Chapter 16
My eyes are wide open as I move in bed, the pain in my body getting worse with every moment. Slowly pulling the covers off me, as much as my body will let me anyway, I let out a small grunt, holding my stomach trying to take in a deep breath before I try to move again.
“Hey, what are you doing?” I hear Rhett running to my side of the bed, taking my legs he helps me sit up in bed, “you could have just called me?” Rhett says, kneeling down in front of me.
“I thought you had training,” holding my stomach, I let out some air, “just wanted some painkillers,” leaning forward to give him a morning kiss.
His lips softly pressing against mine, “I got you some, and Terry said his still too pissed off at me,” Rhett passes me two painkillers and a glass of water, “and my head's not in it either.” He says sitting next to me.
“You do know you have a fight in just over a week,” leaning my head on his shoulder, “a fight that I swear you lose, I will punish you with the silent treatment,” I say, making Rhett laugh.
“There is no way in hell I will be losing that fight, the silent treatment is not fun,” Standing up, he takes my glass from me, “wash up, then breakfast, do you need some help?” He asks, helping me stand up.
“No, I should be okay, I take it Jay, and your mom should be over soon,” I give him a smile.
“They are coming over for lunch,” Rhett says, as I stand up straight next to him, “Jay won’t return my messages or calls, and mom told me that she hopes you punch me,” I start laughing, then stop holding my stomach. I don’t know what to say to Rhett, they all have a reason to hate him right now but they will all forgive him it will just take a little longer than he thinks.
“Well, I don’t have the energy to punch you, so I will have to leave that, and they will come around,” walking to the bathroom, “see you downstairs, I’m hungry,” I tell him shutting the door behind me.
Standing in front of the mirror, the marks on my neck have started to fade which is nice, hate them as they show me more what could have happened that night. Lifting my top up, the bruise seems to have gotten bigger than yesterday and hurts a lot more as well. The only nice thing about this morning is the fact of Rhett is acting normal, and not tiptoeing around me, on the inside though I know his beating himself up a lot.
Putting my clothes on I pull out one of my mother's journals, and take it downstairs to read because I really need food. Taking one step at a time, I smell breakfast and my mouth waters. Walking into the kitchen, I sit on the stool as Rhett plates up the food.
“What’s on your mind today?” Rhett asks pointing to the journal.
“What’s on your mind today?” I return his question, I mean I know there is something wrong with him, he’s fighting alone with it, or he can share it with me. But knowing Rhett as well as I do, I know he will keep it all locked away from me.
“Nothing, just how lucky I am to have you in my life.” Rhett fills my mug up with coffee, “can’t wait to have Christmas with you,” walking over to my side, he sits on the bar stool. “Christmas movies the day before, but I think Terry will have me training, but when I get back, I’m going to make sure that this will be a Christmas you don’t forget,” Rhett says, pulling his plate closer to him.
“I’m already sure that this will be a perfect Christmas,” I tell him, as I start my breakfast. I love Christmas with Noah, but neither one of us really enjoy the day, Noah because he feels like I don’t want to do anything, me I feel like I’ve never been able to give him everything I want to give him. But this year Noah has a family, I have a family, and next year we will be together. I can see Rhett saying we should have Christmas in England every year, and bring Noah and Penny with us, and I would love that.
“Does your throat still hurt?” Rhett asks in a whisper. I was wondering when he was going to ask me about that.
Pushing my empty plate to the side, “better, and the bruise is fading too, should be gone by tomorrow,” I give him a smile, “how is your pain?” I ask, he looks at me, I know he’s in pain not physical, but emotional I know he is. Rhett stays quiet, “Hey,” I nudge him.
“If I know how to explain in words, how I’m feeling right now, I would tell you, but there are no words that even come close.” Rhett walks over to the sink, “I know that for some reason you forgive me for what happened, but I can’t forgive myself.” Turning around Rhett leans on the counter, “New Year’s Eve I want to show you something, I don’t want to start the new year holding my past, new year, new start.” Rhett says I give him a smile knowing that he will tell me everything just because he wants to have a new start with me.
Opening my mother’s journal up to a random page, I smile as I read about the day my mother found out she was pregnant with Noah. “I’m going into the sitting room,” I tell Rhett as I get off the step stool and leave the kitchen, hearing my phone beep, taking my phone out of my pocket, Emma.
Emma - You free?
Me - For you always.
Emma - Matt has not once called or messaged me, apparently he’s not been home, so I tried calling him. Nothing.
Me - Have you called any of his friends?
Emma - I’m too scared
Me - Em, I think you need to call his friends to see if everything is okay with him.
Emma - I knew you would say that to me.
Me - Let me know when you get in touch with him.
Emma - I will.
Putting my phone away I get back to reading, but I’m starting to get sleepy. I didn’t have an easy sleep, when I moved it hurt and woke me a little, then it would take me a while to get back to sleep.
I look at Rhett walking into the room, “you tried?” Rhett asks as he joins me on the couch, “did you not sleep well?” Lifting my legs and placing them on top of his.
