Nic's Devotion: An Endless Series: Book One (27 page)

Chapter Twenty-four

Nic

     I watched Carrie walk from room feeling the sorrow
radiating off her. I wasn’t sure if I should go after her or let her make the
call alone. It was with her doctor so she might want the privacy. 

     “Nice job, Shitlock.” Seth hit Evan again only in the
back of the head this time. It was no fair that he got to hit Evan twice.

     “What, she didn’t hear me.” Evan protest, rubbing the
back of his head.

     What the hell had he said? I’d only seen the look he’d
thrown her way. “What the hell did you say?” I stood up furiously.

     Evan’s expression turned regretful and he raised his
hands. He looked nervously toward the doorway. “I just asked Seth, very quietly
under my breath, if he’d found the same thing I did online last night.”

     My fury didn’t abate, in fact, it increased. “Are you
fucking dense. You saw what happened to her last night when the subject was
brought up. Don’t bring it up again around her. And if you can’t act normally
around her when she’s in the room you need to make yourself scarce. I won’t
have her feeling uncomfortable.”

     Evan’s arms lowered slowly and he looked at me in
surprise and consideration. “Yeah, okay. I understand you care about her.” He
glanced toward the doorway again. “But I think you need to know that everything
Nikki said was the truth. I just don’t want you ignoring the facts. This girl
has got some serious issues going on; killing her father and then
institutionalized for a year because of it.” 

     I knew Evan wouldn’t have been able to curb his
curiosity about what he heard, and even though I understood the naturalness of
it he could have handled the situation better. I wasn’t going to allow anyone
or anything to cause Carrie anymore suffering.

     I leaned over the table and growled. “Carrie admitted
that Nikki was telling the truth.” Both Seth and Evan raised their brows in
surprise at my words. “But she also said that not everything was disclosed by
the police to the press. That phone call she’s making is to someone who can
tell me the entire story. She can’t because she’s also confessed that another
episode would only ensue if she tried. I don’t know what’s online and I don’t
care, but I do know that there is no way that Carrie killed her father deliberately
or maliciously.”

     Evan didn’t say anything as I sat back down, my fury
still riding me hard.

     “I looked it up.” Seth rumbled quietly. He looked a
little ashamed at the admission. “Told myself I wouldn’t do it because it
seemed like an invasion of her privacy, but then I thought it might help me
understand her situation better.” He frowned. “I won’t go into specifics
because there weren’t a lot; it was vague.”

     “I’m telling you there’s no way Carrie purposely killed
her father, and I’ll tell you the same thing I told Nikki, no one else needs to
know about this.” I stated categorically. 

     Evan stayed quiet, but Seth nodded in agreement. I
looked down at my food no longer hungry myself. Pushing the plate away I stood
up walking from the room.

     Carrie was in the living room staring out the window.
Walking up behind her I wrapped my arms around her. She jumped in surprise
grabbing my arms.

     “Oh, you scared me.” She exclaimed.

     I kissed the top of her head. All the anger seemed to
drain out of me as I held her in my arms which I was grateful for. I didn’t
want any of that shit festering inside me when I was near her.

     “Did you get a hold of her?”

     “Yes, she said she could see us today around one if
that’s okay with you. She lives in Lexington which is about an hour from here.”
She stood tense in my embrace as though she was afraid of the answer; whether
it be yes or no.   

     “It’ll be tight but we can get your stuff from the
woman’s shelter, get you moved into your dorm room, and you can get a shower
before we have to get on the road.” I pulled her after me as I headed for the
front door. After slipping our shoes on I helped her with her jacket and then
pulled on mine. Grabbing up her pack we walked out the door.

     I peeled out of the driveway as she sat quietly next to
me. I was able to get her to talk about various trivial matters on the way to
the shelter and then to the University, but I could tell she was distracted and
agitated. Not bothering to find a parking spot I just drove up to the front
doors of her building which allowed for twenty minute parking.

     Grabbing her small suitcase from the truck I followed
Carrie to the entrance. When I’d seen her come out of the shelter carrying only
the one suitcase I’d wanted to rail against someone. Her mother mostly, but
unfortunately she wasn’t available. If I ever did meet Carrie’s mother she was
going to get a fucking earful.

