Page 29 of Karma

She didn’t answer. She’d already passed out.

“Great.” He stood by the bed for a few more minutes watching her sleep, wanting to be certain she was breathing easily and not in too much pain.

Her breathing came deep and even now, so he walked out, leaving her door open so he’d hear her if she woke up.

He wasn’t sure what to do with himself, so he headed for the kitchen to see if he could find something to eat. The kitchen was bright, the sunlight pouring in from windows on all sides. Unfortunately, the refrigerator was nearly empty inside except for a container of soy milk, some yogurt, and three boxes of Oreos.

He counted again. Yep, three boxes of Oreos. A woman after his own heart.

His cell phone rang, and before he could analyze that thought further, he answered it. “Barron.”

“It’s Nash,” his brother said. “I heard there was some excitement over at the fair.”

“You wouldn’t believe it,” Dare muttered. He glanced around but was already sure from the silence that Liza was still upstairs. “The asshole hit his sister in the head with his fist and the ball.”

“How’d she make out at the hospital?” Nash asked.

Dare explained the situation and the fact that he was at Liza’s house now. “Want company?” Nash asked.

“Not so sure that’s a good idea,” Dare said, uncomfortable having guests over while Liza was passed out. Especially since he was barely an invited guest himself.

Dare heard Kelly in the background, and then Nash spoke again. “Kelly said to ask you if you’re capable of making Liza something to eat when she wakes up.”

Dare rolled his eyes. But the truth was, even if Liza had had food, Dare wasn’t much of a cook. “Her fridge is pretty empty.”

“Then help’s on the way,” Kelly said, obviously having grabbed the phone from her husband. “And don’t worry. If she wakes up and it seems like you can have time alone with her, we’re gone.”

Before Dare could respond, Kelly hung up. And despite his reservations, Dare had to admit he was grateful to have family to help out.

Unlike Liza.

He shook his head, bothered more than he should be by the fact that she was injured and nobody close to her knew. Didn’t anyone care? Her parents? Friends?

Alone and lonely were two different things, and Dare couldn’t help wondering if Liza was both. Regardless of who did or didn’t line up for her, Dare knew enough to realize the first thing she’d ask him once she woke up was about her brother. With that in mind, Dare called Sam to find out the status on Brian, who, as expected, had been driven home and left there to sober up.

The memory of the man hitting his sister was as fresh in Dare’s mind as the party Brian had thrown back in high school. His parents had been away, and there was a mix of kids from both private and public schools. Brian had gotten into an argument with Stuart Rossman and punched him. Already intoxicated, Stuart had gone down hard and cracked his head on the pavement. The kids who’d witnessed the event, Dare included, had either run or helped Brian cover up the reality of what happened. Dare still hated himself for leaving and not calling 911. Simmering anger at Brian lived in Dare. Liza deserved so much more than she received in the way of family, he thought in disgust.

Not wanting to think anymore, Dare wandered from the kitchen to the den and settled into Liza’s comfortable couch, remote in hand. Then he turned on the television, finding a Mets baseball game to watch while he waited for Nash and Kelly to arrive or for Liza to wake up, whichever happened first.

Chapter Six

Liza woke upsurrounded by her throw pillows, her neck at an awkward angle. Her head pounded, and her mouth felt bone-dry. She didn’t have to wonder why, either. The scene at the fair came back to her in vivid detail, and she let out a groan.

How would she ever show her face in town again? And what was she going to do about her brother? Knowing she couldn’t think clearly about anything right now, she decided there were more important things she needed to do.

Like determine how she was feeling. She pushed herself to a sitting position, not an easy maneuver. Her head hurt as badly now as it had after Brian had hit her. While she waited to get her equilibrium, she noticed water on her nightstand. She reached for it, succeeding only in knocking over the tall glass.

Tears of frustration filled her eyes, and she lay back against the pillows.

“Liza?”

Dare’s voice startled her through the pain. Though she remembered being hit, she’d forgotten he’d taken her home until now.

And she definitely hadn’t remembered he’d be staying.

“Are you okay?” he asked, sounding closer.

“No.” Embarrassment meant nothing to her at the moment, and she answered him honestly.

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