A Brand New Ending

Chapter 33

Braeden



"Are you f*cking kidding me?" I say loudly when we get outside of Phoenix's room. He grabs my upper arm and squeezes it.

"My office, now."

I don't say anything until we reach the confines of it.

"Are you f*cking kidding me!" I repeat, my anger stronger.

"I demand a little more respect than that, Braeden. When did you become so goddamn hot headed?"

I don't answer. To be honest I didn't even know. I take a deep breath before continuing. "Do you really think her living with you is a good idea?"

My dad leans his body against his desk, crossing his arms. "Yes, I do."

I shake my head.

"What? You think her living with you is such a good goddamn idea?" he says sharply. "Please tell me how her living with you and that f*cking disgusting thing you call a roommate is better. Tell me how her staying home alone at your house with a male stranger while you are at school is a good idea."

I go to open my mouth, but he doesn't let me talk.

"I understand that you have feelings for her. You wouldn't have been involved last night if you didn't, but you need to start thinking more with your head than your heart, Braeden. You could have died last night. Do you even care?"

"No," I respond. "As long as she is OK, that's all that matters."

"You're being blinded by lust," he says.

I laugh out loud.

"No one even gets it," I say shaking my head. "Would you even believe me if I told you it's not like that with her?"

The anger in my father's face diminishes.

"So you care for her on a deeper level?" he rhetorically asks.

"Yes."

"And you would do anything to help her along, do what's right for her?"

"Yes." I begin to get what he is saying.

"Phoenix has lost both her parents, Braeden. While Elaina may not be deceased, she feels that she can no longer be in Phoenix's life. She doesn't think she deserves her daughter anymore. Walking away is her way of punishing herself although I'm not really sure I agree with her. We need to do what's right to help her along."

"OK," is all that I could utter.

"It may not be the situation you want, but with her at my house I can keep an eye on her. Things are going to tough for a while, Braeden. She has suffered both physical and emotional trauma. This situation is going to force her to talk about things and face things she didn't want to before. Things aren't going to be perfect."

"They never are."

He stands up from the desk and walks over and puts his arms around me.

"You know I love you, son," he says. "You're scaring the hell out of me. But, I'm proud of you."

"Thanks," I mutter into his shoulder. "I love you, too."

~

I leave my father's office, immediately heading back to Phoenix's room. I'm frustrated dragging this f*cking IV stand around and when I see no one is around I start to pick at the tape, slowly removing the needle from my arm and ditching it in the closest red "sharps" box hanging on the wall. Pushing the door open I find her, her face immediately lights up and I can't hold back the smile that comes across my face. And to be honest, I don't want to.

I can't explain how Phoenix makes me feel or why I feel that way, but anytime I am near her it feels as though there is an invisible string between us. She instantly makes me happy. Her smile disappears, a look of worry coming across her face.

"I'm sorry," she blurts out.

I'm confused. What else could she have to apologize for? "And what are you apologizing for now?"

From the nervous look that spreads across her face I realize my response may have been harsh. I bow my head.

"Shit. I'm sorry, that was rude of me."

Phoenix seems to compose herself again.

"I owe you an apology for everything, Braeden," she says only above a whisper. "I should have believed you and I didn't. I didn't even give you a chance…."

I walk over to her bedside, my need to comfort her growing, but I hold my hands back. I open my mouth but shut it again.

"I had no right to even question who she was. It wasn't any of my business." Now I can't hold back. I pick up her hand gently in mine.

"I never want to hurt you, Phoenix…." I start. "And seeing that I had caused you pain was one of the worst feelings I had ever experienced in my life."

Her brown eyes stare into mine as she listens to every word.

"I don't know what told me to come after you but I am so happy that it did. Seeing you unconscious on the floor is something I never want to see again." I swallow the lump on my throat. "I wanted to kill him."

She lets go of my hand as reaches up to brush the edges of my gauzed shoulder.

"I still want to," she mutters. My face becomes serious.

"He will never come near you again, that I can promise you."

Her face falls serious also.

"You can't save me from everything, Braeden. Things are going to happen that are out of our control."

"Not if I can help it," I say quietly.

I take a deep breath.

"Apology accepted." I smile, her returning one.

She starts to gnaw on her bottom lips, her eyes shifted down.

"So what do we do now?" she asks.

I smile.

"Whatever you want to do," I say softly.

I pause before continuing.

"You know that you don't have to stay here. You are over 18. If there is some place you would rather be…"

Her eyes snap up to look at mine.

"I don't want to go anywhere, Braeden. Wherever you are is where I want to be."

I think my heart does a back flip. "You have no idea how happy that makes me, hearing you say that."

She gives me a sly smile, her fingers playing in and around mine.

"Can't describe how amazing this feels," she speaks. "I've never had anyone care for me like you do."

"That's a shame," I respond quickly. "You deserve so much more than that."

"Do I?"

I lean over her so that our faces are close but I make sure to do it gently, afraid that she might retreat from my touch.

"Yes," I say softly as our eyes are locked on each other.

We hold our position and I can tell she is nervous, but I want her to make the first move. I made the mistake of pushing it on her the first time and I won't be doing that again. I can feel the heat of her breath on my face, its oddly intoxicating. But I hold still. I start to count the number of my heartbeats when I suddenly feel force against my lips. I hold back the smile, my hand coming up to cup her cheek. I start to move my lips against her, the waves of ecstasy flowing through my body. After a second, her lips start to move in unison with mine. I've kissed lots of women, but it's never felt quite like this. I don't know how long it lasts, but I refrain from sticking my tongue in her mouth, fearing that may be too much. I then swear I feel her moan in my mouth, and it's the most incredible f*cking turn on I have ever heard in my life. She must have realized it too considering she pulled her lips off mine, her hands coming up to her mouth.

"That was incredibly involuntary," she whispers.

I just smile at her.

"That should have been our first kiss," I say, almost ashamed of myself.

A light smile comes across her face.

"I thought that was." She laughs.

Seconds later, a nurse comes bounding through the door.

"I've got some great news! You two get to go home today!"

Phoenix gasps.