     Carrie swiped her key card to get us in the doors and
we checked in at the front desk before taking the elevator to the third floor.
Not having been to her room yet we clicked off the numbers to 312. A few people
were traversing the hallway, both female and male. I bristled at the presence
of the males, especially since they all checked Carrie out, and not in a casual
way.

     Finally, we reached her room and she opened it to
reveal a barely furnished living space. It had everything she said it would;
only the bed frame contained no mattress. I looked around and felt my anger
building all over again. She had one suitcase with her, no mattress for the
bed, and I really doubt it contained any blankets to go on top of it if she
did. And what about a damn pillow!

     Knowing that my anger wasn’t going to help the
situation I took a deep breath and noticed that Carrie’s expression was
distressed.

     “When they said it had a bed I just figured that it
included a mattress, but I guess that was kind of stupid.” She walked into the
room and dropped her backpack on the bed frame.

     At least she hadn’t been trying to whitewash her dire
circumstances more than they were, but shit, the girl had nothing to fill this
room with.

     In the calmest voice I could muster I said
good-naturedly. “You know what; Amanda’s got an extra mattress in her storage
room from when her last roommate moved out. The roommate was supposed to come
get it but then told Amanda just to get rid of it. I know she’s still got it
because Noah was supposed to get rid of it for her, but he never did.” It was
one of the most fantastical lies I’d ever told.

     Carrie’s brows rose in delighted astonishment. “Wow!
That would be great. I could give her like…fifty bucks or something. Is that a
good price?” She asked with an uncertain frown.

     That she was concerned about Amanda getting money for a
mattress that I’d explained in my lie didn’t even belong to her cut me up.
Carrie wasn’t someone who expected something for free.

    “I told you, Noah was supposed to trash it. Amanda won’t
take any money for it.” I stated firmly.

     She looked rebellious for a second and we had a
stare-off, but then she gave in genially. “Okay, but I’ll have to do something
to repay her somehow.”

     I walked over to her and swept her up in a hug spinning
her around. “Woman, just accept the good fortune or I’ll spin you till you hurl
up our dinner from last night.”

     She giggled uncontrollably. “Oh, my god. You have to
stop or I will. I cannot handle going in circles.”

     “Tell me you’ll accept the mattress or I keep going.” I
warned her still spinning. I hoped she relented soon because I was getting
dizzy myself.

     She laughed and I grinned hearing it. “Okay, okay,” she
conceded giggling breathlessly. 

     I stopped and had to brace myself from falling over.
Whoa, note to self: never ride the tilt-a-whirl…ever.

     Carrie swayed and slapped me on the shoulder laughing.
“Just to warn you, if you ever do that again it won’t be me wearing the
regurgitated food.”

     I grimaced at the thought. “Good point.” I put space
between us like I was afraid she might do what she’d warned. She laughed again.

     “Go get your shower.” I shooed her away.

     Grinning, she retrieved her shower supplies and extra
clothes from her suitcase and headed for the bathroom. However, before she
could shut the bathroom door there was a knock at her dorm door.

     What the hell? She was getting visitors already. It had
better not be a guy. She was closer to the door so she got there before me, and
low-and-behold…a guy. I stood behind her scowling irritably.

     “Yes?” Carrie asked hesitantly.

     The guy didn’t even notice me. All his male attention
remained fixed on Carrie in spellbound absorption.  

     “Uh, hey.” The guy, five ten, medium build, brown hair,
not really all that bad looking held out his hand with an overly bright smile.
“My name is Mark; I’m the R.N. Just stopping by to introduce myself.”

     Carrie held out her hand. “I’m Carrie.”

     I almost growled when they made contact. I didn’t want
anyone else touching her; I didn’t care if it was only a hand shake. I
especially didn’t want guys that were interested in her touching her.

     Stepping up next to her I grumbled. “I’m Nic; her
boyfriend.”

