Cake (9 page)

“Are you okay, Ma’am?”

The sound of the security officer’s voice makes me jump out of place.

“No,” I answer, shaking my head back and forth.

“He’s going to be okay. I heard the nurses say so,” he replies, smiling at me.

Letting out a un-lady like snort, I walk away from him. Yeah, but the question is, am I? It’s been a month since I’ve been with Jason. That has to be it. I haven’t even used B.O.B., my battery operated boyfriend, lately because of my hectic work schedule. Tonight. It’s a date. I’ll even surprise B.O.B. with a set of new batteries.

Turning the corner, I run straight into Mary Grace.

“Hey, Sweetie. I was hoping to catch you before I left. The doctor briefed the team that with some rest Dray will be okay. At least he’s only missing preseason and shouldn’t miss any regular season games.”

I remember the conversation that everyone overheard before I was able to see Dray.

Holy!

Shit!

Grabbing her hand, I head straight for the waiting area, weaving and dodging the nursing staff at break neck speed.

“Um, Kylie. Where are we going?”

Walking into an empty room, I look around, finally rounding on Mary Grace as I all but yell, “Where is everyone?”

“Returned home, I guess. Most of the players and football staff have been here all night.”

Placing my hands up to my face, I breathe a heavy sigh. “Okay,” I say once more to myself. Some of the players are the worse gossipers ever, not to mention their wives, who I’m sure they will tell first. “Mary Grace, I need your help.”

“Sweetie, I realize that you probably didn’t want anyone to know what is going on between you and Dray, but now with the baby, I’m sure it will be a relief not to have to hide your relationship from the press anymore.”

“Listen,” I start to say, when she interrupts.

“No, judgment here. I understand how, if the local press knew that you two were together, you wouldn’t get any peace at first. I know how private you tend to be, so I totally get where you are coming from.”

“No, you totally don’t,” I respond back. She is starting to irritate me. In my head, I rationalize how much she will likely spend at the shop in the next year versus cursing her out for not listening to me, and subsequently lose her business.

“Kylie, you just told your secret to some of the biggest busy-bodies in Atlanta. Yours and Dray’s relationship, I’m sure, was the town gossip the moment you left that waiting room.”

I try once again to cut her off, “Mary Gr...,”

“No going back now.” She cuts me off again. Grabbing my hand, she pats it softly, before continuing, “It will be alright. Just you wait.”

“Mary Grace, we need to leave.” Her husband replies from the doorway, literally minutes from my homicidal tendencies emerging.

Air-kissing my cheeks she finger waves and turns to walk away before I can snatch the hair off her head. Okay, think Kylie. What to do first? A sudden buzzing in my pocket surprises me for a second, then I race to see who is calling. An unknown number pops up, and my heart drops knowing its Trent as I answer.

“Hey.” I rush out. “He’s going to be fine.”

“Thank God,” he sighs in relief. “What did the doctor say?”

That would be Trent, not doubting for a second that I would find out what he needed. Taking a gasp of air in, I answer, “He’s going to have to have someone with him for the next couple of weeks watching over him twenty-four seven, but as long as he gets plenty of rest he should be fine.”

“You have to do it, Kylie.”

His statement throws me for a second, but I’m sure he doesn’t mean what I think. “Yeah, I’ll get on hiring a nurse to stay with him.”

The static crackles crossing the line, but I can still hear Trent.

“No, no, no. That will not work. You know how he is. He’s not going to let someone he doesn’t know stay with him. You know he gets antsy about that. He doesn’t even let his girlfriends stay the night that often. It has to be you, Kylie. Please. I can’t return home right now or I would. Set your differences aside for me.”

“NO!” I yell into the phone. Looking up, I note several nurses eavesdropping on my conversation. Glancing around for an escape, I see an empty snack area and walk inside.

“Kylie, I’m begging you. You can’t know how much I’m worried about him.” The line keeps cutting in and out. I’m not sure if it’s his voice cracking or the phone.

“Trent, I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. Please. I’ll owe you big.” His pleading tears out my heart, and again, I’m reminded of where he is at and exactly what he is doing.

I’ve never told Trent no and meant it. Ever. He always gets under my skin or maybe it’s not a choice from the beginning. Closing my eyes, I answer, “You will owe me big.”

His sigh of gratitude travels across the distance. “God, I’m starting to realize how much I lo...” his voice fades out as the line completely becomes static.

Personally, I’m glad the phone died, because I may have told him to take his sisterly love and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine. What did I just get myself deeper into? I understand what Trent meant though. Dray has serious commitment issues including not letting anyone stay overnight. Most women who date him know it before getting involved with him, but every once in a while, it will amaze me when I hear of someone getting upset because Dray kicked them out immediately after sex. I mean really, you didn’t know it before? I call bullshit.

So now, at this very moment, everyone is more than likely hearing that I’m not only dating Dray Savage, but we are engaged and I’m having his illegitimate child. And to make matters worse, I’m now going to move in with him and try to prove that the rumors are not true. I’m totally fucked.

I need to take back control of my life. It’s done. I’ve made my promises and no turning back. Walking down to the nurses’ station, I see the one who first came into his room. “I need to run a few errands. When Dray wakes back up, will you please tell him I’ll be back shortly.”

She smiles and nods back to me.

Walking towards the elevator, I start dialing my friends and family to impart to them my good news. Dear Lord.

