Getting the Axe - Nikki Mays Page 0,17
do things for yourself with only one good arm. Let’s not even go into how much pain you’re going to be in for the next couple of weeks.” Is it just me or does she seem to be laying this on real thick? “It seems only fair that the person who caused you all of this trouble be the one who helps take care of you.”
That was a direct shot if I’ve ever heard one. I can hear a sniffle coming from my left and all I can do is glare at my mother. “What is wrong with you? You know that she didn’t mean it. Why the hell would you say that?” I growl. Getting more and more pissed by the second.
“No.” Sniffle. “She’s right.” Sniffle. “I am the reason that you’re in here and just had surgery. It’s all my fault.” Elle sobs before a waterfall starts cascading from her eyes once again.
“Jesus ma, what the fuck?” I try to reach for Elle but am unable to since she’s sitting on my bad side. I decide to just go back to glaring at my mother. “She’s already said that she’s sorry, about a million times before I even made it to the hospital. Cut her some fucking slack.”
My mother stands abruptly. “Don’t you raise your voice to me, Noah Ross. I brought you into this world and I can damn well take you out of it.” She looks me over with pursed lips. “And in your current state, it wouldn’t be very difficult.” She grabs her purse and starts heading towards the door. She turns and looks at Elle and me over her shoulder. “I am certainly not helping you after that attitude. And I sure as hell will make sure that no one else will. You know damn well and good that no one will cross me. Your only hope is Elle now.” She says before waltzing out of the room with her nose in the air.
She’s right about one thing. No one is dumb enough to cross her crazy ass. But I can also tell that she wasn’t really pissed. That woman loves nothing but a good sparring match. No, that damn menace is up to something, and it just so happens Elle and I are her prime targets.
I hear another little sniffle and my heart contracts painfully. That’s another thing, my mother is never intentionally mean unless you’ve really outdone yourself. And considering moments before she was yelling at me to not wake Elle up, yeah, those snide comments were to make sure that the chess piece named Elle moved exactly how she wants. If I wasn’t so angry with her, I would actually be in awe.
I turn my head and look at the sweet woman who drives insane. “Elle, honey?” I use the term of endearment without even realizing it. She looks at me with wide eyes. I guess she caught that…shit. “Can you move to where Satan was sitting? It’s easy for me to talk to you.”
I enjoy the way her lips quirked up when I called my mother Satan. Although come to think of it, even he’s probably frightened of her.
Elle does as I ask and sits in the chair that my mother just vacated.
I reach out and grab her hand, purely to just comfort her. The feel of her soft skin against my callused skin causes my pulse to pick up. Her mouth is forming an O and it’s taking every bit of self-restraint to not pull her onto this bed with me. But I just rub my thumb over her knuckles in what I hope is a comforting movement.
“Is she serious?” Elle asks in a tiny voice.
I raise an eyebrow in question. “Serious about what?” I have to make a conscious effort to not call her honey again.
She looks at me with these sad eyes that could give a puppy a run for its money. “That she’ll make sure that no one helps you?” She hiccups.
I give her a reassuring grin. “Yeah but it’s not a big deal. I’m sure that I’ll be able to do everything for myself just fine.” I give her a wink. “I’m a big boy.” The way she looks me over and subconsciously licks her lips makes me realize what the fuck I just said. “I meant that I’m a grown man who has been living on his own for a long time.” I absolutely do not stutter that out.
She starts chewing on her bottom