Chapter 14 - Tessa
Everything hurts.I am not one for drama, and this is most definitely not my first work injury.Shit, it isn't even my first injury with that bull.But it had taken everything in me not to break down in tears when the adrenaline wore off,and I realized how close I had come to not walking away.
I don't even know if I would have gotten up on my own had it not been for Olivia's sob-filled voice.I wouldn't have kept moving if it weren't for my horse and the fear in Eli's stormy eyes.The anger, mixed with terror, in John's face, or the look on Nate's face, I don't quite understand.It wasn't until Chase pulled out of the field and we hit pavement that the first tears fell.I could feel him watching me, but he kept driving.He knew me well enough now that I needed to get this out.I needed to feel what had just happened, what had almost happened.Every sob shot pain through my ribs and chest, but I had to let it out.
It wasn't until my crying had slowed and we had pulled into his clinic that he asked what had happened.Chase held my hand while I told him about the day.About the fear that shot through me when I saw Sloane in that pen, how I hadn't thought I just moved.
He placed his second hand on mine and rubbed soothing circles on my wrist, while I told him I knew it was coming.That I had made the choice to get her out and could feel the way the ground had shifted beneath me.I knew Rex was going to hit me, and I had only enough time to shove her over the panel, adjust my stance, close my eyes and hope it wouldn't be a direct hit and then let experience guide me as I let my body go limp just as I felt Rex turn and his body collide with mine.Getting hit by an animal like that is kind of like a car accident; your best bet is to let your body go lax instead of fighting it.
Then Dr.Morgan made himself known and gave me shit for moving after that kind of impact, for walking...pretty much for breathing too deeply.
I was happy they had an X-ray machine in the clinic, and we wouldn't have to make the drive to the hospital in Summit City.After the full examination, Chase was satisfied that I escaped internal bleeding and potential neurological trauma.
I shift on my couch.Chase left not long ago after being a mother hen, getting me set up on the main floor so I didn't need to do the stairs.I wouldn't be surprised if, when he returns with my meds, ice wraps and sling, it's with a bag packed and an anxious Adam in tow. He had hit a new octave when he had called, and Chase had told him the accident at the farm had involved me.
My left shoulder feels like someone drove a truck through it, and my ribs protest every inhale like they’re filing complaints one by one.My hip is already stiff, and there’s a bruise blooming under most of my left side that I canfeelmore than see, like a hot pulse beneath the skin.
Chase said I’m lucky, nothing broken, just cracked ribs, bruised muscle, and a shoulder that needs to rest.“Rest,” he said, like I’ve ever been good at that.I’ve been through worse, but this one’s different.Not just because of the pain, but because of the looks on their faces...
I had convinced them to let Nate's group come out and help; I thought it would be good for the family.I have come to love the Carsons over the past year.Even Chase called me out on it, saying, "Tess, you can't fix every broken relationship."
I grumbled that I didn't know someone would be stupid enough to get into a pen with a bull after being repeatedly told it was off-limits.
A jolt runs through my ribs as I try to stretch and move my hip, which feels numb.Grabbing my mug filled with wine, which I had to beg Chase for.No, I am not proud of it, but it has been one hell of a fucking day, and I needed a minute to myself with my favourite box of wine.Normally, this type of situation would call for something harder.But Chase put his foot down on hard liquor, saying if I were a good patient, he might bring back some of the good beer from Adam's.
I hear tires on gravel and chuckle, which causes tears to spring to my eyes.There is no way that Chase made it back into town, got all the supplies and is back again.Does he really think I would be stupid enough to try to move right now?The front door is open, with the screen door keeping out the flies, all my windows are open because I haven't got my air conditioner situation sorted yet, and it is hot this evening.
I hear footsteps on my porch, then what seems like hesitation.That's strange.If it were Chase, he'd have bulldozed his way in here already.I can't see the front door from my angle.
Maybe it's one of the Carsons?Kenzie has been blowing up my phone.
But the person who hesitantly steps through my front door is not who I expected.A flash of the fear and guilt that was on his face as Eli took off my button-up earlier plays in my mind.He takes a step closer to me and then comes to a halt.His eyes are wide, and the blue is so much darker than what I have seen before.Nate doesn't say anything; he just stares, his pupils blown wide, his jaw clenched.At first, I think his reaction is because he can see so much of my bruised skin, and then I realize why he can see so much of my skin.
After Chase helped me in and out of the shower, he recommended I wear clothing we could easily wrap over or under.He had come out of my room with black boy shorts and a white crop top.The thought of wearing a bra made me want to cry, so I didn't.
And because why not, I can feel my nipples pebble under the hyper-focused attention of Nathaniel Carson.We had barely spoken, not more than a few quips back and forth.But last night it seemed really important that I get to know him.That I didn't judge him based on public perception.
The scruffy Captain America lookalike swallows audibly, and I shift under his stare, which causes me to wince and the spell to break.
"Shit, Tessa, are you ok?"He croaks and then clears his throat.
As he steps further into the light, I can see he looks wrecked, his hair looks like he's been pulling on it, his eyes are red-rimmed, and he seems stressed.
I want to rile him up a bit, but I am not sure if he could handle it right now, so I settle for the truth."I will be."
He stares at me longer, and I am suddenly feeling vulnerable.Not that I don't trust him or that I fear him.It's not that.It's that look on his face, the way my stomach is flipping out, and it has nothing to do with the bout of nausea I had earlier.
I need to do something, so I down the mug of wine in my hand and decide to direct this conversation."Care to fill me up?The box is on the island."
He comes closer, studying the mug in my hand like it's going to bite him.This is definitely a different version of Nate.He wraps his warm, calloused hand around my mug, his fingers trailing mine as I start to pull my hand away.I am enveloped in his scent.It is this warm manly spice that has my lady bits forgetting that we are currently out of commission and that the guy who is making us squirm had a house full of puck bunnies last night.One of them, the one who had attempted to stake her claim on him with me and who had been hanging off him every chance she got, was the reason I was bruised and bed bound.I pull my hand back like I've been burned and wrap it around my middle carefully.
Nate stands there for a moment, staring down at me.I make the stupid mistake of making eye contact with the tent city in his joggers and am suddenly happy my hair is loose, and he probably won't notice my blush.
What the hell was wrong with me?Maybe I had hit my head harder than I thought...
Because my hormones are thinking we are in a cheesy porn video where Nate is going to suddenly be a plumber who will fix more than just my pipes.
When was the last time I got laid?
