Beckham

I tried. I walked into that club, saw the women on his lap, and I still tried. Now, I just want to go back to Matt and Reina’s apartment, and collapse into bed. Maybe I’ll wake up tomorrow, back in Las Vegas, and this will all be a dream. Or more accurately, a nightmare.

The driver Matt hired for me isn’t here, because I told him I’d be at least an hour. I thought I would be, because I was stupid enough to think I meant something to Sully. Who knew I’d be out the door in less than five minutes? Probably everyone in that club, except for me, but I don’t regret it. I needed that closure, even if my heart is now in pieces.

My app says there’s an Uber around the corner, so I order it, and wait. The guy who drives up in the Mercedes is handsome, and flirty, but I just give him a polite smile as I climb in back, and call Matt.

“Are you at the club?”

“I just left. It’s over. He wants this life, without me in it.”

“Shit. Have the driver take you back to the apartment to get some rest.”

“He’s having dinner, so I grabbed an Uber to take me back.”

“Please tell me you’re joking.”

“No. Why?”

“Most Ubers are safe, but some aren’t, especially in Europe. Human Traffickers use them. You are a beautiful woman, Beckham, just the type they look for.”

“Oh, I’m sure it’s fine.”

“It may be, but I still would like you to get out of that car. Can you do that for me?”

“Okay,” I say meeting the driver’s eyes in the rearview mirror, and returning his smile, which now looks a little off. I could be imagining it, because Matt has me freaked out, but maybe I’m not.

“Tell the driver you want to get off at the next street, and pretend to hang up.”

“I will. Bye.”

I hit a random button on the phone, and smile again. “A friend is actually going to meet me up at the next street, so you can just drop me here.”

“No.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m going to take you to a party.”

“Drop me off here.”

He just laughs, and I see him move his hand towards the automatic locks. I do what I have to do, opening my door before he can lock it. He’s yelling at me as I unbuckle my seatbelt, and tumble out onto the street. My head hits the ground, and everything goes black.

* * *

Sully

My phone starts going off, but when I see it’s Matt, I ignore it. Until he calls back every few seconds, and I finally answer, just to get him to leave me alone.

“What do you want from me?”

“A lot, but that can wait. Beckham’s hurt.”

“No!” God no. Please no. I sent her away, and something happened to her.

I hear the anger in his voice when he responds. “You think I’d lie about something like this?”

“How?” I ask, pushing the women off me again, and signaling the waitress for my check.

“She got in a bad Uber, and had to jump out. Bystanders called her an ambulance when she hit her head on the curb, and was knocked unconscious. They’re with her now, but you’re going to go to her, and make sure she’s safe. Her driver is on the way, but I swear to God, if you are not there as fast as humanly possible, I am going to be done with you for good.”

“Of course, I’ll be there,” I agree, signing the check and bolting out to my bike. I switch the Bluetooth in my helmet on, and take off. “Where is she?”

He gives me the coordinates, and asks me to call him when I’ve got Beckham back to the apartment. He sounds unsure, and I hate that. I hate it more than almost anything, because he should never doubt I’d take care of her. No one should ever doubt that, but I’ve made it happen. Never again.

Beckham is sitting in the back of an ambulance when I arrive. There’s a bandage on her temple, but she looks okay. If she wasn’t, I don’t know what I’d do. I push past the people all around her.

“Beckham!”

She looks up at me in surprise. “I can’t believe Matt called you.”

“Of course, he called me.”

“We broke up, Sully.”

“You sent yourself that text.”

“You wouldn’t have written it if you didn’t mean it. Just because I got a little hurt, it doesn’t change anything.”

“No, I still love you.” I admit it to her, because I know it’s true.

“Don’t say that. You’re freaked out about me, but you don’t mean it.”

“I do mean it.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t believe you.”

I deserve that. It doesn’t mean her words aren’t ripping me open right now, but I put that doubt in her mind. It’s on me to prove her wrong, and I will.

* * *

Beckham

My driver is here now, but Sully won’t leave. When the paramedic says I have a mild concussion, and have to be woken up every two hours, he says he’ll stay with me. I don’t want him to stay with me, but at the same time I do. He said he loves me, and I think he believes he does right now, but what happens when I’m better? When his guilt is gone, and he goes back to the clubs—and the other women. No, I can’t allow myself to believe he loves me.

