Seven days after the assault, I was discharged from the hospital.

“Grandmama,” I groaned, “for the millionth time, I am not going home with you.”

She stood with her hands on her hips and scowled at me. “The hell you aren’t!”

Standing my ground, I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at her. “Not happening, old woman, so get over it.”

Her face softened a tad at the loving insult I hurled her way. “Listen you little heifer, you can’t go back to the shelter. Where else are you going to go?” She tapped her chin with her finger. “Sounds to me like you don’t have a choice.”

“I can go back to the shelter. I just can't work there. I still have an apartment on the top floor." At that point, I hadn't been cleared to return to work and wouldn't be for several weeks. I had no idea what I was going to do in the meantime, but I knew that I couldn’t stay with Daddy and Grandmama. Daddy’s emotional distance and Grandmama’s domineering presence were the last things I wanted to deal with.

“No. You. Can’t,” she spit out, her face turning red. “If you stay there, you’ll just end up working, and I won’t have it, Maddie. You'll end up hurting yourself!”

This was going nowhere fast. Trying to remain calm, I sucked in a breath. “Grandmama, you know I love you and Daddy both, but I can’t move back in with you.”

“And why in the world not?”

“Because I’d be in the nuthouse within a week!”

She scoffed. "No, you wouldn't. You survived eighteen years with us, and you'll survive a couple more weeks."

No, I wouldn’t. “Grandmama—”

I stopped talking when the door to my hospital room opened, and Hendrix stepped inside. “Hey, pretty girl,” he said, carrying a bottle of Gatorade and an Old Navy bag in his hands. “Got you some clothes to wear home.”

 “Hendrix, would you talk some sense into her? She’s insisting on moving back to that damn shelter. I’ve done told her that I’m not having it, but she’s being more stubborn than an ass, fighting me every step of the way.”

Hendrix stared at me with a fiery intensity that made my skin burn. “You’re not going back to the fucking shelter.”

I opened my mouth to tell him that he didn’t have the right to tell me what to do anymore when inspiration stuck. I knew I’d probably regret it later, but it was a chance that I was willing to take. Only one way I could get Grandmama and Hendrix both off my back.

After tossing a sassy smile at Grandmama, I locked eyes with Hendrix. “You don’t want me going back to the shelter, huh?”

“Fuck no,” he growled. “That shit isn’t happening, baby.”

I shrugged. “Okay.” Wait for it. “So, take me home with you then.”

Grandmama gasped, and Hendrix stilled. “You want to go home with me?”

Not wanting him to read too much into my request, I closed the space between us, placed my hand on the center of his chest, and whispered, “I’m willing to do anything at this point.” I nodded in Grandmama’s direction. “Because there’s no way in hell I’m staying with her and Daddy.”

“Knock, knock,” the nurse called out as she breezed in the room. “I’ve got your discharge papers ready.” She smiled. “I bet you’re ready to get out of here, huh?”

I huffed out a breath. “You have no idea.”

The nurse laughed before flipping through the papers she held it in her hand. Thrusting the first one at me, she said, “this is a prescription for pain. Take one pill every six hours as needed.” She flipped to the second page. “These are your discharge instructions. You just need to take it easy. No returning to work, no heavy lifting, no strenuous activities.” She glanced over at Hendrix and blushed. What the hell? She flipped to the third page. “And this has all of your follow-up care information on it. You’re scheduled to see Dr. Addison at Toluca Neurology in exactly seven days. But in the meantime, if you notice any sudden changes in pain, eyesight, or hearing we need you to come back to the ER. Understand?”

I nodded. “Yep.”

“Okay. Now if you can just sign here," she placed an x beside where it said patient signature, "and here," she placed another x, "you're free to go." Dropping my hand from Hendrix's chest, I quickly signed the last paper and handed it—along with her pen—back to her. "Do you need me to get you a wheelchair or do you think you can walk?"

“I can walk. Thank you, though.”

“Sure thing.” She reached out and ran her hand up and down my upper arm. “I’m really glad to see that you’re doing better. You make sure you take care of yourself, okay?”

“I will.”

She smiled one last time before leaving the room.

Grandmama moved to stand in front of me. “You’re sure you want to go home with the behemoth?”

I snorted. “I’m sure.” I wasn’t. Not really.

“Fine.” She threw her arms up in the air. “But don’t say I didn’t offer for you to come home.” She then turned to Hendrix. “Are you going to take care of my Grandbaby?”

He looked at her like she was crazy, which she was. “Yeah, Grandmama, I am.”

“Do I need to remind you what will happen if you don’t?”

He waved a dismissive hand in her direction. “Don’t worry. I didn’t forget that you’ll pop a cap in my ass if anything happens to her.”

Grandmama tapped her foot on the floor. “You’re damned right!” Spinning back around, she wrapped her arms around my ribs and hugged me. “If that jackass steps out of line the least little bit you call me.”

“I will.” I kissed the top of her head. “I’ll call you in a bit.”

"If you know what's good for you, you will." She slid her purse over a shoulder and turned to face Hendrix. “It’s about dang time.”

I furrowed my brows in confusion, but Hendrix only smiled.

These two were up to something… Just what that something was, I didn’t know.

Sliding a pair of oversized sunglasses onto her face, Grandmama headed for the door. “Later kids!”

Then she was gone.

The room fell silent as Hendrix, and I stared at each other.

After what felt like an eternity, he spoke. “You ready, baby?”

I nodded once. “Ready as I’m going to be.”

He winked before handing me the clothes he’d brought for me to change into. Nodding towards the tiny bathroom, he said, “Go get changed so I can get you out of this place.”

"Okie-dokie." Oh, good grief! Even I was starting to sound like Shelby.

I felt his eyes on my back as I hobbled to the small bathroom. Stepping through the door, I flipped on the light. Turning around, I placed my hand on the door to pull it shut.

That's when my gaze found him, and all I could think as I stared into those familiar whiskey-colored eyes was: what the hell have I gotten myself into?