Enough (10 page)

“Okay, I’ll drive you. What are you going to do there?” I didn’t answer him.
I couldn’t. I can only focus on getting to Alex’s place.

I remembered the
way and we got there in fifteen minutes. Declan came to a stop in front of his house and I got out and ran up the stairs. As I was getting out the car I felt like my skin was tearing again. I’ll have to check on that later.

I
rang the door bell a few times and Alex finally answered.

“Hey, what are y
ou doing here? Did you–”

“What the hell did you do?
Did you buy my mom’s house?” I asked. “I really don’t understand what’s going on.” He stared at me, not denying anything. Then he walked back inside his house and I followed.

“You asked
me to find a way to get you not to move. I found a way. I talked with your family and they didn’t like the idea at first but then they thought of what was best for you. They decided to take my offer and it worked out fine.” He said.

“What
offer?” I asked. Everyone is leaving me in the dark.

“
I offered your mom some money for you to get your own place. She didn’t like the idea so then I mentioned I can buy the house and give her some money to help out.” He said. What?!

“How much did you offer her?”
I asked. Oh, God. Do I really want to know this? He didn’t answer me. “How much?”

“A few million.”
I’m sorry
? I can’t believe what he’s saying. I stared at him in disbelief. What? A few million? He must have known what I was thinking because he said, “Emily, I have money. After my family died, I inherited everything. I wanted to help you out.”

I ca
n’t stop looking at him. He looks so…confident. How could he do this to me? And act like it’s all right? It’s not all right!

“
Is that why you stuck around? You wanted to see what the fuck was happening to me. Am I some kind of charity case? We don’t need your money, Alex. Is this some pity thing? I was raped and that was the perfect way for you to feel helpful. I can’t believe this. I can’t believe…you.” I snapped.

“I did it
because I care about you. It was selfish but I didn’t want you to–” His eyes moved behind me. Alex tensed up and I turned around. Declan was there. Fuck.

“Emily
…you.” He ran over to Alex and punched him. “Did you do something to my sister?” Declan snapped.

Shit.
I put my hand on Declan’s arm.

“Declan, he
didn’t do anything. He was helping me. So I thought.” I said dragging my eyes over to Alex. He has his hand on his chin.

“When did this happen? Why didn’t you say anything to me?”
Declan asked staring Alex down but talking to me.

I couldn’t see straight
though. Everything was getting blurry. A second later, I felt something warm dripping down my stomach. I put my hand under my sweater and when I removed it, there was blood.

“Declan…” I had the same feeling on my face
. I raised my other hand and sure enough, there was blood coming from my nose. Both Alex and Declan looked at me.

I feel
woozy. I staggered back and before I knew it, I was falling to the floor with both Alex and Declan trying to catch me.

***

I woke up in the backseat of my mom’s car. Alex held me in his lap, I assum
e Declan’s driving. “What happened? Where are we going?” I asked.

I
feel something soft on my abdomen, a towel.

“We’re taking you to the hospital. You lost a lot of blood
and the cut opened.” Alex said with something in his voice.

“No, I don
’t like–”

“You need to go. Don’t argue with me
, Emily. We have time for that later.” Alex said cutting me off.

I drifted off.

By the time I woke up again, I was in a hospital bed with Declan and Alex sitting on the left and right of me.

“Declan…” I winced in pain as I tried turning to him.

“Don’t move. You got stitches and you can pull them out.” He said.

“Did you tell anyone what you heard
?” I asked scared. Declan shook his head. “Don’t. Please. I didn’t want you to find out this way.” He grabbed my hand and kissed my forehead. Man, how I craved this love from my brother. I really missed him.

“Why didn’t you tell me, Em? You’
ve been acting so weird lately. I should have paid more attention to you.” He said.

“That’s why I didn’t tell you.
I don’t want anyone feeling sorry for me.” I glanced at Alex for that one. He looked hurt. He should. I can’t believe he did what he did and didn’t tell me. I wouldn’t have let him but still, he got me to open up then he went behind my back.

I listened to both Alex and Declan talk about me like I wasn’t there. Declan’s pissed Alex didn’t mention anything. Alex is pissed Declan even said anything to me and they’re both pissed that I’m pissed. God. And I thought women are annoying.

A doctor with brown hair and green eyes, Dr. Thompson, walked in and explained my blood loss and how to care for my newly stitched wound. Obviously I haven’t been eating right so I was exhausted. She even mentioned a possible pregnancy and I went pale. I’ll have to keep an eye on that because I will not become pregnant. Especially from a rape.

“Can we go now?” I asked
when the doctor left. I really hate hospitals and I just want to go. Declan nodded and brought a clipboard over to me.

“You have to sign this and you’re discharged.” We d
idn’t talk much during the ride but I glanced at Alex whenever I could. I am still mad at him.

“Can you come back to my place? We still have to talk.”
I said. Declan raised an eyebrow at me through the rearview mirror.

“U
h, yeah sure. Is that all right?” He asked Declan. He nodded an approval.  Big brother approves, I guess.

W
hen we were parked in my driveway, Alex helped me out and let me lean on him. This is how we were at the party, after the attack. I pushed it out of my head. Not now. It was around eleven at night when I got to my room. I guess my mom and sister were sleeping because it was too quiet in here. That’s a good sign. It means Declan didn’t tell them.

“Emily, don’t over do it and keep it down so you don’t wake anyone up.
” Declan said as he walked into my room. I nodded and let the both of them lie me down on the bed. Declan left when I gave him the look. The I-need-privacy-so-go look.