“The driver is going to wait with you at the apartment until I’m back. I’ll pick up your prescription, but is there anything else you need?”

Yes, but I don’t want to tell him. I know I have to, but I don’t want to after her sent me away. “Food. I couldn’t eat on the plane this morning, because the sun was up already.”

His eyes go wide. “You’re still observing?”

“Yes.”

“What do you want? Whatever it is, I’ll find it.”

“Anything but snails, fish eggs, or frog legs. You know what I like.”

“I do. I’ll see you soon.”

He kisses me on the top of the head, and I shamelessly lean into him a little. He smells so good, and I’m so tired. I just want to eat and sleep. Maybe sleep first, but either is fine right now.

Back at the apartment, there are guards who weren’t here earlier. The Uber guy had my address, and came by already, trying to get in. Matt told me he’s ‘been dealt with’, but he isn’t taking any chances. I’m not complaining, because I don’t want to ever see that guy—or anyone associated with him—again. If I hadn’t called Matt, I could be in a sex dungeon somewhere right now. Or worse. I don’t know what’s worse, but I’m sure there’s something.

That thought alone has me stripping out of my clothes, and taking a hot shower. The water is almost scalding, but I feel like I escaped something most people can’t even fathom. I was stupid, because I was hurt. I’ve got to start letting my head be in charge, and ignore my heart. That damn muscle only hurts me.

When I come out, wrapped in a fluffy robe, Sully has a mini-feast laid out on the coffee table. Pizza, pasta, garlic bread, and two kinds of cheesecake are waiting for me.

“Do you need your medicine? The pharmacist said you should eat with it. Is the food okay? Should I get you something else? How was your shower? Do you want to lie down? I can bring the food to you.”

I place my hand over his mouth. “The food is perfect, I’ll be fine sitting on the couch, the shower was okay, and I’ll take the medicine in a few minutes.”

He nods, and steps away from me. “Will you be okay if I go shower? I’ll only be a few minutes.”

“Yes, I’ll be fine.”

I make myself a plate with a little of everything, and settle in to eat. Sully is back before I’ve gotten to the cheesecake, and he looks at the food like it’s a snake that’s going to bite him.

“Eat,” I tell him.

“I’ll eat later. I stay up all night, anyway.”

“I’m going to sightsee tomorrow, since Matt wants me to wait a day to fly, so I won’t be here to bother you when you sleep.”

“Would you like some company?”

Yes. No. “Maybe.”

“I need to call Matt, and take care of a few things. Just leave the food, and I’ll put it away.”

“Thank you for taking care of me.”

“Always.”

I finish my food, then slide into the bed in the master bedroom. The pillows smell like Sully, and I’m not ashamed to say, I hold one close to me, as I close my eyes.

Sully wakes me up every couple of hours, and when it’s close to sunrise, he has a tray with him. “Are those fresh croissants?”

“Yes.”

“How did you find them so early?”

“There are bakeries serving the Muslim community during the holy month. I know you want to experience Paris, and part of that is croissants, and pan au chocolat.”

“You didn’t have to go out and get them for me.”

“Everything I do for you, I do because I want to.”

Damn him, and his sweet, hidden heart. “Thank you.”

There are also eggs, and potatoes for me. I scarf down what I can, as Sully eats from a plate by the window. He’s not pushing me, and not forcing himself on me, and my heart is starting to fight my brain for dominance.

I fall asleep after I eat, and the sun is out when I wake up again. Sully is standing at one of the windows, looking like he’s trying to figure out what to do, and I want to go to him. His white shirt is unbuttoned, giving a glimpse of the light smattering of hair over his pecs. Stubble is scattered over his jaw, and his hair is beautifully mussed.

“Have you slept at all?”

“No,” he tells me, still looking outside.

“Oh, I was hoping you’d join me today, but you need your rest.”

“I need to be with you more than I will ever need sleep.”

“Come nap at least.”

“With you?”

“Just for a couple of hours, yes.”

He pulls his shirt off, drops his pants, and sets his watch on the nightstand, before climbing into the bed. I take his hand in mine, and close my eyes. I’m not ready to give my body to him completely, but he has my heart. It’s his, whether I want it to be, or not.