Marta was right. I needed to sit down. My head felt like it was going to explode and the sick feeling I had in the pit of my stomach was unbearable. Dawson, it was Dawson, my sheriff. I couldn’t breathe. What was happening?
“I’m sorry, but you evidently have the wrong person,” Marta told Dawson, but she knew something was up too, she had to. I didn’t just have this reaction for no reason. She helped me slide into a booth while Timmy brought me water.
“Marta, could you leave us alone for a second please?” I asked.
“I don’t think that’s a good Idea, Morgan. You look like you’re ready to pass out.”
That’s because I am…
“I’m okay. I’ll just be a minute.”
Marta walked back to the counter, and I knew all eyes were on Dawson and me.
He sat across from me and looked like he didn’t understand. I didn’t understand. What the hell just happened? What a sick fucking joke. Was life really this cruel?
“There’s a high school two blocks north of here.
I’ll be there at six tonight. I can’t talk to you here. Meet me there,” I explained.
“Riley, I’m not sure what’s going on here,” he stated. He too looked white as a ghost.
“I can’t talk to you here. Please just meet me over there,” I got up and Marta followed me out. I needed air, not that the Nevada heat had much to offer, but I had to try.
I didn’t know if Dawson would show up or not. Hell, I didn’t know if I would show up.
“What the hell, Morgan?” Marta asked as we walked to my car.
“You drive, Marta,” I said, ignoring her and getting into the passenger side.
“Will you tell me what the hell that was all about?” she asked again as she pulled on her seatbelt. I didn’t put mine on. I wanted to crash and burn.
“That was someone from my past, Marta. I remember him.”
“You do! That’s great. We should call Dr. Tharp.”
“It’s not great. He is someone Drew wouldn’t understand,” I snapped at her. I didn’t mean to snap. I just didn’t know what to think myself, and I wasn’t about to explain it to her.
“Oh,” Marta said. I could tell she thought that he was someone that I was cheating on Drew with. I didn’t care. I wasn’t even going to try. I knew her enough to know that she would mind her own business.
I went right to mine and Drew’s bed and lay down.
I couldn’t take the pain in my head. I couldn’t think about anything until it stopped. Marta brought me the water and pain pills that I asked her to bring to me.
My cellphone rang. I didn’t want to answer it. I knew that he could tell something was wrong from where ever the hell he was. I didn’t care. I didn’t want his pity party at the moment.
“Hello,” I almost yelled. Even my own voice echoed through my head.
“What’s wrong, Morgan?” He asked concerned.
“I just have a headache from hell. I need to rest for a little bit. It was probably just the heat.”
“I’m calling Dr. Tharp,” he demanded.
“I don’t need Dr. Tharp. I just need to rest for a few minutes. I’m fine.”
“Okay. Go rest. I will call you in a couple hours to see how you’re doing. I love you,” he added.
I could only grunt as I felt the tears. No. I didn’t want to cry.
I covered my head with the pillow, one I couldn’t stand the light at the time, and two, I didn’t want Drew to see me cry.
Dawson Bade, Lauren, Starlight, the coffee shop, my house, Misty Bay, my trip to Vegas, my wreck. I remembered it all. I was going to marry Dawson. We were to get married two months ago. I never fell asleep. I would probably never sleep again. I felt the love that I had for Dawson as soon as I saw him. It was real, and I knew that he loved me. Wait. He knew. He knew all about Drew. He knew what a monster he was. Why did he wait five months to come for me? How did he find me?
I let everything flood through my mind, everything but the one that was going to rip my heart out. I saved that for my last memory or memories. There were so many of them. Not one was good. Drew hit me. He called me names, humiliated me, and he did treat me like a piece of meat. Why Drew? Why did you buy me for cash if you never wanted me? How could you do those things to me? I hated him. I hated him with everything in me. What should I do? Should I just run away with Dawson? What if he didn’t want me anymore?
I lay with my head covered for almost three hours while thoughts and memories flooded my mind. I finally sat up around four to see if my head felt better. It wasn’t gone, but it did feel better. I guessed it was just overloaded and needed time to funnel all of the abrupt information.
“Feel better?” Marta asked as I walked into the kitchen.
“Yes, thank you. Could you make me a sandwich or something before I head out,” I asked, sitting at the table.
“Yes, but I’m not sure you should go to that game.
You had a pretty bad spell this afternoon.”
“It was just the heat. I’m fine now,” I lied. I wasn’t fine. I had no idea what to do.
“Maybe I should come with you.”