Page 40 of The Hero I Can't Resist
I walk the officer to the door while Skyler and the nurse go over the paperwork. She refuses the wheel chair, and in no time, we are walking out of the hospital. There’s a thousand things I want to say to her, but I don’t know where to start.
CHAPTER 18
SKYLER
He’s not talking. He’s not saying a word.
The Jasper hospital is thirty minutes from my house, and he doesn’t open his mouth the whole way home. Instead of pulling into my garage, he parks in the driveway, and my stomach sinks. He’s not staying.
I get out of his truck and walk up to the door. I don’t have anything. No keys, nothing, but Terry opens my door for us. “Oh my God, you’re okay!” He hugs me and puts an arm around my shoulder as he walks me into the house.
He sits me down on the couch. “Are you okay?”
I nod, peeking a look at Zach. He’s leaning againstthe wall, arms crossed, a blank expression on his face.
I mutter to Terry, “Yeah, I’m okay. A little bruised, but it could have been much worse.”
Terry worriedly starts listing things. “I’ve scheduled some of your drafts for social because I figured you’d want to take a few days off.”
“But—” I start.
Terry interrupts me. “Skyler, you need to give it a few days at least. You won’t be able to hide those bruises behind makeup right now.”
Reluctantly, I nod. I know he’s right, and even though I can’t go live or tape any new videos, I can bake. I have to bake; it’s how I cope with things.
Terry continues, reminding me why I hired him. “I cleaned up the kitchen. I knew you wouldn’t feel like cooking anything, so I made a meat, cheese, and fruit charcuterie board for you to snack on.” He finally takes a breath. “Do you need anything else?” He looks at Zach, frowns, and then looks back at me. “I can hang around and help you or whatever.”
I wait for Zach to say he’s got it or that he’s going to be here, but he says nothing. I shake my head. “Thank you for everything today, Terry. You’re the best. Why don’t you take tomorrow off and we’ll get back to our regular schedule?—”
Terry sits down on the coffee table. “I’m so sorry, Sky. I feel horrible that he was able to get in because you unlocked the door for me.”
I reach over and squeeze his arm. “Don’t. None of this is on you. That guy is crazy.”
He nods sadly before standing up. “Okay, well, I’m going to go and let you rest. Call me if you need anything. And Janie has been calling constantly, checking on you. We can come sit with you or, well, whatever you need.”
I kick off my shoes and pull my legs up under me. “Thank you, Terry.”
He stops next to Zach, says something under his breath, and then walks through the house. It’s not until I hear the back door close that I lift my chin to Zach. “Are you okay?”
He jerks like I physically hit him or something. “God, don’t ask me that.”
I wrap my arms around my knees, holding my legs to my chest. “Talk to me, Zach. Are you mad atme? I told you that I’m sorry for unlocking the door.”
He clenches his eyes shut and shakes his head. “Don’t apologize to me. You have nothing to be sorry for.”
I move to the edge of the couch and let my feet touch the floor. All these emotions are swirling inside me, but I force myself to stand up and move toward him. He tenses the closer I get. I stop when I’m standing right in front of him. I know he’s got things he’s trying to work through, but I’m not ashamed for what I’m about to ask him. “Zach.”
He whispers, “Yeah?”
I lean my head back to look up at him. “I can’t even pretend to know what you’re feeling right now or what you’re thinking, but I need something from you.”
“What… what do you need?” His voice cracks on the last word.
“I want to sleep?—”
He gives me a helpless look. “You can, but I’m going to have to monitor you through the night. Doctor’s orders.”
I tip my head and search his eyes. “You sure you want to do this? I can get Aria or one of my brothers over here.”
