Shattered Edge (11 page)

“Listen to me, if you know what’s good for you. He’s gonna use you like the rest.”

I jerked my arm out of her grasp. I had one thing going for me and that was my upper body strength.

“Don’t you ever lay a hand on me again. And let’s get one thing straight. I don’t listen to gossip. So why don’t you get lost?”

I turned and sailed into the bathroom, making sure the door was locked behind me. Then the shaking started. I felt like a damn paint can in the shaker at Lowe’s. My hands were vibrating faster than JJ. What the hell was going on here? Were people out to get me or something? Was there a sign on my back I wasn’t aware of? Crap!

I took care of business and marched back into the party to find Justin. One look and he knew there was something wrong.

“What is it Terri?”

“I just had a run in with some crazy chick that tried to tell me you were going to use me then dump me.”

“
Damn it! Crazy Destiny.”

“What?”

“She’s this batshit crazy nurse at work that’s been harassing me.”

“Well, make that two of us.”

Justin was furious. His mouth had turned into a thin hard line and his eyes looked like a stormy sea.

“Hey, I don’t want her to know she’s ruined our night.”

He looked at me and said, “You’re absolutely right.” He laced his fingers with mine and pulled me back toward the party. Moments later we heard Jackson’s voice over a microphone, announcing that they were going to begin the sponsoring of the children. Justin smiled at me and we headed into the other room.

There were about fifty needy children and Justin agreed to sponsor ten of them. There were six boys and four girls. He leaned over to me and said, “You’re going to help me with the girls. I have no idea where to go on that.”

“Oh, I think you’d do just fine, but I’d love to help.” He kissed my cheek and smiled back at me. We walked over to the table to pick up the information we would need on the kids and for Justin to sign everything. I was holding a glass of red wine when I was suddenly jolted from behind. My glass flew up in the air and the contents spilled down the front of my dress. Since I wasn’t expecting the blow, my leg gave way at about the same time, and I felt myself collapsing toward the floor. My arms tried to grab something to stop my fall, but Justin was too far out of my reach. To make matters worse, if that was even possible, I was wearing heels so my ankle ended up twisting too. I must have yelled because Justin spun and the look of alarm on his face made me aware that I was going to crash and burn...and not in a good way.

When the floor smacked me on the cheek, the only thing I could think of was the pain in my bad leg. I screamed and he was there, on the floor, his face next to mine.

“Don’t move Terri. I know you want to but don’t, okay?”

I nodded as I sucked air in through my clenched teeth. Then I heard Jackson’s and Robert’s voices. They were discussing what to do.

“Terri, we need to have your leg X-rayed. I doubt anything happened, but I won’t be happy until I see it. Robert and Jackson agree. We’re calling an ambulance.”

“My ankle hurts Justin.”

“Okay honey. I think you twisted it. I’m not worried about it like I am your leg. I just want to make sure. Robert is going to drive to the hospital and I’ll ride in the ambulance with you. I don’t want your leg moved until we know we’re in the clear. Okay?”

I think I nodded. He held my hand and ran his fingers across my cheek.

EMS arrived shortly afterward and I was really scared for them to lift me onto that bed.

“Justin, I’m afraid.”

“Don’t be. I’m right here honey. Every step of the way.”

They put an immobilizer on my leg and got me on the gurney. It wasn’t so bad. My ankle was hurting worse than my leg now. We were on the way to the hospital and I told as much to Justin.

“Like I said honey, I just want to be sure. Staying on the safe side. Do you know what happened? To cause you to fall?”

“Yeah! Someone bumped into me really hard from behind,” I explained. I told him exactly what happened and his eyes turned into chips of granite.

“That crazy fucking bitch.”

“Justin! What are you talking about?”

“All bets are on Destiny.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Justin

Robert was waiting for us in X-ray when we arrived. We both told the techs exactly what we needed and within thirty minutes we were looking at her leg, along with one of the radiologists.

“It looks like she may have knocked this screw just a little but she’s way past twelve weeks so she has significant healing. I think she’s good. Watch her and X-ray it again in two weeks to see if there’s any change. By the way, she has a sprained ankle. No breaks there so it looks like she’s good for now.”

I dropped my ass into the nearest chair and Robert squeezed my shoulder. The radiologist walked out and left the two of us alone.

