Page 111 of Paint the Town, Dove
He stretched his arms out like an eagle and I told him he was exactly that. “Right from the beginning, Ry.” And I hugged him. So tight. He’d never die on me. I wouldn’t let him.
After a week, he was discharged. His mom picked him up without Corban (good sense, for once), and I sat in the back seat because I didn’t want to leave his side.
I trailed him into the kitchen now, humming a song he wrote before the accident.
“You don’t need to follow me, Dove.” He called me that all the time now. It etched around my gated heart.
“So you want me to ignore you forever, then?”
He gave me a little shove. “You know that’s not what I mean. I’m good, seriously. Doctor’s cleared me.”
“You never know.”
“You going to take care of me?”
I grabbed his hand. “We take care of each other.”
He paused, sharp edges and soft eyes, squeezing my fingers. “That’s right.”
“Did Clara come to visit?”
He rolled his eyes. “Obviously, Scar. She’s my mom.”
“SHE LET HIM BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF YOU, RYDEN!”
I didn’t realize I was standing on his kitchen chair when he grabbed me by the waist and tugged me down. “She’s upstairs.”
“And where’s the SAVAGE?”
“Scarlett,” he pinched the bridge of his nose, wincing. “Ow.”
“SEE!” I grabbed his face in both hands, “You’restill injured because of that dirtbag!”
“Scarlett enough already, it’s dealt with. He’s out of the house.”
I stammered backwards, hand on heart. “What? He’s out?”
Just a nod. “Out.”
“Why?” I shook my head, swatting at him. “Why didn’t you tell me!?”
Ryden wrapped his huge hand around both of mine. “I was going to before you became a human blowhorn two seconds ago.”
I zipped my lips.
“Mom kicked him out after the cops arrested him.”
“Oh, so he’s just detained then. That’s the real reason. Cops took the decision out of her hands,” I blew a breath. “I can’t believe her.”
“She’s got a restraining order against him. I’m alive. And she’s still my mom.”
“I WATCHED HER DO NOTHING!” My chest heaved. “I BEGGED HER TO DO SOMETHING, AND SHE STOOD THERE WHILE HE WAS BEATING YOU!”
He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out. Only a sigh.
“Hello?” I pried.
“She’s,” he inhaled, “she’s got issues of her own.”
