Part 22 (1/2)

”Stay here, I'll be right back.”

She doesn't respond and I run across the street, dodging the morning traffic. I enter the parking garage and ride the elevator up to the fifth floor. Speeding down, I pay the outrageous parking fee for overnight and skid to a stop to pick up Paige.

”What hospital?” I ask once she's secure in her seat.

”Medina County.” I side glance to her. ”I know.”

We should have left my car and cabbed it over there. We're only a few blocks. Why is she downtown? I'm positive Paige is asking the same thing, and I'm not about to grind salt into the wound.

After I park the 'Stang in its second parking garage in two days, we go down to the help desk. Paige is polite, waiting for what room her mom is in. Her emotion has switched to indifference now. I've seen sadness, madness and now it's swung to I don't give a s.h.i.+t.

”Thank you.” She stomps steadily to the elevator doors, mumbling to herself. I only catch wh.o.r.e, b.i.t.c.h, s.h.i.+tty, mother, Matty. The rest is rambling.

I know she's mad, but I'm not sure how to comfort her. Every time I lay my arm around her shoulders, she circles out of my hold. I went to grab her hand and she releases it after only a minute.

I'm right back to Carly, in that hospital, after the news. When she fled the room and I chased after her. Her angry eyes shedding tears. She ran into my arms and I knew we could survive this, but then she pushed me back and ran. That's when Xavier came out and punched me square on the cheek. At that point, I knew I was in this alone and Carly would never come around. Which makes it ridiculous that I kept trying to get her to come back.

Paige though, why won't she allow me to be here for her? I can't deal with another Carly. I need someone who will allow me to be there for them as much as they are for me. We reach the floor and Paige scurries out of the small confines, rus.h.i.+ng down the antiseptic-reeking hallway as her face remains pegged to the right on the room numbers.

I follow her a few steps behind since she's made it clear she doesn't want to be near me. She stops and spins on her heels, waiting outside the room.

f.u.c.k it, I don't give a s.h.i.+t if she wants me or not. I know all too well what it's like to be alone when tragedy strikes and I'll be d.a.m.ned if she's going to feel abandoned like I did.

I drag her body into mine and slide us to the edge of the door. ”I'm here for you.” Her head nods into my chest and her arms tighten around my stomach.

She picks up her head I only hold her flusher against me. ”Thank you. It's foreign to me.” I kiss the top of her head and she nuzzles deeper.

d.a.m.n, her body fits with mine. The way my lips can kiss her head, her arms don't strain to wrap around me. The fact that I'm the first person she's trusting won't fail her cracks open my heart and allows her to glide right in. For the first time in months, I don't fight her occupying that s.p.a.ce; instead I welcome her into the one part of my body I close everyone out of.

”I love you, Paige. I'll always be here,” I whisper and a whimper m.u.f.fles into my s.h.i.+rt.

Urging her head up, she follows and I wait to have all of her attention. ”I love you, Paige and whatever happens in that room, with Matty, or your dad, doesn't change that.” I make the promise to her, that I wish someone would have given to me seven years ago.

Her eyes pour love and adoration, but she remains speechless. I can't help my heart constricting until I hear her mutual feelings, but I don't want empty words. When she tells me, I want her heart pledging it, regardless if it's right now, an hour from now, or a month. I'll wait for her to be ready because I know how hard it can be to tell someone. Especially when you've been let down and in Paige's case, she's never expected anything but to be let down by people.

”Thank you.” Her hand grazes down my back, until she links her fingers with mine. ”Please, come in with me.” She begins ushering me toward the door. I realize this is the best promise Paige can give me. To be side by side through her h.e.l.l right now.

When we break through the door, and shuffle past the curtain, Linda is lying down on her side, facing the window. Paige stops at the edge of the bed and I hold her hand tightly in mine.

”Mom?” her voice is a whisper.

Linda wiggles in her bed, but never looks over to us.

”Go away, Paige.”

Paige inhales a deep breath and I grip her hand tighter.

Don't shut me out.

”You know I won't.”

”Just go with your daddy,” Linda sneers and the dislike in her voice isn't missed by either of us.

”Mom,” Paige sighs. ”That's not true.” She unlinks our hands but then places her hand on my forearm and gives me a small tilt to her head.

I get the hint she's giving and I nod, exiting the room.

Paige My heart hurts asking Rob to leave. He's trying to be there for me, but this is going to be hard enough, let alone have my mom embarra.s.sed by Rob's presence.

I roam over to the window and sit down in a chair, facing my mother. She rolls over away from me and I huff. ”I'm not leaving.” I cross my legs and lean back, waiting for the standoff.

”You don't care about me. If it wasn't for Matty, you'd be gone.” She talks directly to the wall.

”True.” I'm not going to sit here and pretend I didn't wish for a different mother most of my life.

”See. So, go.” Her finger points to the door. ”I'll give you Matty and you can leave me the h.e.l.l alone.”

”And who would they call the next time this happens? Mom?” I move to sit on the edge of her bed. ”I wouldn't be here if I didn't love you, but you need help.”

She flips around fast, her eyes darting hatred into mine. ”No, I don't.”

Inhaling another breath to keep myself from losing it. ”Yes you do. Think about Matty. What if he would have found you?”

”He wouldn't have, I left him at Aunt Kate's.”

Knowing she'll dodge this until she wants to get help, I decide to ask for more information. ”Why were you in the city?” I close my eyes, because I already know why. She probably has a tracker device on him like a dog.

”You know why . . .”

My fists clench and I smooth them out on my pants. ”How did you know?”

”Please honey, your dad is creature of habit. Him and the guys always go to the same restaurant and stay in the same hotel the night before a tour kicks off.” She presses her palm to her head and I bring the sheet over her body more.

”What happened?” I'm not even certain why I care. It's always the same thing.

”I knocked on his door and he refused me.”

How can she not figure out, he doesn't want her? I mean I'm twenty-two and I get that he led her on when I was younger, but lately he's had no contact with her.

”He doesn't care about you, why don't you see that?”

Tears trickle down her cheeks and I notice her eyes are bloodshot. How horrible it must be to love a man so hard and never have him reciprocate.

”What do you know? You're only following in my footsteps with that guy you live with. You think he cares about you, he doesn't. You're a good f.u.c.k like me, Paige. Congratulations you got Momma's genes.” She sits up in bed and I get up, pacing the floor.

”That's not true, but this isn't about me.”

”Admit it Paige, you have the curse. The curse of loving a man who isn't capable of loving.”

”You know nothing about Rob, so, let's concentrate on you.” I'm trying to keep this talk steady and on track. There are enough insecurities of my own let alone her enlightening me on more.