they taught you. Hide under your desk and pray your ass doesn’t get shaken into a deep crevice of the Earth and trapped until you rot…

“Blue.”

My eyes shoot open at the familiar baritone voice, and flashbacks hit me. I turn my head to see him, and it’s not him. It’s another person attacking me, beating my face into the asphalt and ripping clothes from my body. Then I hear his voice when I should’ve seen his face.

My eyes clench while I hear his voice hollering my name, but hands are assaulting parts they should never explore. But it’s his voice, and I scream a little louder and then fight a bit harder.

“It’s Tuck, I’m here.”

His voice is soothing and dangerous all mixed together, and I freeze. I’m sick of the tug of war or teeter or totter I’ve been riding. I need safety.

“You don’t love me, Tuck, or want me.”

“I told you.” Strong palms grasp my cheeks. “I’m taking you home and showing you everything.” His gaze burns holes into me, while I’m used to him peering away or backing off. “It’s all yours, Blue. Now let’s see if you are up to it.”

I’m not sure if it’s the sound of his voice or him finally giving over, but a drowsy haze hits me and I succumb to darkness once again. Cheer, goals, and GPA fly out the passenger window as I fight to see and hear Tuck for the first time.

Chapter 19

It may be the meds or willing myself to unconsciousness, but it sucks when I wake up in waves of awareness and then float back to sweet dreams. Words like beef jerky or diet Pepsi float in my vision, or were they really in my face? Sometimes strong and sturdy lips attack mine and I mimic them back like a playful kitten, relishing each taste as my tongue reaches deeper inside to soak up the sexy taste. Then just like a bad dream, my shoulders begin shaking and sounds invade the peace and reality sets in. A sweet voice similar to Tuck’s but much less agonized fills my dreamy haze.

“You’re home.”

Every muscle in my body focuses on opening my eyes to see just where this wonderful sound comes from. And when I focus on the so much sweeter version of Tuck, who is also years younger and toothless, I almost smile until that sharp pain in my right side reminds me of all my mistakes and past fouls in the game of life.

“Uncle Tuck.”

“Shhhh, Ruger. Go on in. I’ll be there in a second.”

“You have a girlfriend.”

I watch as the younger Tuck’s eyebrows waggle up and down and his toothless grin mirrors back at me.

“Run inside and let your mom know I’m home.”

“Roger, Dodger,” the little Tuck replies before he peels off toward a porch light.

My voice is a squeak in the night air. “Leave me alone, Tuck. Why are you pushing me?”

The tighter I shut my eyes, the quicker I spiral out of control once again, letting pain dictate every part of my life.

“I’m going to pack you to my bedroom.”

“Were you kissing me?” I pry my eyes open to see his face and the little smile that spreads across it.

“No, but I can.” His lips run over mine as he leans in the cab of the truck. “I think you were dreaming about me kissing you, though.”

“I don’t want to wonder anymore or remember what you feel like on my lips.”

Tuck doesn’t waste a moment before he lays his lips on mine, his kiss hard and full of passion. And it’s just as sweet as my dreams remembered. He grabs my hips and tugs on them. It takes everything in me not to squeal in pain.

“Okay, she knows.” The sweet voice is back, and Tuck pulls away and twists just enough to see the little boy standing behind us.

I wasn’t dreaming when I thought he looked like Tuck. He’s a miniature version of him, posture and all. I look closer and notice the football tucked under his arm, and I immediately know I’ve already taken too much of Tuck’s time in the boy’s eyes. The slamming of a door startles me, and I see a beautiful brunette standing on the porch of the smaller home.

It’s a simple ranch style home with a white fence and the perfect scattering of flowers. Nothing super fancy, but just the right size and look for something Tuck would come home to. When I see the way the woman looks at Tuck, my stomach sinks and the pain in my right side is nothing compared to what just hit me. My focus shoots back to the toothy boy, and then Tuck and the woman walking toward us. It’s his secret. The reason he’d never get close to me. He has a kid.

“Tuck,” the woman squeals.

He leaves me and wraps the woman up in a hug and spins her around. Her laughter sends chills down my spine as bile begins to rise up my throat.

