Oceans Submerged: Book Two, the Oceans Series (13 page)

I nodded in agreement.

“Oh and before I forget…” she said, standing and walking to a tall file cabinet along the wall. With a key, she unlocked the middle drawer and pulled out a duffle bag…my purple with-zebra-stripes Tap Out duffle bag.

“Courtesy of Lawrence.” she said, placing the strap around my shoulder making sure it was leaning against my good arm.

“I usually don’t do this for my residents, but that Lawrence is quite a pain in the ass.”

I laughed this time because he really was, but he was my pain in the ass and I would not trade him for the world.

“Good to see I’m not the only one to think so.”

“No, you’re definitely not.”

She grabbed me under the arm to help me up while handing me my folder.

“If you have any questions my direct phone number is in the packet. Other than that, everything else is pretty much mapped out for you. My first suggestion is to make sure you have a good breakfast because you’ve got a rigorous rehab schedule waiting for you. You did a number on your arm missy and we need to get that corrected ASAP.”

Clutching my folder to my chest, I looked her in the eyes. “Thank you for this. I promised not to let Lawrence down and that promise applies to you too now.”

Her smile lit up the small space between us. “Then get to it. Anything you need let me know. I’ll take care of Oscar, he gives me the creeps.” She said, shaking her entire body and I laughed as I exit her office.

She poked her head out of the door. “For breakfast, turn left and make two rights. You’re nostrils will lead the rest of the way.”

“Thank you.” I called back quickly before she shut her door.

I really wanted to get back to my room and open my duffle bag, but I knew if I was going to be working out and rehabilitating my wounds I’d need to eat first.

****

The cafeteria was like an international buffet. There were all types of foods from all types of places. Everything looked and smelled delicious considering the pain I was in and the physical therapy I was probably going to have to start today.

I opted for a protein shake and a blueberry muffin. The last thing I wanted to do was puke all over my therapists; ironic the assistant manager to a future MMA studio is in physical rehabilitation for a failed suicide attempt. That’s a story to put on a plaque in my office…if I still had one when I got out.

I shuffled to the nearest bench where I sat and carefully pulled off the duffle bag with my good arm. I don’t know how I would be managing if I would have damaged both arms.

Stupid!

I took a gulp of my protein shake and my body shook from my lack of sugar. Tough cookies because I had to drink it. I continued to chug it down, holding my breath as I swallowed the thick shake.

Opening my folder, I found Marion’s phone number on the top with a ridiculous smiley face. She was a character and someone I felt comfortable with, to a certain extent.

I pulled out my schedule to look it over.

My schedule read as follows:

6:00 a.m. First Wakeup Call

8:00 a.m.  Breakfast

9:30 a.m. Visit With Dr. Fraise M.D

11:00 a.m. 2 Hours of PT – Arm

1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Free Time (Gym Time!)

3:30 – 5:30 p.m. 2 Hours of PT – Leg

Tuesdays and Sundays were visiting days, but I still had PT on those days. Marion was definitely not playing around. Either that or Law was making sure I got as close to one hundred percent as possible.

I took a bite out of my muffin and immediately wish I hadn’t. Out of nowhere, my bandaged hand…the injured hand starts to pulsate and throb like hell!

I set down the muffin, holding onto the table while trying to take deep breaths as best I could.

“Easy Sunshine, what’s going on?”

Thank God!

“Dulce, do you know where the medical office is? I think I need to see a doctor. My arm is about to explode.” I felt hot all over and my vision blurred.

“Yeah sure, hold on a sec.”

I caught glimpses of her searching around the cafeteria like she was searching for someone.

“Finally! Santi! Over here I need help.”

“Shit. She’s burning up. I’ve got her. Go get the doc. I’ll be right behind you Dulce. Go!”

The voice that spoke was male and deep. Part of it reminded me of Ocean. I knew it wasn’t him but I wished it were because I was drowning in pain and the only thing that would calm me down was his touch.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Ocean

Stepping out of the shower, I could have sworn my cell phone was ringing but maybe it was just my ears buzzing.

Last night after Law so called kicked my ass; he took me down to the studio to kick my ass some more. Aunt Layla would kill us both if she found out I let him use me as his punching bag after she semi fixed my face. At least this time he, let me put on some of the protective boxing gear lying around.

My face still looked like shit with the black and blue bruises, but I could honestly say that I felt a lot better about Law and me. We fought, yelled, screamed, and cried last night. So yeah, I could say we were back to normal.

I wiped the foggy mirror with my towel good enough so I could see myself from the neck down. I rubbed my hand over the tattoo of Stormie’s beautiful face. That was how I always wanted to remember her in my mind, but every now and then I would get a glimpse of the memory of her lying lifeless in her coffin. She was an angel before she died and seeing her after she passed, it was like looking at a true sleeping angel.

The blaring of my Drake ringtone interrupted my trip down…well down somewhere. I wouldn’t exactly call it memory lane. I let the phone go to voicemail.

I doubt it was anyone important and I don’t think Liv would be calling me so fast, especially after how I left her.

My phone went off again. Agitated, I gripped the door handle and stormed over to my phone. Eight missed calls.

FUCK!

As I held the phone in my hands, it went off again with a local number and the caller ID read Shiloh Rehabilitation Center.

With trembling hands, I swiped the screen to answer the call. “Hello.”

“Mr. Hawthorne? Ocean Hawthorne?” The woman on the other end sounded agitated but I had no idea what for.

“Yeah it’s Ocean. Who’s this?”