     Out of the corner of my eye I saw Carrie’s head jerk up
in my direction in surprise, but I kept eye contact with the asshat in front of
me. His gaze met mine and widened in possible recognition but definite
apprehension. He dropped Carrie’s hand instantly. Good, he was smart to be
concerned.

     I turned and gave Carrie an innocuous smile. “Carrie,
honey, why don’t you go do what you where about to do.” I left it vague; I
didn’t want asshat here thinking about her in the shower. “I want to ask Mark
here a few questions. We don’t have a lot of time and you can always talk to
him later.”

     Carrie expression still looked surprised at my
‘boyfriend’ announcement. “Okay, yeah…uh, nice to meet you Mark.” She turned
and slipped into the bathroom.

     I stepped forward which caused Mark to shuffle
backwards. Stepping out in the hall I left the door slightly ajar at my back. I
told myself to be polite but firm.

     I held out my hand and repeated. “Hey, Mark, I’m Nic
Stanford.”

     Mark took my hand tentatively. “Yeah, I follow
lacrosse. You guys are headed for another great season.”

     “Thanks. Listen Mark, I was wondering if you could do
me a big favor. I’m real protective of Carrie and I’m going to worrying about
her constantly, but you can help me out with that. I’m going to give you my
number and if you could call me if you see anyone bothering her I would really
appreciate it. My teammates look after our own you know.” Hopefully this story
would get around and weed out many of the guys who would have tried to get with
her. It didn’t set my mind totally at ease, but it was something. 

     The apprehensive expression on Mark’s face amped up.
“Yeah, sure I can do that.”

     I clamped my hand on his shoulder. “Appreciate it man.
If I can do anything for you, just ask me.” 

     Surprise flashed over his face at my offer, he’d
probably expected threats rather than compromise. “Okay, sure Nic.”

     We exchanged numbers and I let him know that I would be
dropping off a mattress for Carrie later, plus a few other things.

     Carrie came out of the shower a few minutes later. Her
hair was braided and she’d put on her work clothes topped with a gray sweater.
We headed out quickly since our time was tight. I just made one quick stop to
get us something to eat since we both missed breakfast.

     I could feel the tension slowly increase in Carrie the
closer we got to Lexington. Holding her hand I tried my best to sooth her by
talking aimlessly, but she only offered up half-hearted responses. When we
neared Lexington I followed the GPS directives to the address Carrie gave me,
located in a large subdivision just on the outskirts of the city limits. The doctor
lived in a home similar to the others around her; a two story brown with a two
car garage on a two/thirds acre lot.

     Pulling into the driveway I shut off the engine and
walked around to the passenger seat. It was the only time Carrie waited for me
to come around to open the door for her without me asking. I could tell she was
trying to control it, but the panic revealed in her eyes was unmistakable.

     Taking both her hands I gave them a squeeze. “Carrie, we
don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

     Carrie laughed but the sound was choked. “Of course I
don’t want to do this…” She swallowed and closed her eyes. “But you need to
know or we can’t go forward.” Taking a deep breath she climbed down from the
truck. “I’m okay.”

      Fuck, she was strong. Hands clasped together we walked
up to the door that had opened to reveal an attractive auburn haired woman in
her mid-thirties. She smiled and as we neared.

     “Carrie, it’s so good to see you.” The woman stepped
forward and enfolded Carrie in her arms, Carrie embraced her back. There was
definite affection between two.

      Dr. Mathew’s leaned back and switched her attention to
me. “And this is the young man you told me about?” She looked me over with a
smile but I could see she was taking my measure.

     I offered my hand. “I’m Nic, Nic Stanford.”

     She accepted it. “Nice to meet you, Nic.” Releasing my
hand she entwined her arm with Carrie’s pulling her into the house. “Come in both
of you. Doug, my husband has gone out with the kids so we have the house to
ourselves.”

     She led us into the living room and offered us a seat.
Carrie and I sat on the couch together and Dr. Mathews took the chair across
from us. I’d taken Carrie’s hand in mine as soon as we’d seated ourselves and I
saw Dr. Mathew’s eyes follow the movement. Her expression remained neutral
though. As a Psychiatrist she probably had that countenance down pat.