Cake (10 page)

Warning bells sound all through my mind. “I’m okay.” I grip the handles of my purse like a lifeline. “Did the doctor explain about needing care once you leave the hospital?”

I see him suck in his cheekbones, a sure sign that he is pissed. I know him all too well. A small shake of his head causes him to let out a hiss of pain.

“I’ll be fine by myself. I’m not letting some stranger stay in my apartment.”

Walking several steps closer, I answer him in a whisper, “Dray, you can’t go home alone.”

“I don’t give a damn what the doctor says. I’ll take my chances.”

“And ruin your career or possibly go to sleep and never wake up?” I reach the foot of his bed, laying my bag down.

His eyes turn to me once again, “Why are you
really
here?”

I don’t know why, but at that moment I know what he expects me to say. He is waiting for me to admit that Trent sent me. Something within me also knows that isn’t what he wants to hear. Any other time, I would have loved to admit that I am not here for him, to cut him deeper, and let him know he means that little to me, but right now, at this moment in time, it’s not the truth.

“Answer me, Kylie.”

“You,” I breathily answer. “I am worried about you.”

I watch his eyes go liquid brown and emotions play across his face. “Come here.” His voice is low, but commanding.

This is the Dray that I know, but for once, it doesn’t feel like a battle between us. It feels like a warm caress reaching inside of me and any option of disobeying him is not a choice. I’m totally undone. Moving around to the side of his bed, I step forward. My eyes never leave his as I come to stand beside him. His sitting position actually makes us the same height, and our eyes seem to be at the same level.
What am I doing? What am I doing
? My heart pounds within my chest.

He reaches toward me with one hand, letting his fingers caress the side of my face. The instant they connect against my skin, every fiber of my being awakens. The roughened pad of his fingertip traces my bottom lip, and my very breath is held prisoner within me. The fire shining from within him burns me to my core, so I close my eyes.
This can’t be happening.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but we need to check his vital signs and give him his medicine,” the nurse says from the doorway.

Jerking away from his touch, my eyes open to his, watching the flame stoke higher.

He answers the nurse, never turning away from me, “Get out.” He commands attention even with a whisper.

“Sorry, while you are in the hospital, you are on a schedule for mandatory patient check-ins. It should only take a few minutes.”

Her words wake me from my stupor, and finally, my senses return. I look from her to him and only speak, when I see the familiar look on Dray’s face when he’s about to ream someone a new one. “No, that is fine. Maybe you can explain what I need to do to nurse him back once he goes home?” I don’t look at Dray when I ask her the question, but I can feel his eyes on me.

“You’ll just need to check on him every couple of hours and make sure he gets plenty of rest,” she smiles and answers while dispensing medication into his I.V. and checking his blood-pressure. Finishing, she turns toward Dray and says before she exits, “You’ll get so much more rest when you get home, Mr. Savage.”

Deciding that it is time for my exit, I walk to the end of his bed, picking up my purse, before turning to look back at him.

“What did you mean by that, Kylie?”

“You said you wouldn’t let anyone take care of you. Well, I’m not giving you a choice. I’ll be here to take you home, and I’ll stay for two weeks to make sure you make a full recovery. We’ve stayed at the lake house with Trent together and didn’t kill each other, so I’m sure we can get through this.”

“So you have talked with Trent?” His voice is still quiet from the pain, but his tone is harsh. “Is that it then? He asked you to come and take care of me?”

Not that I have never lied in my lifetime, but generally, I’m not someone who tells the untruth. I value honesty in all of its forms and seek that trait in others, but looking at Dray’s face, every sense I possess screams at me to not tell him about Trent. Something tells me that it’s not what he wants to hear, and something scares me that it’s not all true anymore for me.

“Yes, he called me worried and wanted to know what I knew about your condition,” I answer watching his face fall, “but I’m here because I am scared about what happened to you. Seeing you like this kills me inside.” My words echo through the room.

A small smile begins at the corners of his mouth.

“I mean if anyone is going to get to kill you off, it’s going to be me.” I add, winking, needing to add some levity to the situation.

Puckering his lips up, he nods gently, “Okay, I guess I can let you nurse me back to health.”

Knowing that this is my time to escape, I nod and turn to walk out of the room.

“Kylie?”

Turning my head, I answer, “Yeah?”

“Thanks. I... Thank you,” he says from his bed. A pain shoots through my heart as he looks like a lost little boy lying there.

“I’ll be back in the morning.”

Nodding, he never takes his eyes off me as I turn to leave. Walking down the hospital corridors, I can’t think about what is happening. I just have to get through the next couple of weeks without losing my sanity or worse, something I never thought was in danger when it came to Dray. My heart.

Dray didn’t leave the hospital until two days later due to severe headaches. I spent the entire time getting everything in line with my business and dodging the media wanting to confirm mine and Dray’s non-existent relationship. Decadent Darling did more business in those few days than the past month. Leo believes everyone was trying to catch any tidbit of gossip they could find.

An hour before I’m to meet him at the hospital, I receive a text message that his team is sending a car to deliver him home to his downtown loft. Minutes later, I answer my phone when I notice my aunt calling.

