Chapter 15

Darek

Maya was spoiling me with all the sweets and with me unable to hit the gym during my recovery, I’d have to make up for it later.

Since I was starting to get around better, I decided to take the elevator up to the sixty-first where Maya and James lived. I’d take back the dish from the cookies and then head down to use the pool. My wounds were healed, and the doctor had told me swimming would be great for me.

Sadie was still acting strangely, and though I wanted to force her to tell me what was the matter, I decided to give her space instead. I knew she was sore at me for giving Jack money, but it wasn’t, but a few thousand and I’d sent it directly to his landlord. Not that I had to explain myself to her.

The elevator stopped up on the next level, and I exited into the lobby out front of James’ main entrance. Maya had placed a beautiful bench with a plant next to it and hung a mirror on the wall over a little table. It was much homier than before, and I wondered how long it would be before Sadie put the woman’s touch to my place.

The door opened, and I turned around to see James coming out to water the plants. “Oh hey. I didn’t know anyone was here.”

“I was just about to knock. I thought I’d bring your plate back.”

“Yeah, so which was the best? The chocolate chip with nuts or without?” He tended the plant, pulling off a few dead leaves before giving it a drink.

“With nuts. The others were a little dry, but don’t tell Maya.” He turned around and gave me a sour look.

“Fuck you. Those cookies were not dry! They were moist and delicious. She told you, didn’t she? You’re fucking with me?” The guy was a little bit too emotional about the cookies, and I had to wonder what Maya was doing to him.

“Wait. You made them?” I couldn’t believe she slipped me something he’d made.

“You are damned right, I did. And they were delicious. I should have pegged you for a nut eater.” He led me into the house and Maya came out of the bedroom to join us. “You won. He’s a nut eater.”

“I told you they were crumbly.”

“So, I like a hard cookie, sue me. Next time, I want a better judge. His taste buds are affected with those meds he’s on.” James had a point, my meds had messed up my diet, but I knew a good cookie when I’d had one.

“I brought your plate back. I washed it and everything, so if you want to give it a refill, I’m good with that.”

“We’re fresh out of sweets, but next week we get to make pies.”

“Oh, I love pie.” I held my stomach and James stopped and gave me a nudge.

“Stay away from my girl’s pie.” Maya smacked him in the arm.

“Behave. You’re just bitter over the cookies. You beat me in the fish course.” She looked to me. “He’s so competitive. Thanks for coming up. I see you’re getting around better.”

“Yeah, a lot better. I think the antibiotics were making me sick. It didn’t do me any favors.”

“How’s Sadie?” She folded her arms and turned to glance at James who gave her a suggestive look like he was urging her on.

“She’s good. I’ll tell her you asked about her.”

“Yeah, look Darek, I don’t want to be a busybody or anything, but I saw something yesterday at your house that had me really upset.” She glanced at James for help, and my heart sank as I could tell something had really bothered her. I tried to remember what was going on when she arrived, and the only thing out of place was Jack had shown up. Had the guy gawked at her, or said something inappropriate? I think James would have let that be known. He was pretty protective.

“What is it?”

“Tell him, or I will.” James stepped up and put his arm around her waist.

“When I was leaving, your friend came in.”

“Oh shit. Jack said something to you?” I was going to kick his sorry ass for upsetting her. He’d already upset Sadie and was hanging by a thread as my manager.

“No, it isn’t that. I went to tell Sadie goodbye, and he had her by the wrist. He was twisting it so hard, her hand had turned purple, and she was in pain.” She held her own wrist to show me what he’d done.

Anger pumped my blood faster, and I let loose a breath knowing what had to be done. “Thank you for telling me. I wish I’d known sooner. She didn’t say a word.”

“She made me promise I wouldn’t say anything. She’s scared you’ll hurt him, or he’ll ruin your career over it. I wanted to say something sooner, but she assured me she was okay.”

“You did the right thing, and thank you. I’m going to take care of it right now. It will all be okay.”

“You let us know if there’s anything we can do, man.” James held out his hand, and I took it. There was one thing we’d always agreed on, and that was how to treat women. Both of us had a past affected by abuse, and neither of us was tolerant to it in the slightest.

I gave Maya a hug and then headed down to my home.

I found Sadie in her room on the computer. She looked up as I entered and cracked her knuckles and stretched. “I’m about to fall asleep. This is so boring.”

“Are you taking another test?” I didn’t want to bother her if she was, but I wasn’t going to wait too long to have this talk with her.

“No, this is the study guide. I can watch it anytime, but since you were going down to swim, I thought I’d use my time.” She glanced up at my hair. “Why aren’t you wet? Wait, you haven’t been gone that long, is everything okay?”

I glanced down to see her wrist peeking out of the cardigan which she’d been wearing, and sure enough, it had a little red mark. “What happened to your wrist?” I walked in and sat beside her, taking her hand and turning it to look at the mark. It was slight, but enough of a marring to send my anger into orbit.

“Maya told you, didn’t she?” She had known I was stopping by to leave the plate on my way to the pool.

“She did. She also said that you asked her not to tell me, but that she was concerned. I’d say she had a good reason.” I ran my finger along the mark softly, then kissed it. “I know you hate him, so why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because, you’re always taking his side, and making excuses for him, and I knew if you finally did get upset, you’d do something foolish or reckless. I didn’t want you to be so upset you acted without thinking.”

“Oh, I’m going to act. He’s out. Done. Finished. And if he ever darkens my fucking door again, I’ll drag him out of here by his fucking balls.” I lifted her chin, and my eyes bore down on hers. “No one had a right to put their hands on you. You should have told me. If I had known, he wouldn’t have made it out of this fucking house in one piece.”

She met my eyes. “That’s why I didn’t.”

“No wonder you were upset with me. I’m so sorry, baby.” I gave her a peck on the lips. “No more secrets, okay.”

“Okay. Are you angry with me?” She tucked her chin and looked up at me.

“No, I’m angry with him. You’ve been right all along, but when you’re friends with someone, you want to give them the benefit of the doubt. I gave him plenty of chances. I’ll call him in a bit.”

“Are you still going swimming?”

“No, I’ve got something more important to do.” I leaned down and kissed her neck just below her earlobe, and she moaned softly.

“Yeah? What’s that?” She kissed my neck too and then down to my shoulder through my t-shirt before reaching down and tugging up the tail.

“Oh, I think you know.” I chuckled as she lifted it over my head.