“Are you sure that’s him?” Crystal says what I am thinking, a little in jest but also a genuine concern. The blood, dirt, and his messy hair hangs on his face. His clothes are hanging from him.
“Yeah, our man here is a little drunk, he decided to have a fight at Max’s, and it didn’t end too well. We all had to help him dress back in his pants and shirt from earlier, his loaned fighting gear, too messy for my car,” Slate deadpans.
“They weren’t that bad, S,” Ocean slurs and I’m relieved he’s coherent.
“Man, they reeked of sweat and had blood all over them. I don’t know whose they were before you, but they aren’t getting them back. They’re trash now.” Tanner keeps walking with Ocean and Slate. “We will put him in the shower.”
Caden sits with us, hugging his beautiful wife. “He’s going to be sore for a few days. He was badly beaten. We’re lucky the fight ended when it did, or he could be in the hospital now. I’m sure that’s what he was aiming for.”
Clutching my chest, I close my eyes. I have to be strong for him.
“How do I help him?” My voice is weak. I have no clue how to help such a strong-willed man, who’s broken and in such deep darkness.
“Be here for him, Phoebe.” Lace smiles gently. “Give him your time, your love, and your warmth.”
“And don’t take any shit from him. He needs to rest and recuperate.” Emerald is stern but she is correct. “If he doesn’t listen to you, let me know and I’ll come and talk to his stubborn ass.”
Smiling, I nod. “I’ll try.”
“Ocean may heal on the outside quickly, but inside will be another matter completely. He’s not going to get over his loss for a long time. All you can do is support him and show him how much you mean to each other. Remind him you are in this together and in hard times you’re going to stay around. Make sure you have this right in your head and believe this as well before you start this journey, Phoebe. He’s not going to deal with more heartbreak if it becomes too hard for you.”
“Okay. I understand.” What Emerald doesn’t know is how Ocean saved me a long time ago, and now it’s my turn to help him. I won’t let his parents bully him and I won’t have anyone tell me to leave except Ocean himself. I know Emerald is saying this out of love for him, but I love him with everything. “You have to know I’m in this for the long haul. Your friend Ocean is my soul mate. I truly believe it and he does too. We’ll get through this. I’ll make sure of it.” Confidence brims and my body straightens feeling stronger with my words.
Emerald smiles and comes to give me a hug. “I know you two will work it out. Your destiny was written a long time ago. Now you both have a second chance to make it forever.”
“I hope so.”
“Boy, he’s a stubborn mule. He’s currently sitting on the floor of the shower, taking in the heat of the water. He won’t let us get him out.” Tanner runs his hands through his hair.
“He’ll get out when it runs cold.” Slate walks straight to Emerald and grabs her by the waist. “Let’s go.”
“Call if you need anything.” Emerald smiles and leaves with her man.
“Thank you all for finding him.”
“Anytime. That’s what we do.” Tanner and Crystal leave with Jayce, Caden, and Lace behind them.
“You can do this, Phoebe. We want to see you both happy and it will happen. Sometimes life deals us lemons, but we have to turn it into lemon meringue pie.”
“Yeah, it does. I’ve had enough of the lemon part. I want and need the pie. Take care of that gorgeous baby and you also.”
Shutting the door behind them, my eyes roam the living area. There’s a handful of photos spread throughout. I want to make lifelong memories with Ocean starting tonight.
Like a stalker, I basically creep up to the bathroom, unprepared for what I find. I hold in a silent gasp.
Ocean, now standing under the shower, purple bruising mingled with his tattoos, his face down and water cascading over his entire body.
“Does it hurt?”
“No. My entire body’s numb.”
My fingers move and undo the buttons on my shirt, moving to my skirt. My heart squeezes, unable to pump looking at my man. Next, my panties and bra are discarded, and I straighten my back and stop thinking for once, and do.
Moving in behind him, my cold body heats quickly. Skin on skin, I wrap my arms around his waist, my front to his back, laying my head on his upper back. Slow breathing calms my rapid pulse beating and I try to match my breathing with his. “I’m here.” Stroking his chest with my fingers gently, the water continues falling down over us both.
“I don’t know why. I’m supposed to be a savage, yet I’m weak and broken, Phoebe. My mother had it right, I don’t deserve anything.” Quiet and slow, Ocean is defeated.
“You’ve been fighting so long to keep everyone happy, it’s now your turn to be loved and helped. You deserve that and so much more.” Turning his battered body around, I look at him, lifting his chin so his bloodshot eyes are on mine. “I’m not going anywhere. We’re going to be in this together.”
A vulnerable smile pulls at his mouth.
Grabbing the soap, I lather it up and circle his chest and shoulders. His hands which were by his side, softly cup my ass. The water washes the bubbles down and I lay my head on his chest. The thud of his heart pounds strongly. My arms wrap around his neck. Ocean is a savage and one that won’t be tamed. I’ve witnessed some of his brutal force and I’ve gone over it in my head many times while I was alone, how many people he may have killed, or the laws he’s broken but I don’t want to change him, I only want him to do what he needs to do and love and care for me at the same time.
“Is that okay?”
“It sounds perfect.”
Standing on my tippy toes, our lips meet tenderly insuring that it will all be alright. The softness of them expelling any fears I had within. Shivers stream through me. Our connection is powerful yet so new and fragile.
In that beautiful second, we become one.
Every single breath becomes each other’s.
Together and in time, we will heal.
This is the beginning of our lives.
“Do you trust me?”
“You let me drive your Chevelle, so I guess I should trust you since you trust me with your pride and joy.” Her bright eyes and happy face makes my heart skip a beat.
Lying on the lounge resting after I’ve been keeping her busy for the past three days looking after my sore and sorry ass, Phoebe smiles delicately and looks to where I am standing by the cabin door.
“Come here.” I’d organized for a caterer to bring out some food and a few other things for our week-long stay at the cabin so we could escape the brutal world and be together and now that I can move more, I have hung up fairy lights to make it special for Phoebe. She deserves everything to be special in her life from this precise moment.
Twinkling against the night sky, I’ve made the veranda cozy like it was the night before we were called back to business and laid some blankets and cushions on the ground. We need to be comfortable. After I tell her what I need to, I don’t think she will feel like celebrating but I have alcohol and a cheese plate here in case we need it, including strawberries and grapes.