Movement in the room wakes me from my slumber.
“Hendrix?” I greet groggily, looking over at the clock that reads five-twelve.
“Go back to sleep, Livi.” His voice is gravely with fatigue.
I sit up, looking through the dark at him. “You’re late,” I simply state, trying to keep my girlie emotions in check.
Where has he been? The bar has been closed for hours. More than where has he been, who has he been with? My mind races.
He walks into the bathroom, the light catches, and I see his face is different shades of purple. Quickly scanning down his exposed torso as he changes, I see the red marks of irritation around his ribs even through the tattoos.
Sliding out of the bed, I follow him to the bathroom. His hands are busted, and his knuckles are covered in abrasions, swollen, and clearly irritated.
“Hendrix?” I question from the doorway of the bathroom as he continues to strip and climb into the shower.
What happened? I mentally ask myself.
“Livi?” he replies.
“Why are you banged up?” I ask as fear builds inside me.
Did someone attempt to rob him? Jump him?
“Go back to sleep. You have to work tomorrow. I’m sorry I woke you up.”
“That’s all you’re sorry for?” I rub my butt. ‘Keep it real’ is my current inspiration. How fitting.
He raises an eyebrow at me, but this only sets my temper off more.
“You come home late, clearly you have been in an altercation of some sort, and all you say to me is ‘I’m sorry I woke you up?’ How about, ‘Livi, I wasn’t mugged tonight, but about these cuts and bruises…’?”
He smirks at me.
“Well, were you robbed? Do we need to call the cops? Do you need to go to the hospital?”
“Livi—”
“Don’t you Livi me! You’re hurt. We need to get you looked at.”
“I’ve already been to the hospital once tonight. I’m not going back.”
“What!” I shriek. “You went to the hospital and didn’t call me? I can’t believe you wouldn’t want me to be there.”
“Chill, Livi, and let me get a word in.”
I put my hands on my hips and tap my foot, waiting for him to continue.
“Jagger got jumped tonight. After I got him to the emergency room and stitched up, Morrison and I went and took care of it. I’m home now. I didn’t mean to wake you. I know you have to work at the hospital, so go back to bed. I’ll be there in a few.”
“Is Jagger okay?”
“Yes, Livi. Now, please, go to bed.”
I blow out a breath. He wasn’t mugged. Scrapper. He was in a fight for his brother.
One thing I love about the Caldwell brothers is their loyalty to each other. They are a family.
My frustration builds. I understand why he did it, but his attitude coming home bothers me. Coming in at five in the morning like it’s okay bothers me. Coming in and not explaining what is going on bothers me. There is so much about this situation that bothers me.
Go back to bed. Go back to bed. The more I stand here, and he dismisses me, the more annoyed I get.
Fine, I decide, I’ll go back to bed.
I lay there, unmoving, as the bed dips a short while later, and Hendrix climbs in. He pulls me to him, and as much as I want to fight it, I can’t. He is home. He is safe. A little banged up, but it is not nearly as bad as it could have been.
I fall back asleep, but all too soon, my alarm goes off, and I quickly dismiss it. Moving off Hendrix, I get up slowly, trying not to wake him.
I watch him as he sleeps. He has a black eye, a cut on his nose, but otherwise, he is looking much better than just hours ago.
Finally, I move efficiently and leave the room without waking him.
Arriving at work, Tabby and Toni are already in our small office talking. They both come over and hug me, making sure to ask about my dad.
Before we can settle in to catch up with each other, I am buzzed to a patient’s room.
The day passes in a blur as I help a family negotiate through the loss of their dad. In a strange way, I miss mine. We aren’t close, but after seeing him so sick and fighting to make things right with me, I can’t help but miss him now.
Feeling unsure where I stand with Hendrix only makes me want to run back to California more. He left me out in the cold emotionally. Something happened with his brother, and he shut me out to handle it. He said he loved me, but did I read more into things with us?
I work later than usual. Getting home, Hendrix is already at the bar for the evening, so I feed Floyd and have some dinner.
Being in his space, I realize the joke is over. I should probably sort out my living situation. I need to find a new place.
How much do I owe Hendrix for the work on my car and for staying here? All the questions playing in my head make me more emotional and, quite frankly, dizzy.
Exhaustion sweeps over me, and I fall asleep on his couch. Sometime in the night, Hendrix comes in and carries me to bed. I wake up to my alarm, all tangled in him and unable to remember being moved.
