Unraveling (Second Chances) - By Micalea Smeltzer Page 0,48

cup but he held it away from me.

“I’ve got it,” he said, positioning the straw near my mouth.

I clasped my lips around the end and the cool liquid hit my dry throat. In no time at all, I had managed to drink every last drop.

“Thank you,” I told Jared.

“Welcome,” he said, placing the empty cup on the tray beside the bed. “You should get some sleep.”

“I don’t know if I can,” I whispered.

“Are you hurting?” he asked, settling his tall frame into the too small chair.

I nodded.

“I’ll go get a nurse,” he said, and started to stand again.

I grabbed his hand, and mine zinged. “I hate medicine.”

“It will help you sleep, kitten,” his brown eyes assured me.

“Okay,” I said.

“I’ll be right back,” his lips brushed against my forehead with his words.

A nurse came in with a small, clear cup that held two white pills. In her other hand, she had a fresh cup of water. “This will make you feel better,” she smiled.

She waited until I took the pills to leave.

She brushed past Jared, who was standing there with a cup of coffee.

“Sorry, I would’ve been right back but I saw someone with a cup of coffee and had to get some for myself.”

“Not a problem,” I smiled. I could already feel the drugs hitting my system. My limbs were growing heavy and it was hard to keep my eyes open.

He chuckled. “I shouldn’t have bothered. It tastes like sludge,” he dropped the full cup into the trashcan.

I giggled. “Want some water?” I pointed to my second cup.

“I’m more of a Mountain Dew kind of guy,” he said. “Or Gatorade, that’s good too.”

“Your kidney’s must hate you,” I slurred as sleep threatened to take me.

Jared seemed to see this. “Go to sleep, Katy. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

I believed him, because in the end, I trusted him.

~***~

I blinked my eyes open and morning light greeted me.

No nightmares.

I hadn’t gone a single night without the nightmares since Preston raped me.

It must have been the drugs, or maybe, the man next to me had kept them away.

I looked down at Jared and knew he had to be uncomfortable. He was in the chair, with his arms and head resting on the bed, beside my legs. He was going to have a terrible crook in his neck, but he looked so peaceful, I almost hated to wake him.

Unfortunately, I really had to pee.

“Jared,” I pushed his shoulder lightly. He groaned in his sleep, but didn’t wake. “Jared,” I said a little louder and pushed a little harder.

“Huh? What?” he came sputtering awake. He blinked owlishly. “Are you okay? Do I need to get a nurse?”

“No, silly,” I said. “I need to pee, but you were holding down the covers and I couldn’t get out.”

“Oh,” he said, scooting back in his chair. “My bad.”

“It’s fine,” I said, sitting up in bed and wincing in pain.

“Katy!” he cried when he saw my wince.

“It’s just my ribs, they’re really sore,” I said, swinging my legs over the side of the bed.

I held my side as I slowly stood. Luckily, the nasty hospital gown was tied in the back.

I tiptoed the three feet or so I had to walk, into the bathroom. I closed the door and flicked on the light.

There was no mirror, probably so patients wouldn’t have to look at themselves.

I sat down on the toilet and said through the door, “Jared, can you step out for a second?”

“Why?” I heard him growl.

I blushed. “I can’t pee with you standing there, listening.”

“Oh,” he said. “I’ll give you a minute.”

“Thanks,” I said.

As soon as I knew he was gone, my bladder emptied itself.

I washed my hands and was crawling back into the bed when Jared opened the door.

“Feel better?” he asked with a crooked grin.

“Much,” I smiled.

“I talked to the nurse,” he said, stretching his stiff back, “and she said the doctor should be in, in the next twenty minutes to check on you. If everything looks okay, you can go home.”

“That sounds wonderful,” I fiddled with the scratchy blanket.

Jared plopped into the chair. “Katy…” he trailed off.

“Yeah?” I looked over at him.

He leaned back in the chair and seemed to be contemplating something. Finally, he said, “I want you to stay with me for awhile-”

I opened my mouth to argue, but he shushed me.

“You’re hurt, and it’s going to be hard for you to get around. Let me help you,” he pleaded, looking at me with round puppy dog eyes. He was not