Page 14 of The Only Time

We walk into the kitchen where I’m all of a sudden eternally grateful for whoever invented the dishwasher.

“I rinse and you load?” he asks as we survey the damage.

“Sure. Let’s start with the dinner plates and silverware. We can handwash all the big pots and pans.”

We get to work quickly but spend most of the time in silence. There were a couple forced questions about the weather and his family, but I can tell he wasn’t in the mood to get to know me.

I still can’t figure out whether he doesn’t like me or just doesn’t like people. I watched him after dinner with his brothers and saw his tension ease a bit with a few laughs. Maybe it’s just me. It wouldn’t be the first time I had been looked over by an attractive man.

My brothers have always been oohed and aahed over, but I was just their annoying little sister who nobody really paid attention to. I went through some awkward years like most girls do, and a number of their friends weren’t shy with their “jokes.”

In the beginning, I really thought Don was different. He was kind, sweet, and attentive. It wasn’t until he became overwhelming and controlling that I realized his level of attentiveness was odd.

“I’m gonna be outside in the barn,” Eric says, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Sounds good. I’ll probably just turn in. Good night, Eric.”

“Night, Mia.”

I head up to my bedroom to read a book and call my parents. I don’t want them to worry themselves to death over my safety so it’s best to check in. I slip into my pastel-pink silk tank top and shorts then climb into bed under my fluffy comforter. Despite the awkwardness with Eric, the house is a cozy place. So much better than a hotel. Plus, Josh showed me the security system.

It’s exactly like the bat cave, but it’s nice. I feel safe here.

I grab my book off the nightstand when I hear a low scream come from the backyard. I jump off the bed and look out the window. I see Eric walking towards the backdoor, grabbing his arm with his hand while he lets out another scream.

Oh, shit. He’s hurt.

Without another thought, I run down the stairs and outside onto the grass in my bare feet. It feels slightly wet, though I don’t remember it raining, but I run as fast as I can. As soon as I get to him, he stops, bends over, and grunts.

“Oh my god!” I scream. “What happened?”

“My arm,” he says through the pain with clenched teeth. “I was in the barn. Shelf broke. Everything fell on me.”

He’s in so much pain he can’t even speak in complete sentences. His hand is holding his arm over his blood-soaked shirt. I don’t know much, but I think I need to tie it off to stop the bleeding.

My knowledge of this is coming from movies, so there may not be any accuracy to it. I look around, fearing we’re too far away from the house to grab a towel.

I rip off my top. “Move your hand. I’m going to tie this around your wound. I think we need to stop the bleeding.”

He lets go of the wound and I work so quickly I don’t even get a good look at it. It’s probably for the better because my specialty is wine, and if I’m being honest, blood makes me a bit woozy.

After I tie it, we both look down at his arm. There doesn’t seem to be any blood soaking through, at least not at a quick rate that is noticeable.

Eric’s eyes meet mine, only for a second, then they look down. I see his throat bob as he gulps. “You don’t have a bra on.”

I look down at my breasts which are on full display. “Yeah,” I whisper, “I was just getting in bed.”

Another moment of silence passes between us, our eyes latched on to each other’s, before he groans again in pain.

“Come on. We need to get you to the hospital. Let’s get you in my car,” I tell him.

I wrap my arm around his waist and try to let him lean some weight on me.

“I think you need to get clothes on before we go,” he croaks.

“Shit. I do. Let me get you set up in the car and I’ll run inside and change.”

I manage to get him in the car and change into jeans and a sweatshirt before we head to the hospital. I have no idea where I’m going so Eric has to navigate for us.

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