“Livi…” Hendrix tries to talk.
“I have to get ready for work,” I whisper then move away from him and out of the bed, sadness swelling inside me at the distance between us.
Silently, I ready for my day. He watches me, yet says nothing. Broody is back. What is he so pissed off about?
Tension builds between us as I leave for my workday.
The hospital day passes all too soon. As I leave, I am a little depressed knowing I am going home to an empty house that I’m not sure I am even wanted at anymore.
Surprise slaps me in the face when I come home to find Hendrix sitting on the couch, waiting for me.
“You’re late,” he greets.
Well, I see how this is going to go.
“That happens sometimes with my job.”
“Cut the shit, Livi.”
“You cut the … crap, Hendrix.” I try for sass; only, I miss the mark.
“What is wrong with you?”
I tap my fingers on my chin. “Hmmm … The man I’m in love with comes home hours late, beat up—”
He cuts me off. “I was not beat up, Liv. I promise, the five shitheads who touched my brother were worse off than Morrison or myself.”
Tears fill my eyes. “When I looked at the clock and saw the time, I panicked. Do you know the thoughts that ran through my head?”
“I told you, they jumped Jagger. I had to take him to the hospital, and then Morrison and I needed to handle it.”
“Yes, you did tell me all of this. After. The. Fact. It’s okay; I get it now. You guys are family. I’m the outsider. I’m just the ‘piece.’” I know it’s a low blow throwing the panties in his face, but he hurt me by pushing me out.
Before I can react, he is up and in front of me.
“What did you just call yourself?”
Nerves hit me, but I stand my ground. “I’m just the piece. Your—” I can’t finish as his lips crash down on mine. His lips are like a drug I can’t turn down. He intoxicates me with his taste.
Once he has me off balance physically and emotionally, he pulls away.
“You’re more than just a piece, Livi. Don’t play games with me.”
“You shut me out. I know they’re your brothers, but it made me feel like you didn’t want me to be a part of that, like you didn’t want me to be part of your family. I was worried about you, about Jagger, and Morrison. Yet, I was left in the dark and dismissed like I was a regular booty call, not something more.”
“Fuckin’ crazy—” he starts, but I cut him off.
“Crazy about you. Crazy about Caldwells. I want to know you’re safe. I want to know your brothers are safe. I want something real, Hendrix.”
“It doesn’t get any more real than this, Livi.” He steps back and holds my hand. “You and I live together, sleep together, and we even work together.” He lifts my knuckles to his mouth and rubs his lips across them. “I love you. Nothing’s changed, but you can’t ask me to ignore shit like that. Jagger’s busted up and—”
“You should have called me.”
“Noted.” He nods his head and pulls me closer. “You should call when you’ll be late, too, then.”
I melt into his embrace because I have missed it.
“Talk to me,” he whispers.
“I’ve had a couple of rough days. That’s all.”
“Not what I’m here for,” he says, and in those five words, I am completely confused.
“I know,” I say, just wanting a reprieve from being upset. I need his touch. I need his embrace. I need his comfort.
“You wanna come to the bar? I have Morrison covering for me. Needed to make sure we were okay.”
“We’re okay. I’m gonna stay in.”
“Okay.” He steps back then leans in and kisses me. “I miss you, Livi.”
I force myself to smile and nod.
“See you in a few hours. Jagger and Morrison have been holed up in a hotel. You don’t mind if they come hang out?”
“Why are they at a hotel?”
He shrugs. “Told them we needed space, but with our schedules, we haven’t had much time or opportunity to utilize that space, now have we?”
I shake my head.
He leans in and gives me another kiss then smiles and shakes his head. “That communal property, that’s a ‘you and me’ thing still, right?”
I nod and swallow hard.
“You still bleeding?”
I shake my head.
“Good, I need a taste, Livi.” He smirks. “I’m gonna have to wake you up tonight, so why don’t you get some sleep now?” With that, he winks, turns, and then walks out the door.
I look around and think about what he said.
Not what I’m here for.
Confusion sets in, but I am once again exhausted. Going to bed, I fall asleep faster than I expected.
I wake later to the bed dipping and his arms pulling me close.
“Livi?”
I don’t answer.
“Babe?”
I can’t do this tonight, not when I am trying to prepare myself for what I know is coming.
I feel his lips press against the back of my head. Then he breathes in deep, moans, and whispers, “I love you, Livi.”
