Caught Off Guard (5 page)

I’d woken up in the middle of the night completely covered in tears. I had the worst nightmare ever. When I opened my eyes completely I realized it wasn’t just a nightmare, it was real. My leg was throbbing towards my calf, and my body ached. My parents were lying on pull out sofas, asleep. Confused, I called out to them in a cracking voice, “Mom, dad.” It took a few tries, but on the last one they heard me.

They jumped up instantly, surprised and happy. They were up and at my bed in seconds.

“Oh my god! Zoey I’m so glad you are going to be okay.” my mother cried, as she pulled me close.

“Mom, where is Mike?” My tears could be heard in my words. I felt like my heart was breaking.

“He is resting in his bed down the hall.” Relief flooded me.

“He’s alive!” I was still crying. In my nightmare he had been shot and died. My body was racked with sobs and mom wrapped her arms around me without touching my injuries. While my father left the room to get the nurse.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. He is going to be back to normal soon and then you can fight with him some more or play kissy face, whatever.” she said nonchalantly.

“I don’t want to fight with him, but he just hates me for some reason. He spent the day flirting with me and I wanted to buy it, but he has been an ass all the other times.”

“He doesn’t hate you. He wants to be with you. They act like that sometimes when they want something they think they can’t have.” my mom said calmly.

“How do you know a man wants you for you?” I said groggily.

“You are special, how could a man not want you for you?” She rubbed the side of my face that wasn’t bruised.

“I think I’m in love with him.” I said, in a drowsy whisper as I closed my eyes.

“I know sweetie.” I heard her say as she gave me a kiss on the cheek.

In the morning I was still in a lot of pain, so my mom called in the nurse. She brought me breakfast and some medicine for the pain. After eating Jackson stopped by to see me, but I was fast asleep. I only woke briefly when he gave me a peck on my cheek.

“Jackson…” I murmured.

“Sleep sis, you need your rest. I’m sorry sweetie. I didn’t mean to wake you. I’ll check on you later.” he said, softly.

I fell right back asleep for about half an hour before the nurse came to check on me. My mom had left me some magazines to read, knowing that I would be bored. Mike had knocked on my door and came in without waiting for a response and catching me off guard. After hiding the magazine I smiled brightly at my hero and he gave me the sweetest smile. I was in love with him, and I wasn’t sure if I could hide it, but I was going to try.

The next morning I woke up feeling drained and hungry, but my thoughts were still on Zoey. My brother had left for the night, and I had a feeling he was out looking for the shooter. I buzzed for the nurse, and she came into the room in seconds.

“Good Mr. Mancini, how are you feeling this morning?” the sweet old nurse asked, as she started taking my vitals. I don’t know why they wanted to let this one look after me knowing I’m antsy to escape and see Zoey.

“I’m anxious to go see Miss Blake.” I answered.

“Yes I was told. However I need to know that you are well enough to do so. So how are you feeling?”

“I’m hungry and a little weak.” I answered honestly.

“Good, I’ll get you some breakfast. After you eat, we can see if you feel well enough to visit her. Don’t try any funny business, or you will be sedated again. And the next time it won’t be in your IV, but in that sweet bottom of yours. Understood Mr. Mancini?” Damn the nice old lady turned into a drill sergeant; now I knew why she was my nurse and not the young nurse they had in here yesterday.

I just got a clean bill of health to go see Zoey when my brother walked in the room.

“Hey Mike what are you doing trying to get up?” Milo

“I’m on my way to go see Zoey.”

“Damn bro, I hope Jackson doesn’t know you got it bad for his spoiled sister, or you will be down the hall in the morgue.”

“I just want to check on her. I failed them and it was my job to look out for them.”

“Quit the bullshit. You’re going to see her because since we got here you have been acting a fool like Jackson, except instead of giving into it you are fighting it.”

“I’m not in love with her if that is what you think. I’m just worried about her safety and her… Well fuck it I admit it, I think I’m falling for her.”

“Falling? Mike you already fell and plastered your face to the cement.” He laughed at my predicament.

“Yeah which means I should probably just walk away from her. I missed all the signs that something wasn’t right when we got hit. It could have cost all of our lives.”

“Now you are talking dumb. Didn’t they already tell you that you were a hero? Not many even with your years of experience in the marines could have done what you did. Remember the girls wanted to go alone, but we weren’t having any of that. If we had let them we’d be planning three funerals. You did good bro, really good.” My big brother smiled with pride at me.

“Are you telling me to go for her now?” He had been against it from the start.