“So am I buying pink or blue for the baby shower?”

I’ve become accustom to these funny quips that people love to throw at me.

“Make it green for the Martian baby I’m going to pop out.”

“Baby girl, you have provided enough gossip for us old southern biddies to last a lifetime. You wouldn’t believe these chatter-bugs. Of course, most of them are green with envy, so let them be.”

“I’m sorry that you have to listen to all of this.”

“Child, I’ve told you for years that you need some excitement. Seems to me, Mr. Savage could definitely provide enough of that for you.”

Groaning, I reply, “It’s not like that.” I mean that also. Whatever happened in the hospital was pure craziness, and I bet Dray doesn’t even remember it. I’m sure it was the pain meds for him, and I’ve had two nights of electrical loving, courtesy of B.O.B.

“We shall see. Okay, I’ve got to check on my neighbor Mrs. Willis. Lately, she’s been higher than a Georgia pine and crazier than an old coot. Kisses, Kylie.”

“Kisses, Aunt Leigh.”

Clicking my phone off, I return to packing my overnight bag for Dray’s. Plenty of t-shirts, gym shorts, and yoga pants. Nothing lacy, silky, or see through allowed. Keeping it simple and not sexy. I can’t believe that this is something that I’m having to talk myself through in context with Dray. I’ve officially lost my mind.

I lift my head when I hear my door open and Mads’s voice shouts, “Hey ho, I’m home.”

Having not spoken to her since our phone conversation, I’m surprised to see her now. I did text her to give her my plans for staying with Dray, but never heard back, which wasn’t a surprise.

“Back here,” I answer loudly over Jonsie’s barking

“Listening to Psy makes me want to hump all Asian men,” she casually comments, sitting on my bed. Looking at my face, she replies, “Don’t ask. It’s that Gentleman song.”

“What are you doing here, Madison?”

“I’m sorry. Okay? I can’t help how I feel about Trent and Dray. They both drive me fucking insane when it comes to how they treat you.”

I start to interrupt her when she holds her hands up for me to stop.

“No, let me finish. You seem to forget that I’ve been right along with you these past seven years, hanging with both of these guys, and I totally get being worried over Dray. I will never admit it to another living being, but there was a moment when I had a slight feeling of anxiousness over whether or not Dray was okay. I mean, without him, the Eagles have a slim chance of making it to the playoffs, and you know how much I love my football.”

Grabbing her hands and squeezing them, I pull her to me and we both laugh as we hug.

“Nothing to be sorry about. I just...I have to do this.”

Shaking her head, she pulls away from me, “Trent is such a little bitch.”

“Mads,” I say warningly.

“Peace, love, and chicken grease,” she says, holding up her hand indicating a peace sign. “Call me when you need to hide the body because Dray is going to drive you to drink or to kill the mother-fucker.” Walking out of the room, she turns back one last time, “Love ya, Kylie.”

Nodding at her, I reply, “Loves you bigger,” as she leaves.

Groaning, I really need to talk to Mads about the whole Dray situation, but I know I can’t. She is too biased when it comes to him, with much reason to be. And now, I have to wonder which Dray will I get today? The man who loves to torture me endlessly or the lost boy who calls to me? Shaking myself out of my reverie, I remind myself why I am doing this. Dray. No, wait, I mean Trent. Dear sweet baby Jesus. Trent is the reason I am doing this. For him. I reach my hand up to pop my own self in the head.

Leaning down, I zip my bag up and sling it over my shoulder. “Jonsie, time to go.” Taking one last look in my mirror, I stare at the woman there: Glasses, t-shirt, yoga pants, running shoes, no make-up, with my hair pulled back in a messy bun. Just a friend helping another friend. Scooping up Jonsie, I place him in his travel crate and lock everything up. Deep breath. I can do this.

Arriving at Dray’s, I’m able to drive into the secured parking deck underneath and take the elevator up. My arms are loaded down with my bags and Jonsie in his crate. Thank God that Dray left me a key with the parking attendant, so I let myself in. I’ve been here several times with Trent, since this is where he lives when he is at home. Dray owns the top floor and the entire left side is windows overlooking the city. It is decorated as a bachelors pad, but even I have to admit, it is very tastefully done. Action shots of Dray playing football adorn most of the walls.

When I first came here with Trent, I noted Dray’s self-admiration, mocking his egotistical self, but Trent looked at me and said while smiling sadly, “If someone has never had a family, what photos are we supposed to place upon the walls other than pictures of ourselves?” I felt about two feet high, and it made me look at the pictures again. At that time, I felt something else, the pride that Dray must feel looking at his life and how far he had come. I remember looking at Dray differently for about two seconds before he said something to piss me off again.

Glancing over the photos now, I smile and continue to look around. It’s been awhile, but everything seems to be the same masculine decor. Jonsie begins to bark, seconds before I hear footsteps on the wooden floor and look up. Dray stands staring at me, almost as if he doesn’t know who I am. He’s dressed in white basketball shorts and matching t-shirt. Bringing his hand to his head, I notice that he grimaces and instantly, I remember the concussion.