Page 71 of Ryder

“Everyone, out!” the doctor orders.

“Crystal!” Ryder pushes his way into the room.

I put my head in my hands and sob some more, turning away from him. “No.”

Bronco settles me back into the bed as Ryder takes his place. He pulls me into his arms, but I refuse to look at him.

“She freaked out in the bathroom,” Jas explains. “I think… I think we need to give her some space.”

“If you don’t move out of this room right now, I’ll have the officer outside remove you,” the doc warns.

“Everyone, out!” Cash orders. “Now!”

“I’m stayin’,” Ryder says firmly. His mouth at my ear, he continues, “Baby, you’re okay. I’m here. You don’t have to hide from me. You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. Bruises will heal. You won’t be?—”

“Look what he did to me!” I yell.

He shushes me softly, kissing the side of my head as the room grows quiet with just us, the nurse and the doctor. “Don’t worry about that. Hair will grow back, baby.”

“Why?” Tears stream down my face. “Why would he do this to me?” But I already know why.

To humiliate me. To make me feel like I’m worthless. His final victory to hold power over me. Well, fuck him.

Ryder’s voice is so soft and sincere when he says, “That doesn’t matter. None of it matters. Just need to rest. That’s all I need you to do right now, okay?”

I nod meekly. “I’m sorry.”

“What? Why are you sorry, Sugar?” He pulls me farther into his arms as the doctor and nurse hover close by. I think the only reason they don’t kick him out is because he’s calming me down.

“I should have left him when he did it the first time.”

“He hit you?”

I never got around to actually admitting it when he questioned me in my classroom; he just put two and two together. “It was a slap, but then he got more aggressive. I thought he’d get better with the new job… I thought that would make him happy…”

I close my eyes, resting against his chest. It feels so much safer with him here.

He says something to the doctor, but I can’t make it out. I need to sleep.

Tiredness washes over me, and I struggle to keep my eyes open.

“Just rest,” Ryder says, warmth in his tone that comforts me more than he’ll ever know.

“I love you,” I whisper.

I could be wrong, but I’m sure I hear him say, “I love you, too.”

Five days later

“Mom, I can do it,” I say, but my mother won’t hear it. She and Dad got here in record time and rented an Airbnb for the next few weeks. My sister, Casey, came too and hasn’t left my side.

My mom is being fussy, not letting me do anything. I can understand. Seeing her daughter like this can’t be easy, but holding a glass to my mouth isn’t a hardship.

“You broke your wrist, I’m just trying to help,” Mom replies.

“Be nice,” Casey tells me. “You’re an outpatient now, so I’d be making the most of the hired help.”

I poke my tongue out at my sister and she smiles. I can see the look in her eyes; it’s the same one everyone has been giving me since they saw me. Pity. I’ll take that over revulsion.

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