“Not really. I don’t know if it is a good idea yet. You are both broken right now. I haven’t been really paying attention to the two of you. I have been doing like you told me and observing the new security woman.” I could tell his interest in Miss Monroe was more that business. I wanted more details.

“How is that going?”

“Well I spoke with her the day of the party and that was it. Then this shit happened.” This fuck was lying to me. Did he think I was dumb or some shit? Now wasn’t the time to get into it I needed to go see Zoey.

We were just getting me ready to get out of bed when there was a knock at the door. It was the cops ready to take a statement from me. Fuck I couldn’t catch a break.

I gave them all I had, filling them in on the make of the car, and all I could remember about the incident. They questioned if I was holding back because I was planning on looking in on the case, but I told this punk ass cop that I hadn’t thought about it yet and I gave them all I had.

When I finally got them out of my room Milo and a young nurse helped me over to Zoey’s room down the hall. When I walked in there, I made Milo and the nurse beat it; I wanted to be alone with her. She was all alone sitting on the bed reading. I looked down and seen that she was reading a teenage magazine with heartthrobs on the cover. Yep I needed to walk away, but I needed to know that she was okay before I did.

“Hello Zoey.” She looked up shocked and gave me a vague smile before hiding her magazine.

“Hello Mike.” she said, with a blush and a smile after being caught reading that junk.

“I came in here to see how you were doing. How bad are your injuries?” I tried to seem unaffected, but I sure as hell wanted to find the shooter and put a bullet in his head for this. I walked over gingerly and sat on the edge of the chair next her bed.

“I’m going to be fine. My injuries, although dangerous, aren’t as bad as your injuries or Elizabeth’s.” she replied.

“I’m glad. I have been worried about you. About all of you. I’m sorry that I failed to protect you.” I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. I was in love with her and I knew it for certain. When I walked into the room I felt like I had ran right into love. My heart was aching as I saw her injuries. I had the Jackson virus, and it was incurable.

“It isn’t your fault that some whack job pulled this stunt. I just hope they are caught before they try again.” she said earnestly. She paused lost in thought then added, “Listen Mike, I’m sorry for the bitch I’ve been to you. I owe you my life. I shouldn’t have been rude to you for looking out for me.”

“Now you listen, Zoey. I want you to know that I’d move heaven and earth to protect you. I don’t mean because your brother is paying my firm or anything like that. It’s because I haven’t stop thinking about you since we met, two and half days ago. You are fucking beautiful, snotty, funny and brilliant. I want us to be together. I know you need some time, but I’m ready. I’ll give you until you are at least on your feet to make the decision of whether or not you want to be with me, but I’m not going to stop from trying to convince you.” I winked at her and she blushed like a bright red rose.

“Are you serious? Or are you playing with me?” She didn’t believe I wanted her. I’ll just have to show her. I stood up and reached over her bed. I bent down and tasted her lips for the first time. Our kiss was brief, but explosive. I didn’t move into it further because my ribs were fucking killing me.

“Does that show you that I’m serious? I would do more, but I’m fucking aching right now.” I grimaced, as I sat back down in my chair.

“Oh my! You should be back in bed resting, you big dummy!” she cried out, completely upset with worry.

“I will if you tell me, are you willing to let me win you?”

“Yes, I am willing,” she whispered, shyly. That damn shyness was going to get her fucked faster than I have planned. I needed to get back to my room. I was fucking tired, and I didn’t want her to worry.

“Good baby, that’s really good.” I walked out of her room looking forward to tomorrow.

I missed him the moment he walked out the door. What the hell? How was I supposed to cope with this? The things that crazy gorilla man made me feel had my heart racing. Yet I wasn’t being faithful to the man I had been kissing for the last two weeks.

My mom came back to see me and we had a talk about Mike and Rick.

“Sweetie, you have to do what is right for you, whether it’s Rick or Mike or even neither of them. Do you remember telling me that you love Mike?”

“Yes, I do and I really do. So how am I supposed to hurt Rick? He has been good to me and even invited me to go on vacation with him and his parents.”

“It will be okay, Rick is young and like you, will heal.” I loved her so much. She helped me even though I already had my answer. I was just not used to being the dumper to someone I actually liked.

We had been talking when Rick knocked on the door. “Come in,” my mom said.

“Rick! What brings you here?” I said guiltily. After the guilt came the panic. What if Mike walked in? There would be a brawl and Mike is already injured and Rick is not strong enough for a man like Mike, even a weakened Mike.

“I came to see you Zoey.”

