Page 75 of Shame

“Now that I’m sitting here doing nothing, in fucking pain. Forgot to take my meds before I left.”

“Your girl okay?”

“Yeah, she’s okay. Stressed, but safe.”

“That’s good, Shark. Let me know if you need anything else.”

“I will. Thanks.”

We end the call and I stare at my phone, wondering why the hell he was being so nice. Don’t really have the time to think about it because I still have two more stops to make before I go home.

First, I stop at the town store and grab her some things. I have no idea what she likes or needs, but I figure everything is better than nothing. I get shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothbrush, toothpaste, some razors and even tampons and pads because I’m sure she’ll need those things. I have no idea if she uses any other stuff for her hair like hairspray or gel, but I figure they aren’t important and if she needs them, I’ll get them another time. At least I have the most important things now. After paying for it all, I head to the diner.

“Hey, we heard about Cora. How is she doing?” Fia says as soon as I walk in.

“She’s at my house. She’s okay.” I look around. “I’ll work on getting someone else here to help you because she ain’t coming in.”

Fia smiles. “I already called Hannah. Figured you wouldn’t mind. She’ll be here soon.”

“Thanks,” I say.

“Let Cora know we’re here if she needs anything.”

“I actually need something.”

She looks me up and down, pursing her lips. “One, you’re my new boss, and two, I’m pretty sure you’re dating one of my friends, even if she denies it.”

I can’t help it, I laugh. “Trust me, it has nothing to do with that. No offense, but I’m not interested.”

“Good, because if you were, I’d have to chop off your balls and feed them to you. Tell me what you need help with.”

I ask her to set up a jar with a sign for donations for Cora. I have a shit ton of money I’d give her for nothing, but she won’t take it. So this is the next best thing. I pull all the cash from my wallet and drop it in to start. Couple hundred at least.

“Empty this after every shift. Leave it all in the safe.”

“You got it, boss.” Fia winks, and I head out, ready to get home to my girl.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Cora

“Sweetheart, it’s almost ten,” Kaison says softly, waking me from sleep. Not a single part of me wants to get up.

“Am I awful for wanting to sleep more?” I mumble.

I feel his lips on my cheek. “Your father is safe where he’s at. You need to take care of yourself, too. Sleep as long as you want.”

I cuddle closer to him. “K.”

Seconds, and I’m back to sleep.

When I wake later, I’m alone in bed. I roll onto my back, staring up at the ceiling. From the corner of my eye, I see light peeking in through the cracks in the curtains. Turning my head, I see the red glowing numbers of the clock telling me it’s two in the afternoon.

I feel guilty about sleeping, for not going to visit my father the minute I could, but something about knowing he is safe where he’s at has me not feeling like I need to rush to him. He’s in goodhands. I don’t need to watch him right now. Someone else is doing that. I can take time for myself. Even if it’s just this once.

My father can’t stay at the hospital forever, but it’s a relief that he’s there now. Which only makes me feel more guilty for feeling that way, but it’s been so long that I could just… relax. If the hospital needed something, they’d call. And it’s not that I’m not going back at all, I’m just taking my time to do it. Because that nurse was right—I need to take care of myself too. Kaison has been saying it too. Dad was also right—I need to live my life. Seems I’m the only one wrong here.

Having this small taste of freedom, as awful as that sounds because I shouldn’t need to feel free from my father, is making me realize how badly I need it. I’ve never slept in anyone else’s bed before. That’s a strange thought, but it hits me as I lay here. I’ve only ever slept in my bed and on the couch. Maybe my father’s, when I was little. I’ve never spent the night at a guy’s house before, either.

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