Fragile (14 page)

I yelled at him to get him to calm him down. He ignored me and started to jump up and down at the door. Getting up, I growled at him once more. I heard a car door shut and Aiden barked again. I quickly opened the door and before I could step out of the apartment myself, Aiden ran out.

Stepping out after him, I stopped when I saw her kneeling on the pavement talking to Aiden. My heart skipped a beat, and I stopped, my eyes fixated on her. She was here. Her eyes met mine, and she continued to stay down with Aiden. Eventually, she stood up and held out her hand with the car keys dangling from her fingers.

“You’ve been to the apartment.” I stated the obvious.

She stared at me and then took a step closer, pushing the keys into my chest, her palm out flat against it. I instantly covered her hand with my own. Touching her skin felt like home. She didn’t try to remove her hand, but kept it where it was, covered by mine. She stared at where our hands were connected, and my heart swelled and started beating again.

“I don’t want the car.”

“You need to get around the city until you can get one.” Our hands were still connected, and Aiden was sitting by Lu’s feet. She was shaking her head at me, that beautiful head of hers.

“I don’t want it.”

“Lu,” I sighed heavily.

I watched as she closed her eyes and smiled slightly. I took a step closer to her and rested my hand on her hip, “Lu.” She shook her head trying to deny the reaction we had to each other.

“Don’t.”

I leaned in and rested my cheek on her temple. “Lu,” I pleaded quietly. I wasn’t letting her go. Nothing could make me let her go again, not even Lu herself. The past two weeks had been agonising for me, I was not going to go through that again and risk losing her to some douche bag like Dr. Hunter.

“I can’t.” She tried to pull away.

“Why not, Lu?” She yanked her hand and it slipped out from under mine allowing her to take a step back.

“Don’t Lu me, Derrick.” I stopped short when she used my full name. She had never done that before.

“Don’t judge me for what Ireland did. I’m not her, nor did I have any part in what she did. I would never purposely hurt you or go out of my way to cause you harm.”

“You stepped away from me!”

“What?” I furrowed my forehead in confusion.

She threw her hands up in the air in frustration, her face tilted up to the night sky, as she shook it side to side. “What do you mean, Lu?” She looked back down at me, tears running down her face.

“When...” she started to speak then stopped to clear her throat, “When Ireland was here that night and she said that I was with you out of spite because you’re her brother...” I closed my eyes understanding now, “You dropped your arm from around me and walked away.”

“No, Lu, it wasn’t like that.”

She took a step back putting more distance between us. “She said that I lied to you and you stepped away from me. You believed her over me.”

“A lot was going on that night, Lu. I was worried because you weren’t home yet and then Dad turned up with a hysterical Ireland and everything went downhill from there. I knew she was part of, if not the reason you left and came here. I didn’t connect the dots until you heard about the baby. God, Lu, I’m so sorry. It was my family that did this to you, and I know nothing I do will ever make up for that, but damn it, I want to try, Lu. Let me try. We’re good together. We belong together. I belong to you. I belong with you.”

She stood there staring at the ground, shaking her head still and breathing deeply. “Aiden hasn’t been the same since you left,” I continued. If she wouldn’t stay for me, she would stay for the dog. He had her wrapped around his paws. She turned her head to look at the dog sitting by her feet.

“He’s miserable, sad, and lonely. He doesn’t sleep, can’t eat, and struggles to get out of bed. He knows that you’re not there drinking coffee in the kitchen, or going to be home when I get home. Knowing that Dr. Douche Bag gets to talk to and see you every day and I don’t...”

I had taken a step closer to her, within reaching distance of her again. I had to put my hands in my pockets so that I wouldn’t reach out and touch her.

“I miss Aiden too.” She whispered. The dog lifted his head in response to his name being said before he laid it back down on top of her foot. “I have to go, Rick. I have to be at the hospital early.”

“Have you eaten?” I already knew the answer. She had her work bag slung over her shoulder. She had gone from work to the apartment, to here, and she hadn’t answered the question. “Come on.” I held my hand out, reaching for hers. She didn’t pull away when our skin touched.

“I can’t,” she whispered.

“Yes, you can.” I pulled her gently, and her feet started to move. It sounded crazy, but as soon as Lu stepped through the front door of the apartment, the whole place lit up. Even the apartment missed her.

“You don’t have to cook, Rick. I can get something on the way home.”

“I haven’t eaten either, Lu. It’s nice to cook for you again.” I started to get utensils out as she sat at the counter watching me.

“Can I at least help?”

“Nope, I have it under control Lu. You just relax.” I started to get out and chop up an onion, watching her from the corner of my eye.

“I shouldn’t be here, Rick,” she whispered, looking away from me.

“You belong here, Lu. Don’t ever think differently.”

“That’s not...what I meant,” her voice was quiet.

I knew exactly what she meant. I felt the same. When I saw her I wanted to hold her to me and keep her safe, even if that meant keeping my family away from her. I would do anything to make Lu feel safe around me and in this apartment. I would do anything to have her with me every day and every night.

“I know, but it’s late and no one is coming over.” I put the chopped onion in the frying pan and listened to it sizzle. Lu was quiet as I cooked our dinner. She went to sit on the couch and I watched her from the kitchen as she stroked and talked to the dog. Aiden was with her word for word. He really did miss her.

I served up dinner and took our plates over to the lounge room. “Here,” I put the plates on the coffee table and sat down next to her, my thigh touching hers. I was seeking out any type of contact.

“Thank you.” She sat forward as I pulled the table closer to us. We sat there and ate while watching a movie on TV. She stood up from the couch and started to take my plate from me.

