I turned in time to see three cops pulling Daniel out of the house, kicking and screaming. He was bigger than me, but there was no way I would ever back down from a fight.
"You sorry fucker. She's my woman and none of your damn concern. This is your fault," he screamed at me as they wrestled him in the back of the cop car.
"How is it my fault?" I mumbled and walked back to the house, completely exhausted and far more emotionally defeated than I remembered being before. He would have beat her to death if I hadn't have gotten home.
"Yeah, and you would have been home earlier if you hadn't taken that pretty girl that's way out of your league out on a date. What the fuck were you thinking?" I told myself as I walked up the stairs, hard emotions wrapping around my chest and squeezed like a vice grip. I was going to head up to the hospital, but I needed a minute to pull myself together.
I made it to the bathroom before my stomach turned over. Dropping to my knees, I closed my eyes and tried hard not to relive the terror of seeing Daniel back in the house. He was a monster of the worst kind, and I had to find a way to make sure that he wouldn't ever hurt my mother again.
The sound of someone coming in the house left my blood running cold. I jerked up and barged down the hall to see a frightened Sam standing in the living room with his hands up.
"What the fuck is going on? I saw all of the ambulances just leaving here. You okay? Where's your mom?" He glanced around.
I pressed my hands to my face and let out a long scream, unable to help myself. He wrapped me in a tight hug, and I let him. I hadn't cried since we were kids, but I was so fucking tired of fighting a battle that never ended.
"Hey, man. I'm right here for you. It's me and you against the world. Tell me what you need and we'll get it. Anything." Sam patted my back and let me lose my shit for a few minutes before pulling back. "What happened?"
I wiped at my face angrily before walking to the kitchen and downing three glasses of water. My insides were a fucking wreck, and I couldn't stop seeing my mother lying on the floor, curled up and shivering like a broken animal.
"Daniel was here. Beating her up again." I filled up the glass again, wanting so damn bad for it to be vodka, but knowing that I needed my wits about me to get to the hospital.
"Oh, shit. Where's your mom?" His face paled.
"She's on the way to St. Mark’s. Can you take me there?" I downed the last glass as I watched him. "I don't feel like freezing my ass off on the bike."
"Of course. Let's go." He opened the door for me and glanced over as we walked out toward the truck. "He didn't hurt you, right?"
"Just my pride, as per usual. The bastard's strong. I hate him so damn much." I got in the truck and buckled up as my phone buzzed. Valentine.
Val: Hey. Thanks for lunch today. I wanted you to know that I got you a try-out spot on the swim team on Saturday at two. Don't be late. The natatorium.
I wasn't sure what to say, so I didn't respond until later that night when things had finally settled down. I knew she could tell that I'd read the text, but I could explain later if she forced me to. I prayed like hell that she wasn't the needy type of girl that would want something in return for her kindness. Even more so, I hoped that she wouldn't need a fucking explanation to everything I did or didn't do.
I could feel the beginnings of a relationship starting, and while I wanted one desperately, I'd been burned far too many times. Women wanted sex or attention, but rarely love. I'd have to keep myself protected, safe.
"Who you texting over there?" Sam leaned over and tugged my phone from my hand. "Oh cool. Who's this Val person? A girl?"
"Yeah. The chick that I helped on the side of the road last night. She came by the shop today and we grabbed lunch together. She's pretty cool." I shrugged and leaned back against the plastic chair in the waiting room.
"Pretty cool? Did this chick really get you a try out opportunity for the swim team?" Sam's voice was filled with warmth.
I couldn't afford to share his excitement. I'd wanted to be on the damn team too long and had been shunned by them several times during my freshman and sophomore years. Tomorrow at two would be no different.
"Yeah, she's a great girl, but I'm not sure I'm going. You know those guys are dicks." I pulled my phone from him, turned it off, and shoved it back into my pocket.
"What? Fuck that. You're an incredible swimmer. Get out there and break all their fucking records. Then what are they going to do? Oh yeah. Right. Let you on the team," he snorted.
"I'm not sure I want on the team anymore, Sam. I have to start picking up shifts at the garage, seeing that Mom is already having trouble paying the rent, and now this." I lifted my hands in the air. "Jerry wants me to think about being the assistant manager, anyway. It's probably better if I just drop out of school and work on bringing in more money. I can't leave that burden on Mom. She's already about to drop."
"Did she have that cough checked on?" He sat up as a nurse walked toward us.
"No, but I'll make sure they do that while we're here." I stood to face the woman.
"Are you Tate?" Her smile was kind.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good. Your mom’s awake and wants to see you. Your friend can come, too." She turned and we followed her down the hall.