Returning to the hospital later that evening, I feel slightly better as I park my car. Of course, my parents hadn’t heard the latest news once I reached them. Spending the better part of an hour, I explain the predicament that I found myself in earlier regarding Dray. My mother thought it is funny, my father not so much. He’s met Dray several times when I invited Trent to a family get together in the past, and for some odd reason, Dray tagged along. To aggravate me I’m sure. My dad actually likes him and especially loves having someone who he can talk football to, but my dad knows Dray’s reputation of being a ladies man. Everyone does.

So, needless to say, he doesn’t like the thought of me spending anytime with Dray. I tried to assure him that I agree one hundred and ten percent; however, he makes a comment that eerily reminds me of what Mary Grace stated earlier. He said, “He’s never been able to take his eyes off of you.” Not having time to set the story straight with him, I just let it go. I’m sure the only time Dray’s eyes have been on me is preparing for verbal target practice.

Stepping out of the car, my ringtone blares as I reach into my blue jeans pocket that I changed into at home. Paired with a light-weight pink cardigan and shell, I’m still rocking my casual attire. Looking down at the screen, I roll my eyes seeing that Mads is finally calling me back. She was working when I tried to reach her earlier.

“Why in the hell does my phone have over twenty texts telling my
best friend
is not only secretly dating Satan, but also having
Rosemary’s Baby?
” Her sarcasm bleeds through the phone.

Groaning, I brace myself for the verbal tirade coming to me as I lean against my car, which surprises me when I hear her peals of laughter instead.

“How did this shit storm brew up, girl? Wait, wait. Listen to this text from Donnie Sanders’s girlfriend, “I JUST HEARD YOUR GIRL IS UP THE DUFF BY THE BIG BAD BUFF. She’s a fucking idiot.”

“How bad is it?” I ask, really not wanting to know.

“Oh, it’s bad. One of the football players says he witnessed your confession to Jason Silas about your elicit love affair with Dray and subsequent love child, which is why he is now claiming you must have been cheating when you were with him.”

“I was never in a relationship with Jason, you know that. I thought he understood the term
hook-up.
And for the record, that is not how it went down. I needed to get back to make sure that Dray was okay. When I was standing in the waiting room, I overheard the doctor asking for Dray’s family, and I panicked thinking something was wrong.” My voice trails off when I realize how dumb the situation sounds.

“Listen, I wouldn’t worry considering how much I, and pretty much everyone in our group, know how much you hate Dray the Dick. Honestly, I find the entire situation hilarious. Why the hell were you even there? I figured you’d be one of the first to wheel his invalid ass out the window while you had the chance.”

Silence, as my mind goes back to the incident when I was rubbing his head this morning and the look in his eyes when he saw me in his hospital room. Silence is something Mads, nor I, have ever experienced whenever we talk on the phone.

“Kylie. Leigh. Lord. Start talking now!” she shouts through the phone.

“Trent called...”

“I should have known. I swear I don’t know which one is the biggest asshole out of the two. The one that treats you like shit or the one that treats you like shit? Oh wait, they both do.” Letting out a shriek she asks, “Let me guess. Trent needed you to come take care of Dray because he can’t crawl out of his hole in the ground, and he knew you would do his bidding once again. Right? Trent says jump, and you don’t even ask how high, you just start bouncing.”

“Mads,” I threaten, because I don’t need to hear this same argument again.

“When are you going to wake up and realize that he uses you? You’re his bitch, and you don’t even get the privilege of his last name.”

“I can’t do this right now, Mads. Can you please just try and quell the rumors. Please?”

“What are you doing, Kylie?” she asks, lowering her voice. “Dray has always treated you horribly. You don’t owe Trent to help him out, and you sure as hell don’t owe Dray.”

The day must finally be wearing me down because I’m tired of talking about this. Lowering my voice, I say, “I’ll call you later. Okay?” Not giving her anytime for a reply, I click the end button. I love Mads, but she will never understand how I feel about Trent.

Pushing away from the car, I place my phone back on vibrate and throw it in my purse. Entering the busy hospital, I notice that much of the media has left and all of Dray’s wannabe hookers have also. I stop by the front to retrieve my pass to see Dray. After waiting for clearance, I finally receive my badge and head upstairs.

Stepping off the elevator, I see that the only security now is in front of Dray’s door. Taking a deep breath, I force myself to walk that way and flash my pass towards the officer. As I walk in, I immediately notice that most of the machines have been removed and Dray is sitting up in bed looking out the window.

Slowly, as he turns his head towards me, I note the wave of pain that mark his face just from that small movement. My heart pinches. God, he’s beautiful. Why haven’t I ever recognized that? He looks so much younger sitting there.

“I thought I had dreamed you earlier.” A slight grin raises on each side of his wide mouth, but his eyes belie the pain that he is in.

I start to step forward only to stop. Again, his peaceful demeanor almost demolishes me. I’ve become accustom to his hostile attitude. I’m afraid to trust this Dray, with his dark soulful eyes and soft lips. Damn, here I go again.

“Did you come to check on me again, Kylie? Hoping that I was taking my last breath, I bet,” he says laughingly.

Glancing into those eyes of his, I fall for a second, letting the honest answer that comes to me out, “No. Never.”

I can tell my answer surprises him as much as it does me. I’ve wished him dead a million times to his face, but I never really knew that I didn’t mean it until this moment.

“You can come closer. I promise not to bite.” His voice, hoarse from either the accident or pain, sounds sexy, plus there is a veritable quality to it that I’m not used to.