CHAPTER TEN
KADEN
I watched the night fold into itself and the stars dance in the sky.
I watched the sun rise and settle bright in the sky.
All the time worried if she was safe, hoping her asshole husband wasn’t at their house.
I had texted her, rung her and texted her again. I had watched some soap opera shit on the TV and listened to Jeremy Kylie argue with a woman over the fact that the husband wasn’t the one cheating, it was in fact her. Kill me now please. Like who lives like that? It hurt my brain.
I have texted Gracie again, that was at least the fifth time now. Why wasn’t she answering, something must be wrong? Had she changed her mind? Shit. Fuck. Man.
I scrubbed my hand over my face, the bristles of a beard forming. Gracie hadn’t been in to shave it back to just the five o’clock shadow that she liked, she says she doesn’t, but I know she does. The way her hands curled around my face, brushed over the soft whiskers when we’re close tells me otherwise.
Martha, I needed Martha. She would know where Gracie was.
I pushed the call bell and waited. I waited and waited some more, becoming impatient.
There was no sign of her, that was it. I flicked back the blanket and hurled my legs over the side of the bed. My feet were about to hit the floor when Chris, the annoying doctor walked in. I couldn’t stand the sight of the man – for one, he has a boner for Gracie and two, he was a sleaze who treated women like they were property. He believed they should fall at his feet, pantingyes masterto him because he’s a doctor,
“Going somewhere, James?” Fuck, even his voice annoyed me.
“Yep,” I barked out as I pushed onto my feet.
I was a little wobbly but was standing.
“I don’t think so, get back on the bed.”
His voice….the mere sound of it grated on my damn nerves.
“I don’t care whatyouthink.” I leaned my butt on the bed for support while we spoke or faced off was more accurate.
He opened the file, studied the notes and tapped his chin with a pen.
“She can’t love a man like you.” He spoke mockingly, was he mocking me?
“ But she could love you, could she?” I raised my brow in question and cracked my knuckles.
“Getting hostile are we James?”
I looked away from the mug before I cracked him in his jaw. “You would love that wouldn’t ya, Doc?”
I stood on shaky legs which screamed in pain at the weight I was bearing on them. Grabbing my phone, I stumbled toward the window and dropped into the chair.
“If you’re here to do something, get it done, I like to be by myself.” Ice my voice was ice cold.
Me: Gracie baby, I know you’re hurting something bad, but fuck babe I kinda need ya.
I pushed send before looking out over the streets and houses below, some nestled between other buildings, parks and training fields.
I wondered which house was hers. Which one held my Gracie and all the pain she had been put through.
“You’re off to rehab today.”
My head snapped towards Chris and I noted the smirk on his face.
“That means no more time here with Gracie.”