“Justin, you look like you just saw a ghost. I think that girl in there has you wrapped around her pinky.” Then Robert started laughing. “I never thought I’d see the day that Justin Middleton fell in love.”

My head whipped around so fast I almost fell out of the chair. “What kind of crazy shit are you talking about?”

“No crazy shit my man. You’ve got it bad for that girl. You are in so damn deep you couldn’t swim out if you tried. Hey, your secret’s safe with me. But damn, the look on your face when you’re around her...I don’t know who you’re trying to fool.”

I put my head in my hands and moaned. “Oh God. What am I gonna do?”

“About what?”

“Her. Everything.”

“Looks to me she feels the same way. Just go with it man.”

“This is scary shit.”

Then he let out a whoop of laughter. “You have no fucking idea. No fucking idea.” We went to walk out but I stopped him.

“Wait! Robert, do you know Destiny?”

He chuckled. “Yeah. She’s been drooling after you for quite some time now. Why?”

“She pushed Terri. Caused the fall. She’s been harassing me. She’s crazy. If you see or hear anything she says or does with regard to me, let me know.”

Robert eyes zoned in on Justin’s. “Yeah sure. I’ve always thought something wasn’t right with her. Watch your back Justin. Go check on Terri and I’ll give you two a ride home.”

“Thanks. I owe you.”

I went and collected Terri from X-ray and when she went to stand, she winced. I knew her leg hurt.

“It’s my leg and ankle, damn it. What am I gonna do now?”

“You’re coming home with me...at least for tonight. That way I can baby you. Robert is waiting to drive us. Oh, and we need to repeat the X-ray in a couple of weeks. Okay?”

“You’re the expert, doctor. I’ll just do as you say.”

I looked at her dress and I cringed. She followed my gaze and her eyes clouded. “I think it’s probably ruined. I can’t believe she did that to me. I’m gonna quit drinking red wine. At least if it had been chardonnay, I wouldn’t have a ruined dress.”

Then I looked at her face and her cheek was scraped. My heart squeezed in my chest and I could feel myself burning with anger.

“What is it? I know that look,” she observed.

“You’ve scraped your cheek,” I said tightly.

“Justin, that’s the least of my worries.”

“I don’t want you to have a bruise there.” I walked up to her and lifted her up in my arms.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m carrying you to the car. I don’t want you to put any weight on that leg for twenty four hours. Plus, your ankle is hurting you. I’m going to ice it when we get home.”

She huffed and said, “It’s always something.”

“Honey, I never told you how sexy you looked tonight.”

That brought a smile to her face, which was all I cared about.

********

I undressed her and gave her one of my t-shirts to put on. And damn, didn’t she look all sexy kitten like, laying there in the bed all curled up?

“I’ll be back in a sec with a couple of ice packs.”

I hit the freezer, filled up three baggies with ice, pulled out a couple of kitchen towels and took the stairs two at a time.

“Here,” I handed her the small one with a towel. “Put this on your cheek. It’s a little puffy already.”  I lay the other two on the bed and rummaged through my cabinet for a couple of ace bandages. Picking up one of the towels, I gently wrapped it around her ballooned up ankle and then followed it with the ice. Lastly I wrapped the ace around it, keeping it all in place. Then I elevated it on a pillow. Finally, I moved to the last ice bag and towel, placing them high on her right thigh. After I wrapped the ace around that one, I pulled up the comforter because packed in all that ice, she would no doubt be shivering in no time.

“Damn,” I said, more to myself than anything.

“What is it?”

“Oh nothing really. I forgot a glass. Be right back.” I ran back downstairs and brought up a couple of glasses. Then I headed straight to the bathroom and filled one up with water and brought Terri four ibuprofen.

“Four?” she asked.

“Yep. Maximum dose for you tonight. We need to get that inflammation under control.

“Okay. You’re the doctor.”

“That’s right honey. Can I get you anything else?”

“Yeah, but you’re gonna kill me.”

“What?”

“I really have to pee.”

I shook my head and laughed.

“Put your arms around my neck.”

She tried to protest but I was adamant. “Look, do you want to pee or not?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Then put your darn arms around my neck. I’m not playing around here Terri. No weight on that leg tonight. And that ankle is going to kill you anyway. Now.”

“Yes, sir!”

I carried her to the bathroom and helped her to the commode.

