He thought he was so careful, watching over me in the background. But I knew. I always sensed he was looking out for me even though I never saw him.
The first time I met him it was Thanksgiving. Our parents were good to Frank and I. Everyday hardworking people with love to give. We didn’t have a lot of material things, but we had each other. They took to Hawke immediately and declared him family.
The car I drove to school and my part time job was a hand me down clunker from Frank when he joined the military.
Hawke asked to borrow it during that Thanksgiving to run a couple errands. After he and Frank returned to their base and I got in the car the first time to go to school, I found the paperwork on the seat. He’d gotten me new tires, had the oil changed, andnew brakes installed. When I wrote to him about it, he said it was the least he could do for all the cookies I’d baked for him.
He came every holiday he could after that.
When Mom and Dad died, he wrote, sent money for the funeral, and had food delivered even though he was deployed. When he wasn’t on a mission he called to check in every two weeks like clockwork and always stopped in to check on me when he had time off. Especially if Frank was deployed and unavailable. He never wanted me to feel alone.
I had finally realized something was off with Allen and was trying to figure out how to end our pseudo-relationship when he attacked me. The fact that Hawke showed up the next day just made it easier for me to hold my ground. He always had a way of making me stronger than I felt.
After being hit by the car and all the months of recover I was so caught up in my own doubts and fears, that I didn’t notice at first that Hawke had grown distant. Frank felt it was better for Hawke to stay away. Total bullshit, but I couldn’t get him to change his mind.
At first, I was hurt, then I got angry, and then just frustrated as hell.
I took me getting hurt again for Hawke to finally show up.
I’m tired of waiting. Tired of taking what’s left. Tired of not eating the ice cream first. Hell, of not eating the whole pint when it’s what I really want.
Hawke is what I want, who I’ve loved for years. This time, I’m taking care of me and going after what, who, is right for me. I snuggle closer, adjusting my bad leg over his thighs, putting a palm over his heart and resting my head on his shoulder. I’m tired of being the victim. I’m going on the offensive. Starting with Hawke.
The next time I wake I’m alone in bed. The door opens as I sit up and Hawke shoulders his way in carrying a tray with domecovered plates and two carafes. “Good morning sleepy head. I’ve got brunch.”
“What time is it?”
After setting the tray on a wheeled bed table, he rolls it to my side. “Almost noon. You needed the rest.”
“And food. My god that smells great. I’m starved.” He lifts the cover off one plate exposing crepes filled with sweetened cream cheese filling, cherries, and Nutella drizzled on the top. He knows me so well.
He hands me a fork and I dig in.
Laughing, he pours the coffee. “That’s one of the things I’ve always appreciated about you. You’re hungry, you eat. You don’t play with your food like some image obsessed diva. You’re real.”
“Yeah, well my image may be putting on the inches if I can’t get back to my workout routine—such as it is—soon.”
“You’ll be fine and we’ll find ways to keep you active. I talked to a specialist, and she thinks she you may be able to run again with the right adjusters in your shoes and a more specialized strengthening routine. You just need to heal again.”
I almost drop my fork. “Are you serious?”
He nods. “I know how much you miss it. She’s one of the top in her field. We’ll go see her when you’re ready and the current issue is neutralized.”
Neutralized. What a civilized term. Almost as fun as unalived, which is what I hope happens soon to Allen, I’m done trying to be the bigger person and hoping he gets help. He’s not going to. So, he needs to be ended before he hurts someone else.
I choke down the bite I just took. “Ha-Hawke, do... do you think he’s done this to someone else? Hurt someone else like me? Even killed them?”
I watch the muscle in his cheek tic above his scruff. “A leopard can’t change its spots. Halo Company is diggingdeeper. They have significantly better resources than the police department.”
“Can they find other victims? We...we have to find them and help if we can.”
Leaning forward, he brushes a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “Once we catch him, we will. My boss has one of the best interrogators I’ve ever met on staff. We’ll end this.
“How are you feeling this morning? Headache?”
“Dull.”
“Fatigue?”
