Page 11 of Finding Solace
It was about six months after the accident that killed my brother. I had the day all planned out. I just wanted it all to be over. I felt I could not take the pain of losing Noah anymore. I was sitting in my apartment on the evening I was planning on eating a bullet when Quinn unexpectedly stopped by. He walked through my door and his eyes zeroed in on my piece, which was lying on the kitchen counter along with a single bullet sitting beside it. He took one hard look at me and told me, "That shit's not happenin', brother." He stayed with me the whole night, and the next day he showed back up with several bags. Quinn took it upon himself to move in and become my babysitter. Fuck, I was pissed. Who the hell was he to take over my life and tell me what I can and can'tdo?
Two months later, I had never been more grateful. Quinn saved my life. We haven't spoken of it since. My other brothers have never mentioned it either. I'm not sure if Quinn ever told them what happened. I never did. All I know is he brought me back to a good place, and I'll be forever indebted to him. The amazing thing about Quinn is, he knows people. He has some sort of intuition. And he always acts onit.
I remember when Logan and I met Quinn. I shake my head at the memory. Quinn and his family moved to Polson when we were in high school. Logan and I were ditching class and had passed by the boy's bathroom when we heard a commotion. When we walked in, we saw a skinny blond-haired runt getting the shit beat out of him. One thing I can't stand is a fucking bully. Anyway, I pulled the bigger kid off the smaller kid and then Logan and I gave him a taste of his own medicine. When we were finished with the asshole, he scurried out of the bathroom with a busted lip and a bruised eye. We both turned our attention to the kid who was standing against the wall holding hisribs.
"What's your name?" I had asked him. The skinny kid wiped the blood from his lip, "Quinn," he hadreplied.
"Well, Quinn that fucker won't be botherin' youanymore."
Logan and I turned to leave when Quinn hollered out, "Hey, waitup."
From that day on Quinn became our shadow. Here we had this skinny little runt following us around. No matter what, we couldn't shake him. Funny… he's not a skinny little runt anymore. But he's still a shithead, and I wouldn't want him any otherway.
* * *
I'm rollingdown the hall the next morning when I hear laughter. A smile tugs at my lips when I hear Mila trying to hush Ava. "She's alright, Mila. I've been up for hours," The sound of my voice startlesher.
Throwing her hand over her chest and letting out a shriek, Mila spins around to face me, "Jesus Christ, Reid. Anyone ever tell you-you're like aghost?"
"Sorry, Kitten." I apologize in a slightly amused tone. Today Mila is in a pair of navy blue scrub bottoms that on most people would be unflattering, but not Mila. She has paired it with a simple long sleeved black thermal top that fits snug across her breasts. And her midnight hair is pulled up into a high ponytail. When my eyes land on her face, I see a pink tint to her cheeks. She has obviously caught me checking her out.What the hell am Idoing?
Wiping the smile off my face, I turn away from her and make my way into the kitchen for some coffee. Mila is here to be my nurse, and here I am acting like a fucking pervert. After a few awkward moments, Mila is the first tospeak.
"Your first PT appointment is at 8:30 am. We can drop Ava off at preschool on our way if that'sokay?"
Rolling past her, I nod my head, "I'll bedownstairs."
* * *
I feellike my body is on fire. We just got back home from my first PT appointment, and all I want is to take a shower and go to bed. As soon as we got home, the first thing Mila did was fix me some lunch. She went to the refrigerator, pulled out some leftovers from the night before along with coconut water. Walking over, she sets a plate in front ofme.
"Thanks," Imutter.
Picking her purse and keys up off the counter, Mila makes her way towards the door. "I need to pick Ava up from preschool. I'll only be about fifteen minutes. Will you be okay till I getback?"
"I'll be fine. I'm going to eat and then probably turn in early." Mila is quiet for a moment while she studies myface.
"I should be back before you finish your lunch. Then I will help you get settled. Your PT was hard on you todayReid-"
Before she can finish her sentence I cut her off. "I said I'd be fine." I defend, my tone sharp. Thinning her lips, Mila nods before shutting the door behind her. "God fucking damn it!" I roar and shove my plate across the table. My lunch forgotten, I wheel myself down the hall to my bedroom and into my bathroom, stopping in front of my walk-in shower. Leaning over, I turn the hot water on and wait as it heats up. Minutes later I'm still sitting in my chair as the steam from the hot water fills the room. I'm so fucking tired and so fucking weak. I'm a grown ass man that can't even shower himself. How fuckingpathetic.
I don't know how long I have been sitting here when I hear a light knock on the bathroom door. "Reid?" Mila's soft voice calls through the door. I don't have it in me to answer. And I don't have it in me to look up when I hear the click of the knob turning and the dooropening.
CHAPTER SIX
MILA
The ride back to Reid's place earlier today after his therapy session was filled with silence. Both of us probably lost in our thoughts, or at least I know I was. In all, his first session went well. Hopefully, his attitude gets better with time, especially towards accepting my help. I know he has some issues, hell, we all do, but having a sour attitude towards it all will only affect his recovery process negatively. Life is hard in general, and sometimes we have to overcome more than a speed bump in life. Sometimes a whole damn wall is standing in our way. But you find a way to climb over it and carry on. I for one will never let something get in the way of my happiness-for myself or mydaughter.
Ava left some of her toys on the floor from this morning that I didn't get picked up and by the sour look on Reid's face before he disappeared, he wasn't pleased with the small mess. I'm used to it and overlook her things scattered here and there. Sure, it used to bug me, and I would constantly be cleaning up after her, but with an almost-five-year-old, it's nearly impossible to keep a clean home. I need to remember Reid isn't used to it and pay better attention to her messes while I'm on thisassignment.
Sighing, I reach over and crank up the radio. A few minutes of time to myself as I head to pick Ava up, leaving Reid alone at his place, is just what I need at the moment. I need to de-stress and a nice bubble bath after I put Ava down tonight is starting to sound like a perfect plan. All these thoughts and events of my day are running through my head as I pull into the parking lot outside Ava's preschool. Taking a deep breath, trying to release a little of the tension in my neck and shoulders, I shut the engine off and climb out of mycar.
Walking inside, I'm met by another mother, Claire Walker, who has her three-year-old son intow.
Please just walk by, I silentlyplead.
"Hello, Mila. How are you today?" She says with an annoyingly high-pitched voice. She is one of those moms with her perfectly put together outfit, perfectly styled hair, and makeup. The kind you would never catch in a pair of sweatpants and a messy bun piled on top of their head and wearing a hint of makeup from the day before. "Hi, Claire," I slightly wave my hand at her and attempt to continue on myway.
