Page 41 of Laying it Bare Backstage

My eyes widened and my mouth fell open right before I covered it with my palm. “You found my phone?”

“That was how we found you. Ivy tracked your phone from hers.”

A knock sounded on my door and then a young nurse with brown hair and kind brown eyes walked over to my bed. “I just want to check your vitals and get some readings to record for the doctor. He’ll be in later to check on you. But it sounds as if you aren’t having any complications. It must have been your fiancé’s singing that pulled you back, huh?” She fussed with my machines and wires before assessing me. “Everything looks really good. How does your abdomen feel? Do you want any more pain medication?”

“No. It’s still really sore, but I don’t like the slight effects I’m feeling right now from it so I can just imagine how it would be when it’s working full force and not wearing off.” I was able to hold a coherent conversation with Teak, yet on the edges of my consciousness lingered that feeling of being loopy. And I didn’t like it. It made me feel out of complete control and after not having any control recently, my sanity needed to have that absolute power.

“Okay. As long as you don’t seem to be in distress. You need to be comfortable to aid in your healing. After the doctor sees you, he will hopefully release you to start eating real food.”

My stomach picked that moment to grumble its agreeance. “Yeah, that would be great.”

“Buzz if you need anything.” My file in hand, she headed back out the door.

I studied him for a moment. “You didn’t propose to me, did you?”

He gave me a boyish grin. “No. But as far as anyone knows, we are engaged. I had to make sure I was given information and access to you. I was going out of my mind.” His grin faltered briefly as sadness crept back into his eyes momentarily.

“I don’t mind.” I shot him a silly smile. “I’m just glad it’s not something I had forgotten. Between having my head slammed off of the outside of the car by the – ” My smile vanished, my lips trembled, the blood rushed from my face, and my heart hammered in my chest, causing the beats on my monitor to race. “That was why the security guard gave me those strange looks at the door. He helped her. He dragged me out of the hall. Then he banged my head off of her car before tossing me into the back seat. Combining that with then being whipped around in the back seat and crashing my head into the door several times; there was no way I could get my body to obey orders and I was worried I was going to end up with some sort of brain damage. If I even survived at all.” I worked to swallow down my panic. The threat was gone, by her own hands.

The nurse peeked her head inside my door. “Is everything okay in here?” She moved inside and eyed me curiously.

“Yes. She got a little upset when she started remembering some things.”

She nodded. “Very normal. And you usually can’t control when they will resurface. But try to avoid things that will upset you. You want to stay calm while you are healing.” She reminded me before closing the door behind her.

“Thank God you found me. When I lost my phone and then blacked out when I was trying to find it; I didn’t know what was going to happen.” I took in a deep breath to calm my rampant nerves.It was over.Right? There was no sense rehashing the horrors I had lived through. “What about that security guard? Do I have to worry about him? He was only doing it for her. He didn’t hold any resentment toward me.” Another deep breath.

“Fuck, Serenity. I wish I could crawl in that bed and hold you. I wish I could ease your pain. But I would end up hurting you more. You’re still in pain and I don’t want to impede your healing.” He dragged his chair right up to the edge of the bed, sat down, and took my hand in his and entwined our fingers, while his other lightly traced up and down my arm. “You don’t have to worry about him either. She ratted him out, so the police have him. I’m sure you might have to ID him, but between her spilling about his involvement and then you confirming it; it’s over, Baby. Finally, completely over.” He ran his hand down my hair.

I closed my eyes to his soothing touch. As I lay there, with his fingers and words comforting me, a peace I hadn’t felt since before my abduction rushed over me, filling my heart and my soul. Deep breaths centered my anxious thoughts. Then I took a bigger sniff. “Um, Teak. Is that stench you or me?” I popped my eyes open.

He chuckled. “I’m sure you were cleaned up somewhat, but I haven’t showered since Friday night. I know I’m ripe. I haven’t left since we brought you here. Now that you’re awake, once either your parents or Ivy and Ascher come back, I’ll grab a quick shower. Be glad I’ve at least been brushing my teeth. Now that would be really offensive.” He winked at me.

Placing my free hand onto my stomach, I stifled my laugh. My insides burned and pulled, but at least it wasn’t excruciating. I could deal with some discomfort, but I’d work to avoid it as much as possible. “I don’t want to cry, but I don’t want to laugh either. That’s so not fair.”

His cheerful expression dimmed. And because I knew him so well, I read that look.

“Hey. No more about that. How about we agree to steer clear of anything that has to do with that which we won’t mention. The only one to blame is her. And I don’t want to give it anymore thought until I have to hash things out with the police. Although I do have one question and then I’m done with it; what day is today?”

“It’s Tuesday.”

“Okay. Not great, but could have been so much worse. Sonowwe’re done with that topic.”

The door burst open, snapping our attention to my new visitors. Ivy stepped inside with Ascher right behind her. She squealed, slapped her hand to her mouth, and bounced on her feet. Then she wrapped her boyfriend in a huge hug before gesturing wildly to me. “My best friend is awake. She’s going to be okay.” She shot me a smile so wide I was afraid it was going to split her face in two. While she continued to bob on her feet, she tapped Ascher’s arm. “Look, look. She’s awake.”

He chuckled at her before tugging her into his arms. “Yes. Everything is good now.”

“You can come over and see me. You don’t have to stay at the door.” I gave her a wave. “But it has to be a gentle hug.”

“I know. I just have to get my excitements under control. I don’t want to hurt you. But fuck, I want to squeeze the hell out of you.”

“In that case, keep your ass over there and you can hug me through Ascher.”

“To hell with that.” She shook out her hands and took in a steadying breath. “Okay. I’m good.” She rushed over to my bed, leaned down, and much to my surprise gave me the softest hug I’ve ever received from her. “I’m not going to squeeze at all. I just need to touch you, to know this is real.” When she released me, she ran her hand down my arm. Tears dripped down her cheeks as she smiled at me. “Girl, you scared the fuck out of me. I love you, bestie.”

“I love you, too. And we made some rules; no discussing what happened and no making me cry, get upset, or laugh.”

Her gaze drifted to my stomach briefly. “Well, hell. The harder I try not to be funny the funnier I’m sure I’ll be.”

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