Beautiful and Broken (7 page)

"You passed out. The ambulance came. You made the news. They took some awesome pictures of you on the stretcher, tooth in your head and all. It was kind of epic. Combined with your wedding video, you're an overnight success story."

"Fuck my life."

“So it hasn’t been a bouquet of roses lately. Onward and upward.”

I glare at her. Onward and upward? She’s spending too much time with Megan.
 

"I need to get out of here,” I tell her.

"Hang on. I’ll get the doctor."

I wait for over an hour before the doctor comes by. I'm chomping at the bit to make the night before a distant memory, but every minute I stay in hospital it feels like I'm continuing to live this nightmare. I need it to end.
 

When the doctor enters the room, he has a smile on his face. He’s kind of cute, maybe a few years older than me. He has short, neat, brown hair and matching brown eyes. His cheeks look naturally rosy against his fair complexion. Under his lab coat and scrubs, I can tell he’s fit. Maybe a runner. Lean but muscular.
 

"There she is," he sings. "The lady everyone is talking about."

I sigh. “That’s just great.”

He laughs and then walks in closer so he stands next to the bed. I can smell a hint of cedar in his aftershave and the fresh scent of dove soap. I can’t help but glance at his right hand. No ring. He’s probably gay. Sweet smile, kind of cute
and
a doctor? No way this guy isn’t taken. Not that I’m interested after my ex did a number on me, of course. But I can’t help but notice.
 

I groan and slump back in the bed. "When can I get out of here?”

"Just let me write you a prescription for antibiotics, and you're good to go."

"Antibiotics?"

"Human mouths carry a lot of bacteria and you're at increased risk for infection, so we give the antibiotics as a precaution." He scribbles on a pad and rips a sheet off and hands it to me. "See your doctor in a week to remove the stitches."

"Stitches?"

"That man you collided with has some big teeth. It took three stitches to seal you up. Did you want to keep the tooth? We saved it for you. Probably get a good sum on eBay for it." His lips curl into a mischievous smirk.
 

Do I understand this doctor correctly? Is he encouraging me to sell a professional boxer’s tooth on eBay?
 

"No. I'm good," I tell him. He must see the disgust in my face.

"You know, I'm a huge fan of Ben 'The Animal' Morrow. Mind if I keep the tooth?"

My jaw drops and Amy makes a face. She and I are on the same page. This doctor's a freak. "Whatever floats your boat, doctor."

His smile widens as he turns on his heel and exits the room. The nurse comes in minutes later and unhooks me from the IV, giggling the whole time. The fact that she’s laughing at me and my life makes me want to bury myself in a deep hole. Amy turns on the television while I get dressed in the bathroom. I'm on channel 7 when I walk out. All I can do is shake my head. My life is utterly pathetic and it somehow manages to worsen on a daily basis. Who the hell did I piss off in a previous life?
 

"Turn it off, please," I moan.

She raises the remote and presses a button. "Well, at least they don't have your name. They have a picture, but your face was covered in blood so it's not a particularly
good
picture. Definitely not one that will help them identify you."

"Things just keep getting better and better." I head for the door and Amy sidesteps in front of me. I am cautiously curious.
 

She slaps her hands together and takes a breath. “So…Jason’s here.”

I close my eyes and lean my head back. Hearing his name makes the stabbing pain in my heart return at full force. “How does he even know where I am?”

She raises her hands in the air in a mock surrender. “Don’t look at me. I didn’t call him.”

“Shit.”

“You want me to tell him to piss off?”

“No. It’s fine. I’ll have to talk to him sooner or later.”

“Or never.”

“He works with my father. Fat chance of that ever happening.”

Soon after she leaves, there’s a knock on the door. I’m laying back in bed when the door slowly creaks open and Jason creeps inside. Guilt is written over his beaten face. My first instinct is to make him feel better, but I quickly remember what he did to me—to us.
 

“How are you?” he asks.
 

“Fine.” My voice is monotone. I have no idea what he wants and I pray he didn’t come here to break me all over again.
 

He sits on the edge of the bed and I meet his big, brown eyes. His blond hair is tousled, like he’s slept on it and hasn’t bothered to brush it. His clothes are wrinkled too. Did he stay here all night?
 