“Slept better than I thought I would, but still not enough for a full night sleep,” I say pulling the pillow closer to my chest, as I move to lie on my side. “I might go upstairs to sleep, just in case everyone comes while…”
“No, sleep here.” Rhett stops me mid-sentence, nodding my head, I pull the cover over me, and I feel Rhett’s hand on my leg giving me a squeeze, “Rhett,” I say his name as my eyes start to close, I hear him mutter, “I love you.” I tell him in a whisper, as I feel my eyes getting heavier.
* * *
I wake up to the sound of shouting coming from the other room, everyone is here. “you could have killed her, what if you see them again?” I hear Terry yell out, he doesn’t sound very happy.
“I don’t care if she hasn’t asked you who they are, you know they will be around again,” Jay tells him, then I hear a bang on the counter.
Taking the blanket off me, I slowly get off the couch, looking at my phone to see the time, I’ve slept the whole morning. Shaking my head as I hear the yelling getting louder, closing my eyes I take a deep breath then get up.
Walking into the kitchen, “Sweetheart, you okay? You don’t look good,” Rhett walks over to me.
“Well, of course she wouldn’t she looks like she got beat by a fucking wall,” Jay bites back, Rhett ignores him and continues to walk over to me, I look over at Jay shaking his head then looking over at Helen and Terry.
“Everything okay?” I whisper to Rhett, I can see it all over his face that they have been on his case for a while now.
“Yeah, nothing for you to worry about,” Rhett bring his face down so his level with me, “you okay?” He asks again.
“I’m hoping that it’s my pain killer time,” I tell him as I close my eyes to take in a deep breath, I have to say that it does hurt a lot more than it did this morning, and I have a headache to add to it.
“I’ll just get them,” Rhett turns around ignoring everyone else in the room.
I walk over to the counter standing next to Jay, “you didn’t have to come today,” I tell him, as he wraps his arm around my shoulder.
“I wanted to, wanted to make sure you were okay?” He looks up at Rhett putting the water and tablets in front of me, “at the moment I don’t know what the fuck is going on, I mean you had the perfect time to ask him the questions and get him to tell you, but you’re just…”
“Jay stop,” I look over at Helen.
“No, let him finish. Jay has something to say.” I tell her, then look over at Jay. I know what he wants to say, but I need him to focus on the fight, and not worry about talking to me, “can you give me a minute with Jay please?” I ask, not taking my eyes off him.
I wait for a moment for everyone to leave, but Rhett stays stood on the other side of the counter, “I meant you too Rhett,” I say looking over at him, he holds my eyes for a moment before he finally leaves.
Pulling the stool out, I sit down, Jay sits down next to me. “So what would you like to ask me?” I ask him, I don’t want a fight and whatever he wants to talk about I know Helen and Terry are not thrilled about.
“I just don’t understand why you are not getting answers from him, I mean you… Do you not want to know who they are, why seeing them he lost all his shit, and CeCe, don’t even get me started on that bitch.” Jay says, his voice is full of anger, and annoyance. “Come on Star, you can get them all now, what all of us are telling him to tell you, you can get the answers now.
Playing with my glass of water, I know he’s right, and I can get him to tell me everything right now if I wanted to, but I need his head to have anger in it. “I know what you are all saying is correct, but you might think I’m wrong but the reason I'm not asking him anything is because I don’t want him to be angry right now. He is so angry with himself, with CeCe with Zach, that I want him to use it all when it’s fight night.” I look behind be to make sure Rhett isn’t trying to walk back into the kitchen to listen to us, “if he talks to me now, the world will be lifted off him, I know that there will still be anger in him, but not as much as there is now.” I stop for a moment as talking so much in one go is not easy when your ribs are on fire, Jay starts to rub my back. “You know when I see Zach, I want Rhett to hurt him so much, I don’t want him to walk out of the ring, he needs to be angry. That is why I’m not asking him anything, plus he said after the fight and before the new year comes he will talk to me, as he wants to have a fresh start in the year.” I tell Jay, who is still shaking his head at me.
“What happens if they come to the pub, just to get into Rhett’s head?” Jay asks, and I have to admit I didn’t think about that.
“Then, he sleeps in a different room, or you will have a roomie for the night.” Taking his hand in mine, “Jay, I didn’t want to fight over this with you, and I don’t want you to fight with Rhett either, this is the one time he needs a friend around him.” I say. Hitting me is hurting Rhett, but the fact his friend and family hate him right now is not helping him at all.
“If he sees them or Zach again, without a fight you’re staying at mine,” Jay points his finger at me making me smile, “I mean it, Scarlett.” Jay uses a firmer voice to get through to me.
“I will be at yours, promise,” I tell him. Jay returns a smile, and this makes me feel so much better, knowing he’s going to leave the whole thing alone for a bit. “So last day for Christmas shopping tomorrow, you got Amy a gift?” I ask him, holding his hand as I get off the stool.
“We haven’t even been dating a week, should I get her a gift?” Jay asks, helping me walk to the sitting room and sit on the couch, I grab a pillow to place on my stomach.