“Sweetheart I’ll leave you for a few moments. It is nice to see you again, Rick.” My mom said, calmly and left the room.

“Zoey, why do I get the feeling that you are ending this with me?”

“I’m sorry Rick. I think you are an amazing guy, it’s just…”

“It’s just the big bodyguard. I understand. I understood it wasn’t just his job to protect you. The man wanted a hell of a lot more. So tell me how are you feeling physically?”

“I can’t complain. I’m alive and I’ll be back to normal in time.” I looked at him sheepishly. I felt bad as I looked into his eyes and had seen his upset.

“That is great. So I’m going to Greece next month before college. I’m going to take a lot of pictures. I can send you some when I get back.”

“Thanks, Rick. I would like that.” I can’t say that Mike will appreciate it, but it was the least I could do after ending our relationship.

We said our goodbyes and I tried not to cry. Not because I loved him or anything like that, but I felt bad for him. I wouldn’t want to be hurt by someone who I really cared about.

The next few days I was in and out of it. I had tried to move too fast and it was getting to me. By the third day I had made up my mind, she was going to be mine, eventually. I was willing to give her some time to come to terms with it. I was good to walk around the room by myself now, so I’m going to go see Zoey again.

“Good Morning Zoey,” I said, as I opened the door to her room.

“Morning Mike. What are you doing walking around? Shouldn’t you still be resting? My mother told me that you were having dizzy spells.”

“Don’t worry babe, I’m good. I needed to see how you were doing.”

“I’m fine. You don’t need to feel guilty about what happened. It was out of your hands, so you can stop coming to check on me and Elizabeth.”

“My guilt has nothing to do why I come to see you, and you know it.” I walked over to her bed and sat down on the bed. She tried to move her legs away, but I put my hand down and stopped her.

“Don’t worry. I don’t bite.” I didn’t care for her trying to escape me. She was different today, nervous.

“I wasn’t, I was giving you room to sit. I don’t know if you know this, but you are kind of a beast.”

“I don’t know whether to take that as an insult or a complement.”

“It was neither. It was just a statement of fact.” she said, with a playful attitude.

“Wow, you are not a nice girl.”

“You are probably right.” Even in my pain, my dick was jumping with that smirk she gave me.

“How have you been these past few days? Have you missed me?” I winked at my woman. My woman damn, she was just a girl, but you can’t change what your heart feels. I’m going to have a talk with her family soon.

“Have you missed me?”

“Hell yes I did. So did you?” I questioned her.

“Yes I did, but I knew you needed rest.”

“Yes, I couldn’t even sit up half the time and they took away my phone. My drill sergeant of a nurse was on my ass.”

“Was she some sexy thing?” Loving the jealousy. I bent down to her face and whispered, “I’m yours.” I kissed her lips and she hungrily latched onto them. Our kiss was getting out of hand when her hands entangled themselves in my hair. Then she used her position to pull my face away.

“You didn’t answer me and kissing me isn’t going to get you out of answering me.”

I laughed, “Your jealousy is cute. No offence to her, but I don’t find a seventy year old bull dog sexy.” As I watched the blush of embarrassment stain her face, I laughed harder.

“Hey quit laughing at me. I have seen some of the nurses around here, so why would you get the old battle axe I heard about?” she asked, accusingly

“Because I refused to stay in my bed. I tried to come over here and sneak into your bed.” I winked.

“Liar,” she laughed.

“Well only a little. I did try to come see you, but they stopped me. What can I say? I missed my girl and her pretty lips.”

“So I’m your girl, now?”

“Hell yes babe.” I growled at her.

“I thought you said you were giving until I was on my feet to choose?”

“I changed my mind.”

“So then tell me what is you want from me.”

“Starting off with the easy questions, aren’t you? I want everything. You, me and the next fifty years.”

“Seriously.”

“Do I look like I’m kidding? I know I said I would give you time, but these last few days without you wasn’t fucking pretty, and I don’t want that again. Can you handle that?”

“I don’t know”

“You don’t know? I guess that is fair, but I know you can. We have at least a week of recovery ahead of us. That is plenty of time to learn about each other and for you to decide.”

“That works for me.” She smiled at me and I couldn’t resist another kiss. I was going to win her. I just had to start small and simple.

“Do you want to go check on Elizabeth?” That earned me a big smile.

“Yes I do. They said they would take me in a wheelchair over there in a little bit. My ankle is still healing, but the rest of me seems really good.”

“I’ll wheel you over there.” I called for a nurse when she came we requested a wheelchair. Five minutes later we were on our way to check on Elizabeth.