Alex
sat at the foot of the bed and I made sure my iPod wasn’t playing. I need to talk to Alex in silence.

“Emily, I know you’re
mad at me for doing what I did–”

“
I know what you did was to help me. I’m not mad…well I am but I’m hurt because you didn’t tell me.” I said cutting him off.

“I was going to. After everything you told me at the pizzeria,
I wanted to help you. I know you’d understand why I did it and I also know you wouldn’t have let me do it if I told you.” He’s right. If he told me I wouldn’t want him to do anything. Especially buy the house. This house is massive. You could only imagine how much that cost. He’s crazy.

“I
understand you buying the house but why offer my mom money? Do I have no say in what happens in my life anymore? Just because I was…” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “…doesn’t mean I can’t do anything for myself. I can probably find a job. If I do then I will pay you back. Did my mom take the money?” I asked. He held my eyes but didn’t say anything. Come on, I need to know.

“She didn’t. I talked to your b
rother and he wouldn’t either. Then I told them I don’t have a problem giving it. So I left the check on the kitchen counter and told your mom to use it. I was just looking out for you.” Alex said.

“
If you weren’t rich, what would you have done?” I asked.

“That’s why
I did it. Everyone I cared about is gone. I couldn’t take you to.” Alex said. Wow. Now, he really knows how to make a girl feel special. The way he said it sounded perfect. Does he like me enough to do this for me?

I smiled at the thought.

“What?” He asked. Damn. I quickly hid the smile.

“Nothing. I was
just thinking.” I said.

He smiled and bit his lip. Oh, God, that is just mind blowi
ng.

“Thinking about what?” He asked.

“We only talked for about ten minutes that night at the party and then you had to take care of me because I couldn’t do anything. I don’t know why you care about me. I’m just adding more pressure on you. You lost your whole family and now your dealing with me.” I glanced at the clock so I wouldn’t have to look into those hypnotic eyes. It’s going to be midnight soon.

“I’m going to change the subject because it’s bothering me. Everyone at school is talking about you and Zach. When you dated, did he hurt you?” Alex asked. I told him about the accident. “Why did you stay with him?”

Sophie’s innocent face popped into my head. Her shoulder length brunette hair and her innocent blue/green eyes where all I could think about.

“For Sophie
, I guess. She had the biggest crush on him.” I held his eyes. “I didn’t know she liked him at that time. When she found out, we stopped talking. All I could think about was her. Would he do this to her if I left him? She was my best friend. What kind of friend would I be if I tossed him to her?” I said. I just couldn’t. I wanted her to be happy.

“The painkillers must be working now.
” Alex said when I yawned. “You could have told her, Emily. She might have understood.” Alex got up and told me to go to sleep. He set a bag from the hospital down on the floor to make space for me. Must be my clothes, for the first time I noticed I was wearing hospital pants and a shirt.

Alex
brought the comforter up and covered me. Out of nowhere, I grabbed his hand and said, “You don’t have to go.” Where the hell is this coming from? I dropped his hand when I let that sentence hang in the air. “It’s late…and it’s dark out…” I feel embarrassed now.

“Um
, I’ll go downstairs then.” He said scratching the back of his head. Way to go for making him feel uncomfortable. He doesn’t even have his car here. It makes sense for him to stay.

“I’m sure you can stay up here.”
I said. Ohmygod! It sounds like I’m flirting but I’m really not trying to. Alex walked to the other side of the bed and sat in the chair. “Are we doing this again? Get in the bed. I can’t sleep knowing you’re going to wake up with body pain.” I said. He took off his shoes and hopped in bed. He actually went under the covers this time.

We face
d each other and he said, “Goodnight, Emily.”

“Goodnight, Alex.” God, that sounds right coming out of my mouth.

“If you need anything, wake me up and I’ll do it.” He said. Oh, I’ll love if he did. I nodded and closed my eyes. I noticed that the light was off. It’s been a while since I slept like that.

A few seconds later, I
drifted off into a deep sleep.

I kept tossing and turning
during the night. The hospital shirt is too big and it keeps sticking to the cut. I tried to take it off but it hurt to raise my arm so I glanced at a sleeping Alex and hesitated. I don’t want to wake Alex up…but he insisted.

“Alex…” I whispered. He didn’t answe
r. I nudged him on the shoulder and called his name again. He stirred in his sleep then opened his eyes. “I need your help.” I said.

He sat up so fast and looked around the room.

“Is someone here?” He asked.

“No
.” I smiled. This was for a complete different reason. “I need to take this shirt off. I tried pulling it off but I can’t.” Alex got off the bed and walked to over to my side. That was easy. He sat on the edge of the bed and brought down the blanket. He looked at me and hesitated.

“
I think if I tried I could get it off faster.” I joked. He lifted the shirt and rolled it up to the cut. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying this. He put his hand on my back and lifted me up a little. His hands were nice and warm. God, tingles are shooting throughout my body.

Alex
brought the shirt over my breasts and I slid my right arm out. He laid me back down and grabbed a hold of my left arm. He held me like I was a delicate flower and got the shirt off.

“Do you want me to get anothe
r one? A tank top?” He asked.

“No.
I’m going to just sleep like this. Thanks. You can go back to sleep.” The thought of having Alex sleeping next to me with only pants and a bra on brought a smile to my lips. This is something I will remember for the rest of my life. This will satisfy ever fantasy I have stored in my mind.

He turned to the window and
I studied him for a while. He’s got a perfect body. Those arms are just calling my name.

Stop looking at him, stalker.
I thought.