He casually points to my hair. “Red, huh?”

“I needed a change.”

“Huh. It’s definitely a change. Not sure if it’s for the better.” He narrows his eyes as he takes it in from roots to ends.

“What are you doing here?” I pull the sheets up under my arms, as if covering myself might protect me from the sting deep in my heart.
 

“I needed to know you’re okay.”

“If you’re referring to my head, then yeah, I’ll be fine.” Somehow I know this isn’t what he’s talking about, or at least, not entirely.
 

“I miss you, Molly.”

“I miss you, too, but...”

He slides his hand up the sheets to reach for mine. Slowly, I slide it away. This is hard enough without touching him.
 

“I made a mistake. A huge, horrible mistake. I can’t take it back and I wish to God I could. If you could only try to forgive me, maybe leave the door open between us...”

“Maybe if it was someone else, Jason. But it was Mia. How do I forgive that?”

He looks out the window and for a few moments, he doesn’t respond. When he does, his voice is quiet, distant. “I was having cold feet. I knew I would walk down the aisle, but I just needed to collect myself. Mia came in and tried to make me feel better, but then she hugged me and started kissing me. I responded without thinking...and then your father walked in.”

I huff and glare at him. “Mia said the complete opposite. That you came on to her. That you’d always had a crush on her.”

He laughs. “You and I both know your sister has to be the centre of attention. I’m sure your wedding day was killing her, having to share the spotlight with you.”

He’s right. My sister has always been that way, and I’ve always stayed in the background while she shined, but then what if she
wasn’t
lying? Would she really ruin my wedding day on purpose? “I don’t know who to believe.”

“Believe me. I’ve never lied to you. I love you.”

“Don’t say that. Not now.” I breathe through the tears threatening to fall.
 

“I’m not asking for us to get back together now, but I’m asking for you to think about it. Don’t shut the door on us. I’ll wait. I’ll wait forever if I have to.”

“I don’t know, Jason. I need to think about this. I just don’t know if I can ever get over this. If we’d ever be the same.”

“But you’ll think about it?”

I nod. “Why haven’t you called?”

“I don’t know. I was…ashamed…and I needed to think. Plus I really didn’t think you’d take my calls.”

When he attempts to take my hand this time, I let him. He squeezes it tight before kissing me tenderly on the back of my hand. As he lets go, I consider reaching out to take it back, but I nibble on my lip and hold my hands together instead. I don’t want him to know how easily it would be for him to convince me to take him back. I’ve been with him so long, I’m not sure I know how to be without him. It’s like I’m just stumbling through life on my own.
 

“Just say the word,” he says as he backs toward the door. “And if you need a lawyer…I do house calls.”

I chuckle without humor. “Yeah, I’ll keep you in mind”

As his hand hits the door, I call out to him and he turns. “I’d prefer if you didn’t tell anyone about this, okay? Especially my mother.”

“No problem.”

When he opens the door, another man in an expensive suit stands on the other side. He smiles at Jason. “Jason Mathews? I’m surprised to see you here.” He glances back and forth between Jason and me.

“Dane,” Jason says with an air of caution. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“Are you Miss Denton’s lawyer?"

Jason answers yes at the exact same time I answer no.
 

I clear my throat. “No. He’s not. Can I help you with something?”

The men stand, sizing each other up.
 

“Well it was good to see you, Jason. I’ll call you sometime. Maybe we can catch up.”

“Oh, I’m not leaving.”

I groan. “I’m sorry, but who are you and what are you doing here?”

“This is Dane Thomas. He’s a lawyer.”

“A lawyer?”

I shift in my bed and sit up a little straighter.
 

“On second thought, if you want to stick around Jason, that’d be great.”

Jason backs up and then takes a spot on the window sill, his eyes intent on this Dane character.
 

“Good morning, Molly,” Dane says. “I hope you’re feeling better.”
 

I grumble in a noncommittal way.
 

He sets his briefcase on the tray at my bedside and with two clicks it pops open. He removes a stack of papers. I eye him curiously, wondering what's coming next.
 