The woman huffed on the other end. “Sorry to interrupt you, but my name is Marion Shiloh. The director of Shiloh Rehab Center.”

I was silent, wanting her to tell me what the hell was going on.

“I know that visitation for Livie is not until Sunday and considering it is only Thursday, we…”

I cut the bitch off because she was stalling and my blood was boiling over. “What’s wrong with Livie?”

The woman hesitated but answered finally. “She got sick this morning at breakfast and she is refusing pain medication and antibiotics. The doctors say she may have an infection in her hand, but they are unclear. We can’t get through to her, I was…”

Again, I interrupted the bitch; it was like she was star struck and couldn’t get the fucking words out of her mouth fast enough.

“I’m on my way. Thank you.” I bit out as I ended the call.

With my heart pounding and blood racing, I grabbed my briefs, sweats, white T, socks and my Jordan’s.

Stumbling out of my room pulling my briefs up, I grabbed my phone and wallet last and sprinted towards Law’s room. I barged into his room, tripping over the damn shoe’s he left in front of his door.

Fucking pig!

When I finally reached his bed, I slapped him in the face hard.

He jerked awake and sat up ready to argue, but I guess the look on my black and blue face, along with my lack of clothing, gave him the right message. “Shit Ocean, give me thirty seconds, I’ll be ready.”

I nodded as he bounced out of his bed running to the bathroom to brush his teeth. I finished dressing in his room using his deodorant and lotion.

Two long minutes later, Law was ready to go and we ran out the front door without saying a word. I finally came to the conclusion that Livie Marie Acosta-Hawthorne-
yes, fucking Hawthorne
-was put on this earth to kill me at the age of twenty-seven from constant heartache.

****

For the first time since Law got his driver’s license, he wasn’t driving like an old lady. We made it to Shiloh’s in exactly thirty minutes and I was kind of proud of the ass wipe. He pulled up to the facility’s front door and turned off the ignition, jumping out of the driver’s seat.

I opened my door to follow in shock that he didn’t park his precious truck. He was really starting to turn into me and it was fucking scary.

The same two security guards that took my Liv away met us at the main entrance.

“You Ocean and Lawrence Hawthorne?”

I pulled out my wallet and gave the asshole closest to me my ID. Law did the same. After they were satisfied, they scanned their ID cards, opened the door and led us through what I imagined was the back way to wherever Liv was considering on all the turns we took. We walked through three sets of secured double doors.

The guard turned to face me before he opened the final set of doors. “Have to warn you, Ms. Acosta’s pissed and she won’t speak to anyone that’s not Ocean. You go first, she needs to be stabilized before both of you can enter. Boss’s orders.”

The guard looked at Law, who looked one second away from punching them both in the face.

I put my hand on his shoulder. “Hey. Calm down. Let me talk some sense into her and then I’ll come back out to get you, okay.”

He nodded at me but I knew he didn’t hear a single word.

I grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him back, sitting his body down into one of the waiting chairs across from the room Liv was in. “I’ll be right back, promise.”

“Just hurry up!”

I turned on my heels and prayed to God that I could get through to this girl without losing it again because if not, she was going to kill me or I was going to end up killing her.

****

I pushed open the double doors to the room and immediately spotted Liv.

She was reclined in a hospital bed that looked three times bigger than her entire body in length and width. She looked like a little kid sitting in the middle of the bed all red in the face and pissed off, lost in thought and scared straight.

I could see her lips trembling from where I stood and her face was flushed.

A woman with scrubs came to stand in front of her. “Honey please, we understand you’re frightened but we need to get the IV started.”

The lady went to reach for Liv’s hand but she pulled it away.

“Not until Ocean gets here.” She hissed through her teeth.

I cleared my throat as I stepped out of the shadows.

“I’m here Liv.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Ocean

The lady turned in my direction with wide eyes. I’m assuming because of the sight of my face and the nose bandage I still had on. She slowly stepped aside and away into another room, closing the door behind her.

I took a couple steps closer to Liv, stopping to leave some distance between us. My body was indecisive on what to do. A part of me wanted to run to her and hold her in my arms while the other part wanted to keep my distance.

The fact that she still had not looked up at me made my thoughts even more jumbled. She refused care because she needed me and here I was, but she couldn’t even look at me. It was either that or she was straight up terrified of this place.

“Liv, I’m here.”

She dropped her head forward letting her hair fall around her, hiding her face.

In a tiny voice, she finally spoke. “I’m sorry Ocean, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what else to do. It hurts so badly. You’re the only one that can take it away.”

Her sobs came in slow and steady. I closed the distance between us using my trembling hand to bring her chin up to face me.

When she finally looked up into my face, she gasped opening her eyes wide. “Oh my god, what happened Ocean?! Was that because of me? Please tell me it wasn’t because of me. Who did it? Why? Does Law know? I swear Ocean if you did this t…”

“Shh baby. You ramble when you’re nervous. I’m fine. It’s not me we’re here for, it’s you. You want to tell me why you’re not following doctor’s orders and your refusing care?”

I was playing it off pretty good on the outside while on the inside I wished for superman powers so I could grab her and fly out of this damn place.

“But your face Ocean.” she reached up with her right hand to stroke her fingers along my lips and I wanted to die.

Her touch was the cure my body and soul was craving. The feel of her touch was patching up and weaving my open wounds closed for as long as I was with her.

I took her hand into mine and kissed her palm. It was hot and clammy. “Like I said, I’m fine. What happened to you this morning?” I asked, sitting down to face her so she wouldn’t have to look up to me as we spoke.