“About time you got your ass home. We’ve missed you.” She pulls back and gazes at him with love covering every inch of her face. “Never stay gone that long again.”

“Mom, please,” the little boy says.

“Okay, Ruger, you can play catch now.”

Tuck turns to me, and I focus on the strange woman. Her eyes are full of kindness, and she even steps up to me, pushing past Tuck.

“Welcome. Tuck’s talked so much about you.”

“Let me get her settled and I’ll be right back, Ruger.”

“You ass, aren’t you going to introduce me?” She slaps Tuck hard on the back of the head.

I cringe at the sight and wait for Tuck to blow.

“Goddamn, sis, you pack a punch.” He rubs his head while still smiling. “Blue, this is my older and very annoying sister. Her name is Joe.”

I nod, not sure how to respond, and feel embarrassed with the bruises and road rash covering one side of my jaw. Tentatively I reach out to shake her hand.

“No, no. Give me a hug now.” She wraps me up in a massive hug.

“Careful, Joe, she’s hurt.”

“Shut the hell up, Tuck, I know this.” Her voice rings in my ears, and then it falls to a whisper so only I can hear her. “He’s never brought a girl home. You must be special.”

“Okay, out of the way.” Tuck shoves in, nudging his sister back. “You okay, Blue?”

I nod, speechless. It’s like time has been warp speed since the football game.

“I’ll take you to my room, but I have to play catch with Ruger or he’ll have me by the balls all day.”

He lifts me easily from the cab and knows just how to hold me without causing any further pain.

“I want to sit on the porch in the sun, please.”

He looks down with raised eyebrows. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah, it seems I’ve been knocked out the whole drive here.”

“Pills.”

“I think I’m good.”

Tuck sits down on a long, padded porch swing with me in his lap.

“You have a game waiting on you,” I say with a grin.

“I don’t want to let go of you, Blue.”

Agony and regret speak volumes as they dance on his rugged features.

“It’s not your fault, Tuck.” I place my palm on his jaw and let his thick stubble tickle my skin. “I chose to run.”

“Blue.” Tuck’s hands wrap into my thick side braid. “I love you, and it scares the shit out of me.”

“I…” Before I can finish my thoughts, I have to ask, just to be sure. “Is that your kid?”

His low, deep chuckle makes me wince in pain.

“No.” He ducks his head around me and hollers for the boy.

“Ruger, this is my girlfriend Blue, and Blue, this is my nephew Ruger.”

“Okay, can we play now?”

I finally laugh and let the worry escape me.

“Yes, go play now.”

“Are you going to watch, Blue?”

I nod at the boy, who can’t be over the ripe age of eight years old.

“I’ve heard Mom talk about you. You’re a cheerleader, and Tuck says you’ve got the sexiest legs he’s ever seen.”

Tuck slides out from under me and ruffles the boy’s hair.

“What else has he said?” I lean forward as far as I can without wincing.

“Oh, that you’re a queen and—”

“Enough,” Tuck growls as he wraps an arm around the boy’s shoulder.

Before Tuck walks too far away, I grab his hand and make him turn back to me.

“I want all of you, Tuck Jones.”

A smile I’ve never seen on him before shines back at me, and then I watch his amazingly taut ass and thick thighs walk down the steps and imagine if only those damn gym pants weren’t in the way.

I let the sun soak into my skin as the two begin to warm up by tossing the pigskin around, and then it eventually turns into Ruger doing some play calling and Tuck acting along with the kid. It makes me smile to see Tuck so relaxed and not hiding in a dark corner. The sun shines brightly on him as he fools around with his nephew, and I think how similar the two look with their ball caps on backward.

“This is Mabie.”

I peer up to see Joe with a baby propped on her hip. The chunky little girl dressed all in pink smiles back at me through her chubby cheeks with one tooth showing. She’s adorable and I can’t help but smile back at her.

“She’s so stinkin’ cute.”

“And a living terror. Ruger was nothing compared to this diva.”

A light laugh escapes me as Joe sits next to me on the swing. Her legs automatically start a rhythmic rocking motion as the little girl reaches up to tug on my long braid.