“Out!”

I scooted out of there, thinking how women were so private about certain things. Men couldn’t care less about stuff like that but not women.  A few minutes later she was calling for me so I went to retrieve her. I got blessed out when I didn’t hold her over the sink to let her wash her hands.

“I’m sorry. I forgot honey. I just wasn’t thinking.”

“Ew. That’s really gross Justin.”

“I couldn’t agree with you more.”

I tucked her back in and made sure she was warm enough.  The ice came off a half hour later, but I made sure she was iced every four hours. I set my alarm just to be sure I didn’t miss a session. That ankle was going to be purple and swollen pretty badly. I would have to tape it for her if she wanted to walk on Monday.

In the morning, she told me I was spoiling her. Truth be told, I was still worried about that screw. My mind wouldn’t rest for another two weeks until I saw that next X-ray.

“I’m not spoiling you. Wait until you try to walk...then you’ll know what I’m talking about.”

She wanted eggs and toast for breakfast so that’s what my girl got. I also got her everything else her heart desired. I had to get my car, so I called Ava to see if she could take me to Jackson’s. She stopped by to visit with Terri and spend a little time with her.

They had some girl time while I hung out downstairs. On the way to Jackson’s, I got another tongue lashing and lecture from Ava.

“Look Ava, that’s enough already. My plans for Terri are above board. You have to stop with this.”

“Well, I’m warning you right now. You’ll get an earful when Lexi gets home too. Just saying.”

I felt my balls tighten up just thinking about that lecture.

“Okay, but can we talk about something else? Terri fell last night and I’m a little concerned about one of the screws in her leg. I don’t need you going all bossy on me right now. I have enough to deal with as it is.” My voice was raw with emotion and it must’ve struck a chord with her.

She let out a whistle. “Well I’ll be damned. I think you really like her.”

“Goddammit Ava. Of course I like her. What the fuck do you think I’ve been trying to tell you?” I shouted at her as my hand slammed the dash.

“Hey! Calm it Justin!”

“I’m sick of your fucking accusations. You act like I’m a piece of shit. Well, I’m not. My intentions toward Terri are on the up and up. So fucking lay off, okay?”

“Okay! Okay. Enough said.”

I lay my head back on the headrest and pinched the bridge of my nose. I should’ve taken a damn cab over here. Ava pulled up in front of Jackson’s and I got out. “Thanks for the ride,” I said.

“Hey Justin. Sorry for what I said. I hope things between the two of you really work out. I love Terri and you know I love you.”

“Yeah, Ava, sometimes I wonder.”

“I do Justin. Sometimes I just say the wrong things to you.”

“Why don’t you ever say the wrong things to Pearce or Andrew?” This conversation with her had really crawled up my ass.

“What do you mean?”

“Ava, you know exactly what I mean. Nothing I do ever suits you.”

“That’s not true.”

“Yes, it is.”

“I only say those things because you did play around a lot.”

“Tell you what Ava. You’re right. I did play around. So did Pearce. Andrew does too. You never say anything about them.”

“They didn’t toss women out like the trash either.”

“Is that what you think I did? Because if that’s how little you think of me, then we really have problem.”

She was silent for a minute. I kept my mouth shut too. I was beyond even wanting to explain anything to her anymore. Where all this was stemming from I hadn’t a clue and right now I didn’t give a damn.

“Like I said, thanks for the ride Ava.”

“Justin wait.” I stopped.

“I...I guess that maybe we need to talk.”

“Yeah, maybe we do. But I’m sick of having to defend myself to you Ava. I’m always on trial when I’m around you. It’s not going to be that way anymore. You can have whatever opinion you’d like to have of me. I don’t really care. But just for the record...every woman I’ve ever been with has known from the very start what I was all about. I never made any false pretenses about anything. They were the ones that were clamoring to get into my pants...not the other way around. Many times I tried to push them away and they’d keep coming. I’d tell them I wasn’t interested in a relationship and they’d say they weren’t either...but they all lied for the most part. Including your dear friend Casey from the lingerie store. I don’t know what she told you but she threw herself at me more than once. I refused a couple of times, but then...you get the idea. So form your own opinion. Hell, you already have Ava and in the words of old Rhett Butler, ‘Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn.’” I slammed the door and walked to my car. That was the last time I would defend my actions to my sister.