Chapter 17

I wake up and find myself alone in bed. I heave a sigh. I just knew that it was all a dream. There was just no way Rowan would have slept with me on my bed. I don’t remember everything after I fell asleep at the hospital. I was pumped so full of drugs that I actually started to imagine things that weren’t real.

I get out of bed slowly, but I have to sit down when the room begins to spin. After a few minutes, I walk as carefully as I can to the bathroom and take a shower. I just wanted the overall smell of the hospital washed from my skin.

I had so much to do that I didn’t know where to start. I had no phone and neither did I have a car. The police told me that my phone got smashed when I hit the ground. I had a few weeks of leave from school but I needed to figure out my car situation before I got back to work.

By the time I’m done with dressing, my head was killing me.

‘F***! I needed my pain meds.‘ I think to myself

I walk down stairs wondering how I was going to survive for the next couple of days. I was still weak and I could barely lift a finger without all my energy being drained.

Getting down stairs, I make my way to the kitchen and make myself something simple for breakfast. At this point I just wanted to go back to sleep and maybe wake up after a century.

Deciding it’s better for me to sit somewhere comfortable, I ditch the kitchen island and head to the living room instead.

Who knew head injuries took a lot out of you?

I eat my food which tasted like cardboard and take my meds. I was just about to lay down on the couch and take a nap when my doorbell rang.

I groan in annoyance. I didn’t want to stand up and walk to the door to open for whoever it is that’s on the other side. My legs felt like jelly and I was in no mood for visitors. I just wanted my damn sleep.

I consider ignoring it when the bell rings again. Would it be considered rude if I did that? I mean they could just assume that I was asleep and leave, right? That was hopeful thinking on my part because the next second, the bell rings again.

I curse a string and stand up to walk towards the door. I open it and I come face to face with a woman I’ve never seen standin on my porch. She was shockingly beautiful. Black hair, big green eyes, heart shaped face and full l*ps.

“Uh, can I help you?” I ask, leaning against the doorframe.

I was sure any minute now my legs would give out and I would collapse on the floor.

The woman gives me a small smile, tears filling her eyes before she does the strangest thing. She walks up to me and hugs me. I stiffen, not sure what the hell was happening right now.

“I was afraid you would still be asleep” she says stepping back.

“I’m sorry but who are you?”

She slaps her forehead. “Shit, I’m sorry..I should have probably started with an introduction. My bad”

I find myself smiling. She was comical and I found her funny.

“Can we please get in?” she ask

“I really don’t know you so I’m not sure inviting you to my home is a good idea”

She blinks a bit before speaking. “I know you are skeptical especially after what happened to you. but I promise I’m not a serial killer or anything”

I stare at her. I wanted to send her away but for some reason I couldn’t. I don’t know why but I trusted her and I just got this urge deep inside me to let her in.

“Fine, but if you turn out to be a killer I swear I will gut you like a chicken and I’ll dance all the way to my bedroom to take a nap” I tell her stepping aside to let her in.

“I like you already” she responds with a smile. “Do you need any help?” she asks when she sees me struggling.

I don’t mean to glare at her but I find myself doing it. “No!”

She raises her hand in surrender. “Okay”

I lead her to the living room where she takes a seat. I sigh in happiness when I plop down on the couch. My legs were shaking at this point and I felt like a new born baby gazelle. All unsteady and weak.

“So who are you and why are you here?” I was really curious.

“I’m Scarlet but you can call me Letty…I’m your brother’s girlfriend”

I should have never listen to my st* pid instincts.

“Yeah, we are done here…please leave”

I wanted nothing to do with anyone from my so called family. They were bound to be just like them and I was done letting such people into my life.

“Please just hear me out” she pleads and against my best judgement I do.

I don’t know what it is about her but I’m at ease around her even though she is basically a stranger and I am not one to trust easily.

“Look, I know what Travis did isn’t good. I may love the idiot but I can also admit that he was terrible to you. No matter what you did, you didn’t deserve to be treated the way he and the rest have treated you.

I’ve wanted for a while to come and see you but I was afraid that you will turn me down but then I heard what happened to you and I just had to come. I know you don’t know me or trust me but I’m hoping that you will give me a chance to change that”

I move around and get my feet on the sofa, leaning back on the armrest.

“Does he know you are here?”

“The man doesn’t dictate my life but he does know that I am here, we don’t keep secrets from each other”

She loves him, that’s obvious. Travis isn’t a bad guy, to others at least, but to me he has been nothing but a thorn. Always putting me down, hating on me and just treating me like a villain.

I wanted to shut her down but a small part is against that Something tells me that if I give her a chance then I wouldn’t regret it. It was time I expanded my circle. I couldn’t continue shutting people out.

“I’ll give you a chance on one condition” I say in defeat.

Maybe it was the drugs or maybe something else but I decide to take a leap of faith. After all, what’s the worst that can happen?

‘Famous last words‘ a voice whispers in my head

“What’s your condition?”

“You never mention Travis or his family to me. I don’t want anything to do with him or them”

I can see the battle waging inside her. She is debating, deciding whether it the right call or not. If she can have a friendship with me without involving the others.

“Okay” she finally speaks. “Friends?”

She holds her hand out and I take it reluctantly.

“Friends” I whisper hoping that I wasn’t making a big mistake, but then agam I already made the biggest mistake of my life, what’s one more on my list

We smile at each other before she starts telling me more about herself. She’s a secretary at father’s company and she’s only a year older than me

“Any siblings?” I ask her.

“No, I’m an only child but that’s probably because my parents died when I was three”

I gasp in horror. “I’m so sorry”

“It’s okay, I barely remember them and I got to stay with my Nana and she’s an awesome person She’ll definitely love you”

We continue talking. It felt different and weird at the same time because I’ve never really had a girlfriend. I wasn’t sure what to think of it or how to feel.

“So there I was…” she was telling a hilarious story when there was a knock on my door.

I groan, not in the mood to get up.

“Could please go and check who is at the door? I don’t think I can do it without face planting on the floor” I ask

“Sure“.

She stands up and leaves. I hear her opening the door then an unfamiliar female voice speaking.

My brows scrunch up in confusion.

I hear their footsteps as they walk toward the room. They come through the door way and I stare at the tall red head woman, who had a duffel bag in her hands.

“Hello, Miss Sharp” she greets with a smile.

“Who the F*** are you?” I ask in irritation.

I do not want any more strangers in my house, though now that I know Letty a bit better, she isnt that much of stranger.

Letty is the one that answers. “Apparently she’s your nurse and was hired to take care of you”

I never hired any nurse. So who the hell was she and what the hell was she doing in my house?