“Hi, sweetie.” My fingers run along the pleat of her dress.

Being an only child, I’ve always wondered what it was like to be around other siblings.

“Doing okay, hun?” Joe’s eyes are caring and nurturing.

I offer up a grin and nod.

“So, you suck at lying. That’s good.” She plops the baby in my lap and stands. “Where are your pills?”

I shrug, realizing I don’t know. Am I taking pills? What pills?

“Tuck.” Holy hell, Joe has the mother scream down pat. “Where’s Blue’s stuff?”

He jogs back up to the porch with Ruger on his heels, and my fucking ovaries melt as he smiles up at me in all his sexy glory. This is the feeling I fought so hard for Noah to give me, but nope, it’s Tuck.

“Why? You okay, Blue?”

“Fine.”

The word is on repeat as it flies out of my mouth.

“Bullshit. She’s in pain, and I need to see her meds.”

“Truck. My backpack.”

Joe storms off the porch, and the baby squeals in delight as Tuck nears us. Her pudgy little arms reach up to him as her squeals become louder.

“Okay. Okay.” Tuck plucks her from my lap and begins talking to her as she slaps his cheeks in joy.

“Well, shit.” I feel someone take a seat next to me and look at the little boy, stunned.

“What?”

“Well, shit, game over. I’m pretty much screwed now.” Disappointment covers Ruger’s face.

I glance at him and then up to Tuck who is mesmerized by the baby, and for a minute I wonder what fucking planet I’m on. “What?”

“The baby, my bossy nurse of a mom, and now my game is lost. I need these skills for my own game tomorrow,” Ruger says.

I don’t get the chance to respond as Joe interrupts and I officially meet the bossy nurse.

“Holy shit, you have a fractured rib? Thank god all your tests came back normal. This looks bad, Blue.” She stretches her hand out with a pile of pills in the middle of her palm.

“Thanks,” I manage to squeak out. Ruger elbows me lightly in the side and I almost scream, but don’t want to get him in trouble. When I look down he has an ‘I told you so’ face.

“Tuck.” I snag the hem of his long sleeve University shirt. He looks down at me with concern. I nod to the side where Ruger is with his pouting face. I pick up a bottle of water on a little glass table in front of me and down the pills, then hold my arms up for the baby.

“Don’t worry. I read the log and know what she needs.” Joe pulls Ruger up by the collar and sits next to me.

Tuck gently places the baby in my lap and then kisses my forehead. Using a combination of my eyebrows and nodding gestures, I send him back out to play with Ruger.

Joe slides the baby between us and begins rocking the swing again in a lullaby motion, which I find soothing. It’s like she can read the pain on my face.

“Are you really a nurse?”

“Used to be before I had her.” She points to the baby who is now chewing on the hem of her dress. “Tuck’s told you nothing, has he?”

I bristle at her question, even though the pain meds are doing the opposite to my body. We’re in a good place right now, or I’m high as a fucking kite and think we are. The last thing I want to do is break Tuck’s trust, so I just shrug.

“I could beat his ass.” Joe blows out a long breath, ruffling her loose bangs. “He’s a good boy.”

“I know that. He’s pushed me away.” I pause, knowing I shouldn’t be talking right now. “He kind of captured my heart the first time I met him.”

“He’s a little shit like that.”

We sit in silence for the next hour, and I keep dozing off and on in the sun. A loud, roaring engine pulls up in the driveway, startling me awake and sending me into a panic attack.

“Just my hubs, Blue, it’s okay.” Joe pats the top of my thigh reassuringly.

Ruger takes off to the black truck, allowing Tuck to walk up the stairs to me. I stand to meet him and feel shocked when no pain hits me. He cocks an eyebrow in my direction and I smile back at him.

“Easy, tiger.” Tuck pulls me in on my left side. It’s as if he has memorized every one of my injuries and avoids them at all cost.

“Whatever you gave me, Joe, has really helped my side.” I turn back to see her smiling face.

Tuck’s palm covers my good cheek and forces me to look back at him, and before I realize what’s happening, his tongue is down my throat. And like a love struck fool, I let him. With each swipe of it I feel memories of the attack dissolve a bit.