“I got it.”

“Rick, let go of the plate. You cooked, so I’ll wash up.”

“Not tonight, sit down.” I couldn’t help but smile when she gave the plates a good yank and pulled then out of my grasp, smiling triumphantly as she walked off to the kitchen.

LUCY

Rick stayed close by my side, he touched me while we ate, and was next to me in the kitchen as we fought over who was going to wash the dishes.

“Lu...” He reached over and attempted to take the cloth out of my hand.

“Do it, Rick, and see what happens,” I threatened.

He stopped and stared at me and while he was thinking about my threat, so I started to wash the dishes. Rick must have figured that he would lose this battle and grabbed a tea towel starting to wipe up as I placed the wet dishes in the strainer. “I need to go. It’s late.” I placed the cloth in the strainer and stepped back from the bench, after the last dish was washed.

“What time do you have to be at the hospital tomorrow?”

“Nine-ish.”

“Stay the night,” he whispered into my ear.

“Rick,” I sighed.

“You still have some clothes here.”

“Rick.”

“It’s late, Lu, too late to drive. You’re tired. Just stay here tonight.”

“I’m getting a taxi.”

“No, you’re staying here,” Rick announced as he put his hands on my shoulders and moved me towards the stairs.

“Rick,” I sighed again shaking my head. “I can’t,” I continued as we moved up the steps.

“Yes, you can. One night Lu, that’s all.”

I felt his fingers entwine with mine as he pulled me into the room I used to sleep in.

“Get into the shower, and I’ll bring in your clothes.” Rick walked into the attached bathroom and opened the bathroom door, starting the shower.

“Rick,” I tried to protest again but he ignored me.

“Don’t argue, get into the shower then go to bed.” He leaned in and kissed me on the forehead before walking out of the room.

Stepping out of the shower, I saw my clothes sitting on the vanity unit. I didn’t even realise that Rick had dropped them in. I held the clothes up to my nose, they smelled of him. Walking out of the bathroom I found Rick sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Do you need anything before you go to bed?” His voice was soft, matching the look in his eyes.

“No, thank you.” I wanted to reach over and touch his face so badly. I missed him and he looked so vulnerable.

He nodded and stood up, “I don’t think you’ll be able to get Aiden out of your bed.”

Looking over Rick’s shoulder to the bed I saw Aiden snoring away in the middle of it. “If you need anything, let me know. You know where I am.”

“I will.”

“Night, Lu.” He stepped towards the door, “Sweet dreams.” When he left I sank down onto the bed, pulled the blankets up and waited for sleep to find me but it didn’t come.

I heard a creaking in the hallway just before my door cracked open and Rick stood in the doorway looking over at me.

“You can’t sleep either?”

“No,” I whispered.

“I can’t sleep knowing that you’re right here.”

I sat up in the bed, running a hand through my hair, trying to distract myself from his bare chest. “Do you want me to leave?”

“No, I want you in my arms.”

“Rick…”

“Just... Lu, please,” he begged as he climbed in the bed beside me and spread an arm out below the pillow. I couldn’t deny that I wanted to be in Rick’s arms but it would hurt too much in the morning when I had to leave.

“Rick, I can’t lay down with you.”

“Yes you can. It’s easy, just lay down and I’ll wrap my arms around you.”

“And what’s going to happen when I have to leave tomorrow?”

Rick sat up and placed a hand on my back, “I’ll say have a good day and see you tonight for dinner.”

“No.” I moved away from Rick but he kept his hand on me, “We can’t do this and you know that.”

“So you’re letting Ireland win?”

“Ireland has nothing…”

“She has everything to do with this Lucy, so don’t deny it. If it wasn’t for her, we would still be together. I want us back. I want us to be the way we were before she showed up and screwed everything up. I won’t take no for an answer, so lie down and let me hold you close, where you belong.” Lying back down, my head fit on his shoulder perfectly as he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him keeping a tight hold on me.

“Relax, Lu,” Rick whispered into my ear.

Taking a deep breath, I felt my body lose its tension. It felt so good to be with him again. It was so right and natural.

RICK

I stayed awake and watched her sleep. She looked so at peace, so beautiful and she was in my arms again. Not being able to resist, I leaned down and kissed her forehead again like I did earlier in the bedroom out of habit. I missed having skin to skin contact with her. I missed all contact with her, verbal and physical. Without her I was incomplete, miserable and lonely. Sleep found me eventually but it was broken. I had Lu in my arms but I couldn’t stop from waking up to make sure that she was still there.

The sun was up the last time I lifted my head to check on Lu. Her eyes were open and fixated on me. Her large, beautiful, hypnotising eyes. I leant down slowly until my lips were touching hers and nearly shouted in joy when she kissed me back. I felt Lu’s hand on my back making me reposition myself so that Lu was comfortably under me.

I kissed her like it would be the last time I got to hold her, even though I knew it wouldn’t be. I was not letting her go. I didn’t want to push my luck or press for too much so once our kissing got to the point where it could easily escalate I pulled my lips away, but kept my body close to her. I gave her one more quick kiss before I lay down beside her again, keeping her close in my arms.

We stayed like this for the longest time and just enjoyed being in each other’s arms. A phone started to chime next to us, it was Lu’s alarm. She wriggled her arm free and reached over me, turning the alarm off. Without a word she got up from the bed. I watched her as she got up and went into the bathroom, gathered her bag and made her way to the bedroom door. Reaching it, she turned to face me as I spoke.

“Have a good day. I’ll see you tonight for dinner.”

LUCY