better and I'm not so fucking stupid. I want you happy. Tell me what to do."
"Maybe I could have a glass of water?” Her mouth was dry from the medications she received and dust still clung from the airbags.
"That's it?” Trevor asked, and she saw some of his desperation easing. She didn't want him to hurt anymore. It didn't feel right to see him without his smile.
"It's a start, and maybe you could hold my hand?” She held her hand palm up. “What happened to your eye?"
He gave her a drink first and gently ran a warm towel over her face. “Cody reminded me of my manners. Do you need another blanket or anything?"
"For now, I just want you,” she replied as he made his way around the lines and monitors. He sat beside her, taking her free hand between his big ones. “I'm oversensitive, handsome, and not just in bed."
That got a smile from him.
"I don't like my feelings hurt, Trevor. My father thinks it's okay to use me, and order me around like I'm an animal. A dumb animal. I let my family push me around and make me feel inferior. I don't...that's not what I want in my new family. I refuse to have that family again."
"We aren't like that, baby. I promise. I'm never doing that again. It was a joke in college, the food or fucking thing, but it's stupid now. You mean everything to me. I love every part of you, and when Michael nails me in the other eye, I'll deserve it.” With soft kisses to her palms, he reinforced his promises with simple touch. “I'm sorry."
"I forgive you.” Never once had her father said he loved her, let alone apologized for any of his slights. “And tell Michael I asked him not to hit you. One's enough, but next time..."
Trevor laughed, like she needed him to. His conscience wouldn't let him feel bad longer than he needed and she wouldn't either.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 11
Plenty bruised, but not broken, Duane released Poppy the next afternoon after positively diagnosing three ulcers and starting treatment. Michael, Trevor and Cody tucked her in bed in a pair of silk pajamas she'd never seen but had Cody's preferences all over them. From the feminine pink color to the extreme softness that made her want to cuddle in and never take them off, she felt Baby Boy in every stitch. The flowers Trevor promised were beside her bed, a gorgeous bouquet of her favorite colors. She'd never seen blue roses but wasn't surprised Trevor found a way to get them in a bundle surrounded by dahlias, chrysanthemums, and mini white daisies.
Chocolates, a bottle of soda and a new flat screen had also found their way into her room. She wasn't a fan of TV in the bedroom, but Duane warned he would discharge her only if she agreed to rest so they'd added movie channels. To her delight, a stack of new releases, handpicked by Michael, whose bookshelf she usually raided, sat beside her nightstand. They left her to rest, surrounded by everything they thought she might need and promised to be within hearing distance if they'd forgotten anything.
When she woke, hours later, the sun was long gone and she wasn't surprised to see her boys stretched out around the room. She sat up, rubbed the sleep from her eyes and surveyed the evening-dimmed area. Trevor was asleep on the sofa, his long legs barely fitting between the cushioned ends. Cody slept on the armchair beside her fireplace, Michael on its match in the conversation area near her bookshelf.
They were good men and having them so protective and near made her feel more worthy and special than she could express. If she did try to explain, they would probably end up going overboard in their attempts to make her feel even better. The thought made her smile.
Spending time in the hospital was rough on them, she knew that from their time in San Antonio. They were such troopers. But before she could ponder it more and feel too sorry for them, her stomach growled fiercely. She tiptoed past all three, Michael letting out a snore as she left the room.
The
"Maybe I could have a glass of water?” Her mouth was dry from the medications she received and dust still clung from the airbags.
"That's it?” Trevor asked, and she saw some of his desperation easing. She didn't want him to hurt anymore. It didn't feel right to see him without his smile.
"It's a start, and maybe you could hold my hand?” She held her hand palm up. “What happened to your eye?"
He gave her a drink first and gently ran a warm towel over her face. “Cody reminded me of my manners. Do you need another blanket or anything?"
"For now, I just want you,” she replied as he made his way around the lines and monitors. He sat beside her, taking her free hand between his big ones. “I'm oversensitive, handsome, and not just in bed."
That got a smile from him.
"I don't like my feelings hurt, Trevor. My father thinks it's okay to use me, and order me around like I'm an animal. A dumb animal. I let my family push me around and make me feel inferior. I don't...that's not what I want in my new family. I refuse to have that family again."
"We aren't like that, baby. I promise. I'm never doing that again. It was a joke in college, the food or fucking thing, but it's stupid now. You mean everything to me. I love every part of you, and when Michael nails me in the other eye, I'll deserve it.” With soft kisses to her palms, he reinforced his promises with simple touch. “I'm sorry."
"I forgive you.” Never once had her father said he loved her, let alone apologized for any of his slights. “And tell Michael I asked him not to hit you. One's enough, but next time..."
Trevor laughed, like she needed him to. His conscience wouldn't let him feel bad longer than he needed and she wouldn't either.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter 11
Plenty bruised, but not broken, Duane released Poppy the next afternoon after positively diagnosing three ulcers and starting treatment. Michael, Trevor and Cody tucked her in bed in a pair of silk pajamas she'd never seen but had Cody's preferences all over them. From the feminine pink color to the extreme softness that made her want to cuddle in and never take them off, she felt Baby Boy in every stitch. The flowers Trevor promised were beside her bed, a gorgeous bouquet of her favorite colors. She'd never seen blue roses but wasn't surprised Trevor found a way to get them in a bundle surrounded by dahlias, chrysanthemums, and mini white daisies.
Chocolates, a bottle of soda and a new flat screen had also found their way into her room. She wasn't a fan of TV in the bedroom, but Duane warned he would discharge her only if she agreed to rest so they'd added movie channels. To her delight, a stack of new releases, handpicked by Michael, whose bookshelf she usually raided, sat beside her nightstand. They left her to rest, surrounded by everything they thought she might need and promised to be within hearing distance if they'd forgotten anything.
When she woke, hours later, the sun was long gone and she wasn't surprised to see her boys stretched out around the room. She sat up, rubbed the sleep from her eyes and surveyed the evening-dimmed area. Trevor was asleep on the sofa, his long legs barely fitting between the cushioned ends. Cody slept on the armchair beside her fireplace, Michael on its match in the conversation area near her bookshelf.
They were good men and having them so protective and near made her feel more worthy and special than she could express. If she did try to explain, they would probably end up going overboard in their attempts to make her feel even better. The thought made her smile.
Spending time in the hospital was rough on them, she knew that from their time in San Antonio. They were such troopers. But before she could ponder it more and feel too sorry for them, her stomach growled fiercely. She tiptoed past all three, Michael letting out a snore as she left the room.
The
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