“I represent Sawyer Davis. You’re familiar with him?”

I clear my throat as I quickly glance at Jason. The last thing I want right now is for Jason to know I had a one-night stand less than a week after we broke up. I don’t know if I want to get back with him, but I don’t think my recent sexual activity will make things easier for us if I decide that I do.
 

“I am.”

“In light of the event leading to your injury, he’s asked me to come by the hospital and pay your bills.”

“I have insurance. But that’s nice of him…” My voice trails off. I sense there’s more to his visit then just this or else he probably would have just sent a check. Why send his lawyer?

“Is he the man responsible for your injuries, Moll?” Jason asks.

“Yes…no…kind of.”

“He also wanted to know if there was anything else you need?” Dane asks.

“Nope. I’m fine.”

“Fantastic. Perhaps then you wouldn’t mind signing this then.” Dane holds a stack of papers out to me.
 

Jason steps forward with an outstretched hand. I push it away and take the papers. I’d like to know what this is about before he does. The reality hits me quickly. Sawyer didn’t feel bad and send his lawyer to make sure I’m okay and taken care of; he was trying to cover his ass by having me sign away any future rights to damages, in exchange for $25,000. And underneath that contract is a non-disclosure contract, also with a commitment for Sawyer to provide an additional $10,000. Irritated, I hand the contracts to Jason.
 

The lawyer smiles weakly and rocks on his heels, looking innocent. I bet finding my ex-fiancé lawyer in my hospital room wasn’t something he expected. Not that I’ll need Jason. I’m too pissed off right now to do anything other than tell him off.
 

"You can tell Sawyer to shove his papers up his ass. I don't need his money. An apology would have been nice, but apparently sending a lawyer is more his style.”
 

"I assure you he didn’t mean to offend you.”

"I'm sorry you wasted your time, but we're done here."

“Nice to see you, Dane,” Jason says as he slaps the papers onto Dane’s chest.
 

“Pleasure was mine.”
 

The lawyer stares at me before reaching into his breast pocket and pulling out a business card. "If you change your mind."
 

“I won’t.”

“I think you’ll find the amount he’s offering is more than adequate.”

“Goodbye, Mr. Thomas.” I fold my arms over my chest.
 

“Goodbye, Miss Denton. I hope to hear from you in the near future.”

He exits the room soon after, leaving me stewing.

“Don’t call him, Moll. Call me first.”

I nod but I’m not listening. I can’t believe Sawyer thought he could buy me. Or that he thought I would be the type of person to go to the press or sue him. And to think I let him get closer to me than anyone else has, except for Jason.
 

Amy knocks and enters. “What was that about?” she asks.
 

Jason starts to speak but Amy interrupts him.

She holds up a finger to him, and it’s not her index. “Wasn’t talking to you, asshole.”

He sighs and shakes his head at her.
 

I close my eyes and count to ten. The animosity between them has always bothered me. It makes sense for her to hate him now he cheated, considering the crap her father put her and her mother through, but she didn’t like Jason before all that, and she’s never ever told me why.
 

“Thank you for coming by, Jason, but I think you should go.”

“Think about what I said?”

“I will.”
 

Amy kicks the door closed as he walks through it. I roll my eyes at her.
 

“What the fuck just happened in here?” she asks.
 

I tell her everything, including Jason’s story and Sawyer’s lawyer.
 

"He couldn't even say sorry. He was just worried about protecting himself. I can't believe I slept with him. Last week, he was inside me, and now he treats me like I’m a bug he stepped on. That just makes this even worse. He treated me like he would a complete stranger." I fold my arms across my chest. It both surprises me and irritates me that I care about Sawyer when he cares nothing for me. I can’t seem to separate the sex from emotions. Good thing I won’t be sleeping with any strangers anytime soon, because my mind is already full of Jason and Sawyer.
 

Amy frowns. "Well…it's not like you're together. You both got what you wanted and you moved on. Short and satisfying. Exactly what casual sex is supposed to be. And just playing devil's advocate here, but maybe that's why he didn't come here himself. Maybe he didn't want you to get the wrong idea. Maybe he thought you’d want more.”