“One question Jay, is Amy someone you are sleeping with and that’s it, or someone you want things to work with?” I move closer to Rhett.
“Want it to work with her, do you think I would try to just have sex with Grant’s daughter have you not seen him.” I start laughing, “but more important have you not seen Amy, I finally have her dating me, there is no way I’m letting her go that easy,” Jay says.
“Then I think you need to go shopping tomorrow,” I tell him, I hear him mutter something but don’t hear him, “you training tomorrow?” I ask Rhett.
“Yeah, then have two days off before Christmas, then the following week which will be more press shit.” Rhett starts flicking through the channels. “I already know he's going to try and get under my skin,” he says stopping at the sports channel, making me roll my eyes.
“Helen, are you going to work tomorrow?” I ask her, I brought something for Chloe, I wanted to go in myself to give it to her, but don’t really think going to see her looking like this is a good idea. I got her a journal and wrote her a note telling her how having one can really help bring out the feelings that have been locked away for so long.
“Yes, want to make sure that they have everything ready for Christmas Day,” she says drinking her coffee, “and drop off some of the gifts we have,” she adds putting the fireplace on higher.
“Would you be able to give something to Chloe for me? I would go, but not sure looking like this is really going to be the best thing for her,” I say. Chloe would have questions, and I’m not sure how to answer them without making him sound bad.
“Of course I will take it for you,” Helen stops and looks at me, “Scarlett are you okay?” She asks. I even look worse than I feel, or they are all just over asking me.
“Yeah, just have a headache that's all,” I turn to Rhett, “can you get Chloe’s gift, it’s in our room please?” I ask him, moving away from him so that he can get up. I watch him leave the room, then turn to Terry. “Please tell me that it's only going to hurt today and from now it’s going to get better?” I ask him. I do have a headache, but I have woke up in so much more pain then when I went to sleep.
“It will get better sweetheart, you just have to work through the pain,” Terry moves over to the couch that I’m sat on, “does it hurt to breathe?” I nod my head, “has the bruise faded?” He asks.
“No, its got worse,” I tell him listening out for Rhett coming back downstairs, “I just want the pain to calm down a little,” I say in a whisper, leaning back into the couch.
“What’s wrong?” Rhett asks walking back into the room, I give Terry a look, not to mention anything.
“Nothing just wanted to check Scarlett’s ribs that's all.” Terry sits back over to his seat. Rhett sits down next to me and puts the gift on the table.
“Do you all come over tomorrow, and stay here?” I ask before Rhett can ask me anything, I can see he wants to ask something, but I’m not in the mood to really talk about that.
“Yes, Terry and I are going to buy everything today, then bring it with us, as the turkey will need to go into the oven early in the morning.” Helen says, looking over at Rhett then back at me, “We brought all the gifts to put under the tree,” Helen smiles and walks out the room, “Rhett can you help me get them out of the car please,” she shouts from the hallway.
As Rhett walks out I look over at Terry, “you have to tell him that it’s hurting,” He says.
“I know, but his already tip-toeing around me, if I tell him he’s just going to be worse,” I look behind me as Rhett and Helen walk back in, with a lot and I mean a lot of gifts in their hands. “That’s a lot of gifts,” I whisper to myself.
I hear Jay laughing turning to look at him, “Welcome to the family, bring mine tomorrow.” He tells me, smiling at him, I wonder if Noah has got his gift yet, Rhett posted it for me a while ago now.
“Sweetheart, Noah set you a gift, it was delivered when you were asleep,” he passes me the box, and I start shaking it and he looks at me, “soon as you all leave, she will be shaking yours too.” Rhett sits down laughing, leaning over he gives me a kiss on the cheek.
“Of course I am, never had so many gifts before,” I tell him with a huge smile, I normally get one from Noah, Emma, and Ed, but this year, I know that Rhett alone will get me three.
“I think Scarlett needs to rest, and we need to go get all the food,” Helen stands up, “and Jay, I think you need to go shopping for a gift.” Walking over to me, “we will be over after training, we have a dining table to get set up,” she says leaning down to give me a kiss on the cheek.
“Two days off to rest, and you will be all good for Christmas,” Terry says, Jay gives me a kiss then, they all walk out the room, and Rhett follows.
Pulling the blanket over me again, I grab the remote and put on a movie, I give Rhett a smile as he joins me, “do we have popcorn?” I ask him, getting back off the couch he walks to the kitchen, “and some chocolate please,” I shout. Not eaten any sweets for a while, maybe the sugar with help with my low energy.
“Here you go,” Rhett comes back with a bowl of popcorn and a few different sweets and chocolate. Pulling the blanket over him, “Sweetheart, are you in pain?” Rhett asks looking at the TV, his voice coming out in a little whisper.
“Honestly, it hurts, but Terry said that if I rest and not move for the next two days, I should okay soon,” cuddling next to Rhett as the movie starts. “So the couch and the bed are my best friends for the next two days,” I say.
Rhett doesn’t say anything back to me, wraps his arm around me and pulls me in closer to him, I don’t say anything either. I really just want to put this whole thing behind me and move on from it.